Starbucks Will Not Ban Guns but Asks Customers Not to Openly Carry

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said the coffee giant is not going to ban guns in its stores, but he is asking customers to quit carrying guns in the open just to make a point. 

Schultz’s gun-friendly policies have come under fire by gun control proponents in recent months.  

For example, in early September Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) joined Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in asking CEO Schultz to “foster a culture of peace and ban guns from [Starbucks] stores.”

As of now, there will be no ban. But Schultz is asking that “customers quit bringing guns into stores” for “Starbucks Appreciation Days.” These are celebrations held around the country in states where open carry is allowed, and they usually lead to a store full of customers wearing guns that are visible to other customers. 

Schultz said such days “[mischaracterize] the company’s stance on the issue,” and Starbucks Appreciation Days make other customers “uncomfortable.”

According to an Associated Press report, Schultz is not banning guns and he says customers carrying them will still be served. He is simply asking pro-gun customers to be less flamboyant in the way they handle the issue. 

Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins.