Starbucks expressly prohibits its employees from bringing guns into the workplace. Simultaneously, the company allows customers to carry loaded guns into its stores “in compliance with local laws and statutes.” In practice, however, this means that guns can be carried into Starbucks locations virtually anywhere across the country.
Starbucks pro-gun policy is a direct threat to the safety of employees and customers alike for the following reasons:
- Starbucks does not actually screen customers entering their stores with guns to assure they are acting in compliance with federal, state and/or local gun laws.
- Even if Starbucks was conducting such screening, laws governing the carrying of firearms in public in the United States are notoriously weak. Under present law:
- 7 states allow individuals to carry concealed, loaded firearms in public with no permit, no screening (background check), and no training: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho (outside city limits), Montana (outside city limits), Vermont and Wyoming.
- 32 states allow individuals to openly carry loaded handguns in public with no permit, no screening (background check), and no training: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia (prohibited in certain cities), Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming
- 40 states allow individuals to openly carry loaded long guns (rifles, shotguns) in public with no permit, no screening (background check), and no training: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania (except for Philadelphia), Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia (in certain cities), Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
- In many states that do require a permit to carry concealed firearms in public, screening of applicants is cursory and training requirements are minimal if there are any at all. These states are commonly referred to as “Shall Issue” states.
- Since mid-2007, there have been 24 confirmed mass shootings (4 or more innocents killed) committed by individuals legally permitted to carry loaded firearms in public.
The bottom line is that employees and customers have no assurances whatsoever that individuals bringing loaded guns into Starbucks are mentally stable and law-abiding. In many cases, even law enforcement knows nothing about the background of these individuals.
Starbucks’ claim that it is merely complying with local laws belies the fact it is a private business responsible for setting its own policies to ensure the safety of its employees and customers. Consider that in May 2013 Starbucks changed its company policy to prohibit smoking within 25 feet of it stores. Local laws did not require this change in policy. Starbucks took this step because the company felt it would best protect the health and safety of its employees and customers.
Starbucks should take the same step with its gun policy and expressly prohibit the carrying of loaded firearms in its stores.
RESOURCES
Letter: Open letter to Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, from the Newtown Coalition for Corporate Responsibility
Petition: Tell Starbucks: “We Want Gun Sense with Our Coffee”