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Gun control advocates are planning to target Staples, after having what they deemed a success anti-open carry and concealed carry campaign against Starbucks.
As previously reported by Off The Grid News, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz penned an open letter to customers requesting they no longer bring firearms into their restaurant chain. Until the letter was issued, the coffee giant had not taken a public stand on Second Amendment rights issues, leaving carrying policies up to individual locations and existing state law.
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a group formed in the wake of the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, is behind the efforts to convince businesses to thwart the concealed carry and open carry of guns in their establishments.
“We’re moving on from Starbucks to Staples,” said Shannon Watts, founder of the gun control group. “Last month there was an accidental shooting at a Staples in North Carolina, and there have been other incidents of gun violence inside stores. Staples allows individuals stores to prohibit guns, but there is no explicit corporate policy banning firearms.”
Staples likely lost many Second Amendment supporters as customers when the company prohibited a gun store from participating in a small business contest earlier this year. There were calls for a boycott after the anti-gun nature of the contest policy became public.
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The shooting at Staples involved a female gun owner shooting herself in the hand when she moved quickly to get her toddler’s hand out of her purse. The incident should serve as a stark reminder for gun owners to know how their safety works and to be aware of purse closures and children at all times. The avoidable incident should not serve as an accurate example of the diligence the vast majority of gun owners take when either openly carrying a weapon or concealing a firearm.
A fairly lengthy online search for similar incidents as noted by the gun control advocate came up empty. Perhaps Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America should turn their attention elsewhere, to situations where crime truly is taking place.
As is often cited, Chicago has some of the most stringent gun control laws in America – and some of the highest violent crime rates. The failure to secure a firearm and a resulting minor wound at a single Staples store does in no way compare with the amount of blood flowing because of gang-related violence.
Shannon Watts said her organization will look at other businesses, too.
“Obviously there are other companies we continue to target for pressure campaigns, including Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Cabela’s,” she said. “But they sell assault weapons. Companies like Staples should know better than to allow loaded guns inside their stores.” Watts Watts also claimed that more than 30 states allow citizens to legally buy and carry loaded weapons with no screening or training.” But that is false. According to the most recent state gun laws information available, only two states have such a policy. All other states where either open carry or concealed carry is permitted require at least two or more of the following: background check, training course, recertification, law enforcement approval.
When law-abiding citizens are not permitted to take a loaded gun into a store or public place, only the criminals with a desire to rob, rape or terrorize will be armed. We should feel far safer when shopping or attending an event knowing that trained gun owners are also locked, loaded, and present in the crowed. Gun-free zones do nothing more than put a target on the backs of our loved ones.
Will you continue to patronize Staples if the stores alter their open carry or concealed carry policies?
