Just two days after a shooting at the Washington Navy Yard that killed 12, Starbucks has asked its customers not to bring guns into its stores.
“We are respectfully requesting those customers carrying a gun respect that and don’t bring their gun into Starbucks,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO, on CNN’s “New Day” on Wednesday morning.
He emphasized that it was a request, not a ban, and that those who carried firearms into the store would still be served and would not be asked to leave.
Just last month, gun-rights activists flocked to Starbucks for “Starbucks Appreciation Day.” Those who support gun rights began holding the appreciation day a few years ago to support the coffee chain, which is not pro-gun or anti-gun, but follows state laws despite pressure to ban firearms.
The store in Newton, Conn., closed early on the appreciation day in August out of respect for the 20 children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December, Executive Vice President Chris Carr said in a statement.
Permit-holding customers can openly carry their loaded weapons in the chain in more than 40 states.
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• Jacqueline Klimas can be reached at jklimas@washingtontimes.com.
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