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Starbucks has asked its customers to leave the firearms at home. The coffee giant has set the standard policy to leave firearms at home when at any of its stores or outdoor seating areas, according to the New York Times.
Starbucks commented that its decision to ban firearms in its shops was not related to the Sandy Hook Tragedy where a psychopath killed 26 children and adults in Newtown Conn., before the holidays last year. The company also mentioned that this decision had nothing to do with the Washington Navy Yard shooting rampage that left 13 people dead.
Howard Schultz, chief executive of Starbucks commented on the company’s new stance. “I’ve spent a significant amount of personal time on this issue in the last several months and I’ve seen the emotionally charged nature of the issue and how polarizing it is on both sides.†He feels however that many customers aren’t truly comfortable with guns in the holsters of people on their premises. The CEO continues in saying that the experience may be jarring, and that when small children are around, customers may feel that the presence of guns makes them feel uncomfortable.
Baristas and other employees will not harass people who come in with guns in holsters or confront them. Nor will there be signs. Schultz comments, “we are going to serve them as we would serve anyone else.†He expects both sides of the arguments proponents to be disappointed and angry, but that this kind of compromise always is a middle ground.
Starbucks had been “unwillingly co-opted†but ‘open-carry’ supporters while being ‘vilified; by gun control proponents. Schultz wrote an open letter to be published where he mentions that firearm supports “disingenuously portray Starbucks as a champion of open carry.â€
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Fans of Starbucks have commented that this is a good business decision. Maybe families with young children and college students love Starbucks and they will feel safer without firearms on the premises.
Schultz finalizes his company’s stance, “I want to make it very clear that Starbucks is not a policy maker and as a company we are not pro-gun or anti-gun.†Coffee fans of the world’s largest coffee retailer will adjust to the new law, while anti-gun proponents will sign in relief at their agenda’s furthering.
