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Starbucks is requesting customers not carry guns in the store.

LoneWolfUSMC

LoneWolfUSMC

Lt. Colonel
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 9, 2008
7,377
17
Southern Indiana
www.8541tactical.com
Well, at least they asked...I suppose.

Guess I'll frequent somewhere else when I have the urge for a store bought cup of coffee. I can see their side; it is their store, so I can't say they're are patently anti-gun. I think they're just trying to stay the heck out of the debate (I know as a business owner, I would), and are trying to not be used by either side of the debate.

You makes your policy, you takes you licks with the public...time will tell.
 
I do not know this to be a fact, I read it in an email.
Starblucks has or had sent a bunch of money to the antigunners/antifirearms groups. I havent done a search to know this for certain but it was in an article that I read.
There is no star bluks here, but I never really liked their stores from the first time I heard about them. When I go to a bigger city where there is a starbluks I`ll drive ten miles to a convenience store to get My cup of coffee.
 
Okay, maybe I can clear a bit of this up.

A few years ago, a guy open carried into the Starbucks right down the street that started all of this. Cops got called, he was forced to leave. Open Carry.org heard of it and staged a demonstration there. A bunch gathered with their weapons out and this time the two cops didn't wanna do anything facing the crowd. But that upset the crowd more, if there's a law enforce it, if not, don't make shit up. So a memo was sent from the Sheriff to the cops to leave everyone alone, that our law is very clear about open carry here. So far, no more problems. The memo worked.

But the box had been opened. Anti's begged Starbucks to join them, while more people carried to Starbucks. Now it's gotten to the point that I can go to the local one where it started, and some asshole will actually have his pistol sitting on the table next to the front door. Like he's the godfather or some shit. Obviously making a statement, just not a coherent one. And it grew from that one store to all over the nation.

So Starbucks just wants to tone it down. They don't wanna be ground zero over this shit, they said that since day one, and I don't blame 'em. They didn't ask for any of this and have been really good so far in not taking sides. I'll stop open carrying there on purpose (I'll stick with concealed or open when I'm open anyway) and shift my focus onto Fred Meyers, who I've heard is staunch anti-gun and will ask you to leave. It appears that's only in Seattle, I haven't been able to invoke the ire of the manager here behind Ft. Lewis yet, maybe they changed. I open carried in my bank yesterday, got the same service I always have.

Sometimes it just takes a little protesting, flexing the BOR and toning it up. But sometimes it is prudent to know when to tone it down too. Securing your rights and shoving your ideas down others' throats, those are two very different things separated sometimes by a very thin line.

If you wanna protest, carry open downtown Seattle like I did last week. Go into every store or restaurant you feel like, smile and have a good time. Exercising rights isn't a political thing, it's an American thing. Just don't single out Starbucks for it --you're a little late to the game and nothing good is coming out of it anymore. I'd like to show up to the Ceasefire events open carrying myself, but they keep 'em super secret.

Good luck, I hope this post helps clear up some of the Starbucks fiasco. Not many folks know where it was born out of or how cool they've been all this time (they sat out an anti-boycott, which didn't last long).
 
While I really appreciated Starbucks' stance allowing OC while it lasted, I think this request is still a well thought out and courteous request from customers on the Pro@A side, especially considering the current overtones of popular culture. If Starbucks (or any company) is going to stay as publicly @A friendly...they will need our support not our cold shoulder. Even if you don't like/don't drink Starbucks coffee, a simple email saying thanks for respecting the same freedoms we love would go a lot further in helping to preserve them than taking your ball and going home.

I have seen more than my share of people who OC that present a very antagonistic and scary sight in the public eye (including mine), doing absolutely no good in combating propaganda or raising comfortable awareness. I don't see a "friendlier" way to help keep those @sshats from being more of a detriment in this highly visible arena.
 
Until they post a sign, per Texas State law, stating you cannot posess a gun on premise, I think Ill continue to carry in Starbucks. Then again, since Im the cops, I think Ill carry in Starbucks anyway...
 
