SEATTLE -- The debate over gun control comes to Seattle and lands at the doorstep of the first Starbucks store.
Three anti-gun groups - the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Washington CeaseFire and the Washington State Million Mom March Chapters - rallied at Seattle's Victor Steinbrueck Park today to urge Starbucks to change its policy on customers with guns.
Currently, wherever the local law allows it, Starbucks' policy also allows customers to carry guns in its stores. The company says all its outlets complies with 43 states that have open-carry weapons laws.
So far, the campaigners have gathered over 30,000 signatures, urging Starbucks to ban guns in their stores. The petition demands Starbucks "offer espresso shots, not gunshots."
"I think Starbucks will eventually have to declare all of these gun-free zones," said Ralph Fascitelli, president of Washington CeaseFire. "The vast majority of people, we believe, do no want guns. I mean, mothers with children do not want guns in Starbucks."
The Brady Campaign says so far, Peet's Coffee, Buckhorn Grill and California Pizza Kitchen have listened to customers' concerns and barred the open carrying of guns in their establishments. "We have been contacted by Starbucks customers," said Brady Campaign spokesman Brian Malte. "We're representing them. We feel strongly as they do that guns and latte and coffee do not belong in their stores."
However, some anti gun speakers were heckled. Heidi Yewman of Washington's Million Mom Walk was accused of "fearmongering." A group of gun rights supporters say guns in the coffee shop will keep Starbucks safer.
"Unfortunately, criminals don't care, and if they believe that Starbucks is a free haven - 'Oh, this is a gun free zone' - guess which place is going to get robbed," said one gun rights advocate.
Gun owner Sheri Sipin said private handguns might have changed the outcome of the shooting at the Parkland Forza coffee shop where four police officers were killed. "I know if I were there, I would have shot him, " Sipin said. "If I had my gun on me and he shot at those police officers, I would've been right there. I would've backed them up."
One customer in Seattle said it's a good policy because of the big customer base who agree with Washington's law on guns.
"There are probably I guess 92,000 NRA members in the state," said Jim Beal, gun owner. Another customer, Brandi Israel, said the choice should be Starbucks'. "It's been like this for how long now? So why change it now?"
The groups planned to deliver the signatures to Starbucks' headquarters today. Meanwhile, Starbucks has released the following statement in response to their open carry weapons policy:
We recognize that there is significant and genuine passion surrounding the issue of open carry weapons laws. Advocacy groups from both sides of this issue have chosen to use Starbucks as a way to draw attention to their positions.
While we deeply respect the views of all our customers, Starbucks long-standing approach to this issue remains unchanged. We comply with local laws and statutes in all the communities we serve. In this case, 43 of the 50 U.S. states have open carry weapon laws. Where these laws don't exist, we comply with laws that prohibit the open carrying of weapons. The political, policy and legal debates around these issues belong in the legislatures and courts, not in our stores.
At the same time, we have a security protocol for any threatening situation that might occur in our stores. Partners are trained to call law enforcement as situations arise. We will continuously review our procedures to ensure the highest safety guidelines are in place and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement.
We have examined this issue through the lens of partner (employee) and customer safety. Were we to adopt a policy different from local laws allowing open carry, we would be forced to require our partners to ask law abiding customers to leave our stores, putting our partners in an unfair and potentially unsafe position.
As the public debate continues, we are asking all interested parties to refrain from putting Starbucks or our partners into the middle of this divisive issue. As a company, we are extremely sensitive to the issue of gun violence in our society. Our Starbucks family knows all too well the dangers that exist when guns are used irresponsibly and illegally. Without minimizing this unfortunate reality, we believe that supporting local laws is the right way for us to ensure a safe environment for both partners and customers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
