Starbucks Responds

A few days ago I thanked Starbucks for their continuing to allow carry in their stores.

Today, I got this response:

Dear Lima,

Thank you for contacting Starbucks Coffee Company.

  Thank you for your feedback regarding Starbucks' policy on open carry laws.

At Starbucks, we deeply respect the views of our customers and recognize that there is significant and genuine passion surrounding the issue of open carry weapons laws. We comply with local laws and statutes in the communities we serve. Our long-standing approach to this issue remains unchanged and we abide by the laws that permit open carry in 43 U.S. states. Where these laws don't exist, openly carrying weapons in our stores is prohibited.

As the public debate around this issue continues, we encourage customers and advocacy groups from both sides to share their input with their public officials. We are extremely sensitive to the issue of gun violence in our society and believe that supporting local laws is the right way for us to ensure a safe environment for both partners and customers.
 

If you have any further questions or concerns that I was unable to address, please feel free to let me know. 

Warm Regards,

Kelsey F

Customer Relations

Starbucks Coffee Company

800 STARBUC (782-7282)

Monday through Friday, 5AM to 8PM (PST)

Good on ya, Starbucks!! I especially like the part that says they "believe that supporting local laws is the right way." We do, too!

It's Not The Government's Job

Every now and then I get comments or emails from people who, I believe, really do mean well. These people are not stupid or ignorant. A bit misinformed or disillusioned, maybe, but that doesn't make them idiots. We all have things we misunderstand.

Yesterday, I got this one:

I think USA govt has failed in its task, if the citizents feel a need to carry a gun with em everyday and be prepared to use it any time.

To put it rather bluntly; it's not the government's job to protect its citizens. At least not in the US. We are big boys and girls. We are responsible for protecting ourselves. Now, there are citizens who volunteer to assist in our protection (when able) and to enforce laws and punish those who break them, but the idea of government protection for every and all average citizens is rather quite absurd.

Why?

Because it's an impossible job.

We are citizens of our government, not subjects. We are not children and we are not slaves. The government should not have to protect us and, if we knew what was good for us, we shouldn't want them to.

As Benjamin Franklin put it:

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

 And that's exactly what would happen if we allowed our government to try to protect us vs us protecting ourselves. Some would say (and I wouldn't necessarily disagree with them) that we've already given up too much liberty under the guise of safety (TSA restrictions for flying ring any bells?). The laws "for our safety" keep getting more and more restrictive yet, everywhere, we hear of people getting around them or breaking them and completely nullifying the "safety" promised us by their enactment. Therefore we are stuck with exactly what Franklin warned us about, neither liberty nor safety.

So, no, the US government has not failed in its task if its citizens feel the need to carry a gun. First, because it is not the US government's task and second, because it would be failing in its task if it tried to be our safety.

We, the people, have the liberty to defend ourselves and the safety that comes with that.

Starbucks: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

So the anti-gun folks are mad at Starbucks.

Why? Because Starbucks allows carrying of firearms in their stores.

WHY STARBUCKS?  Currently, Starbucks allows guns and assault weapons to be openly carried in its stores (in 43 states) and concealed and carried in its stores (in 49 states) (See Photos). Starbucks' compliance with the National Rifle Association's Pro-Gun Agenda was exposed in 2010 when members of the "open carry" movement began meeting in popular chains, such as California Pizza Kitchen, Peets, IKEA, Disney and Starbucks openly carrying their handguns and assault rifles. (Types of Guns)

To protect their customers and employees, all of the retail chains—except for Starbucks— banned guns from being carried in their stores.

And in an attempt to teach Starbucks a lesson, the anti-gun folks are trying to organize a Starbucks boycott starting on February 14, 2012.

They want people to email Starbucks and tell them not to allow guns in their stores. They want you to stop buying their products wherever they are sold and spread the word on social networking sights like Facebook and Twitter.

There have been some pro-gun people who have tried to organize boycotts of particular anti-gun stores and for some reason we never hear of those boycotts being successful because--let's face it--some of those corporations don't care about a small blip in their sales do to a minority group boycott. There are a lot of antis out there who can be pretty vociferous and let's not let them win. This time, however, I would love to see us do something positive and support a business that supports the legal rights of those of us who carry firearms legally.

What can we do?

We can contact Starbucks (Really, contact them!) and thank them for supporting our Second Amendment rights and not being intimidated by the threats of the anti-crowd.

We can buy their products! I know not everyone likes to spend so much money on a cup of coffee or even have a Starbucks near them but there are a lot of Starbucks products out there. Coffee creamer, a gift card for your wife, mom, girlfriend, random stranger, put aside a couple dollars a week to support a company that supports us.

Finally, we can show our support! There are a lot of pro-gun blogs spreading the word but keep the good word going. Spread the word through those same social networking sites and keep the good word spreading.

Also, for fun, my dear husband is attempting to organize a Starbucks and guns photo shoot visual. Take a photo with your carry firearm (or any firearm) with a Starbucks product and post it. Post it anywhere! Facebook, here, on pro-gun forums or websites. Keep the support going!