SniperCJ said:
Until they post a sign, per Texas State law, stating you cannot posess a gun on premise, I think Ill continue to carry in Starbucks. Then again, since Im the cops, I think Ill carry in Starbucks anyway...
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They only asked for people not to open carry, unless you are LEO. You can still conceal carry, besides we don't have open carry in Texas.
 
Shooter McGavin said:
They only asked for people not to open carry, unless you are LEO. You can still conceal carry, besides we don't have open carry in Texas.
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I think that politicians pass these laws because they are afraid. example:
A guy walking down the street packin His firearm, some asks, where are You going, to a revolution, an explanation ensues, Well wait a minit and i`ll go get mine. pretty soon there is a whole town, county, state, country fighting the politicians.
And that is what they are afraid of.
Would LEO be with the people or with the politicians ??? Kind of like what is going on in the world right now.
 
A link to the company website with the actual statement from the CEO.

http://www.starbucks.com/blog/an-open-letter-from-howard-schultz/1268

I get a little annoyed with those who don't see it his way. If you conceal. I mean truly conceal. You won't even get a look-see.

But, carrying open reminds me of that line in the Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. "Pancho wore his gun outside his pants, for all the honest world to feel." When out in the wide open and you may need it, I can see carrying outside. But, in the middle of public, it represents a danger to most who don't understand guns. It's a symbol of power greater than the power it actually carries. If you need the power of a gun, and in a lot of cases you do (that's why I have a CCW), use it like what it is. A tool to get you out of trouble, not into trouble.

FWIW, I see this as noted above step one: sugarcoating. In becoming a don't carry here, store chain.
But, it's also not like pro-gun people were respectful in not trampling the flowers getting to the doorway. Starbucks has said they don't want to get in the middle. And pro-gun people who push the right to be 'in-your-face' about have done just that.

I won't be buying any coffee soon at any Starbucks, but I can say I understand their position. I also know they will more than likely take the road I don't want to see them go.
 
We can read into it, but it is pretty simple. The CEO drew a line in the sand; He does not prefer OC in his shops, I dont prefer to spend my money in his shops. There are plenty of small mom and pop places that can use the revenue.
 
They don't have to worry about me, as I don't like Starbucks. Overpriced and lousy tasting coffee. Plenty of other places to spend my money.
 
All the monkeys that want to sit with their firearms on the table are forgetting one important part of proper manners. YOU KEEP YOUR DAMN FIREARMS HOLSTERED! A proper statement to counter the businesses who wish to subvert LAW is to maintain proper manners when carrying. Don't be the enema nozzle! Don't be the assclown who does dumbshit to draw attention to the firearm. Act like a normal freakin individual and just go about your business. Want to bring the antis more ammunition? Act like the asshat you are and remove your firearm from it's holster, and put it on the table. I mean really, that is serious douchebaggery!
 
Unfortunately I can't blame the man. As a business man he was faced with what seemed to have been radicals from both sides and needed to get rid of both in order to make sure he keeps his target customers. Do I like it, no. When I carry, the last thing I want to do is attract attention and those who demand it while carrying I would consider dangerous. They cause unwanted attention and put all of us at risk by creating "Events" such as the one in question. If we want to fight for our right to defend ourselves we need to start by being responsible civilians. That means making rational decisions. Recently in Florida we used to get warned or even ticketed for "Shadowing" which means if your weapon shows through your shirt while bending over or similar actions a police officer has the right to ticket you. Recently they've removed that law and have witnessed people deliberately "Shadowing" as much as tucking their shirt between their body and holster clearly showing the outline of a handgun. That to me is reckless and want no part of it. Unfortunately it's part of life and we need to deal with idiots like this as much as the gun activists. Again, I don't blame Schultz for doing what he did. That's just my opinion.
 
And my days of drinking shitty coffee are over. My other half likes their nasty coffee and pastries. Now i have an excuse to say no. Does anyone know of a gun friendly place with good coffee in North Houston?
 
The request with a wink and a nod is not unreasonable. It appeals to the more intelligent of us that do carry to take their position into consideration as many of their customers of uninformed and fall prey to those who monger fear and hysteria.

Starbucks is not the place for a political discussion its a place to get an overpriced cup of coffee and to pretend you are first class, really smart and really know what you are doing although you have just proved the opposite by forking over your cash. I could go into this in depth but I think the former statement is self evident.

