Starbucks falls foul of smoking gun

The pressure group, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, is asking Starbucks to ban guns from its stores in all states.

‘In light of the epidemic of gun violence in America, as well as recent shootings at Starbucks stores, Moms Demand Action fails to see the logic in the company’s determination that second-hand smoke is more dangerous to its customers than loaded guns,’ the group said in a press note issued through PR Newswire. ‘As mothers, we wonder why Starbucks is willing to put our children at risk by allowing customers to openly carry loaded weapons in its stores. We are asking our members and all American moms to send a letter to Starbucks today asking them to ban guns from all of their stores, regardless of state laws on open carry: http://action.momsdemandaction.org/page/speakout/dear-starbucks.’

The reference to second-hand smoke came about because of a Starbucks announcement that it was going to ban smoking within 25 feet of its storefronts starting on June 1. The announcement said also that electronic cigarettes would be banned at the company’s 7,000 US locations on that date.

According to Starbucks, the ban was being put in place to protect customers’ health even in states where laws don’t prevent smoking outside.

And there’s the rub. In states where it is legal to carry weapons openly, Starbucks refuses to ban loaded guns from inside its stores. In the case of guns, Starbucks was quoted as saying that it complied with local laws and statutes in the communities it served. ‘Our long-standing approach to this issue remains unchanged and we abide by the laws that permit open carry in 43 U.S. states,’ it apparently said. ‘Where these laws don’t exist, openly carrying weapons in our stores is prohibited.’