This site is committed to non political discussion and I am not posting in that spirit. I think we need to consider Starbucks position. I am just saying Starbucks is not the enemy - we have met the enemy and sometimes he is us.
 
Soct said:
And my days of drinking shitty coffee are over. My other half likes their nasty coffee and pastries. Now i have an excuse to say no. Does anyone know of a gun friendly place with good coffee in North Houston?
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They are only addressing OPEN carry. If you walk into my store with your 44 mag hanging off your hip, I will inform you that you can not openly display a firearm in public and I will ask you to remove it. You can concealed carry all you want.
 
Name Enough said:
They are only addressing OPEN carry. If you walk into my store with your 44 mag hanging off your hip, I will inform you that you can not openly display a firearm in public and I will ask you to remove it. You can concealed carry all you want.
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To me it doesn't matter what they were addressing. I'm a vote with my wallet type. I don't open carry ever, except when I'm on duty. The matter for me is that I want my money to go someplace that supports our fundamental freedoms.
 
I don't like Starbucks anyway. But I believe you carry concealed. I think sand warrior said it pretty well.
 
Starbucks encourages carrying at there establishments. They just prefer it concealed. This comes from the school of thought that "open carry" makes you a target. I actually agree with this theory but believe the decision should be left up to the carrier and not forced upon them. I always carry concealed. I don't want anyone to know I have a gun. My opinion is, if someone is going to shoot up a coffee house with me in it, carrying openly will just insure that I am the first one shot.
 
From what I am reading they are simply trying to be Switzerland. They ask you NOT to bring them, mainly due to the socially inept retards that bring their ARs and 50 cals and parade them around like Starbucks hosted a 'gun day' in order to say that they didn't ask for this. However, if you do bring a weapon, they are specifically NOT going to do anything about it unless you're being a fucking idiot.

This is where the confusion began and why some people who can't see past the gun/no gun issue are having issues.

The way I see it is that they want to stay in the middle and out of it, which is what I wish every company and stupid fuck actor/athlete/whatever that puts their .02 in would do. No-one should give a fuck what Brad Pitt or Starbucks or Ace Hardware or anyone thinks about your rights, regardless of which one it is. The entire problem is that people do care and base their decisions on what some stupid fucking liberal or generic fucking food chain with zero real world knowledge on the subject thinks.

Starbucks is simply saying, keep us out of it. We're ASKING that you don't come because we're not sponsoring a fucking gun show here. However, if you do come, its your right to do so where its legal and we'll not say anything about it.
 
anyone that would pay 5 or 6 bucks for a cup of coffee doesnt need to be owning a firearm Anyway since they are obviously mentally disturbed, just my opinion
 
Something of note here. A weapon out of it's holster for no reason in public is called "brandishing". Brandishing is illegal in most places where I've been. If you carry, the weapon DOES NOT come out of the holster unless you are physically threatened.
 
Starbucks is requesting customers not carry guns in the store.

The Starbucks CEO may know more about firearms and tactics than we give him credit for. Starbucks employees are not armed. If uncle Elmo openly displays a firearm, and a bad guy relieves him of it, it will have been a good business practice for Starbucks to have asked that people not open carry in their stores.
 
Starbucks is requesting customers not carry guns in the store.

Oakflat said:
It all comes down to the old saying about anything in excess is not a good idea.
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Except perhaps moderation; you could probably have an excess of that. LOL!
 
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roggom said:
We can read into it, but it is pretty simple. The CEO drew a line in the sand; He does not prefer OC in his shops, I dont prefer to spend my money in his shops. There are plenty of small mom and pop places that can use the revenue.
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And when a bunch of attention whores start bringing slung ar15's into the small mom and pop shops in some attempt to make a statement, how long before those shops kindly ask the AW's to take their bullshit elsewhere?

I see no fault in the business decision of this. Starbucks sells coffee. They tried/are trying hard to keep out of the pro/anti gun debate like any business should. Attention whores on both sides of the issue are the reason they had to finally make a statement.

...Off to get my morning Starbucks mocha.
 
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Graham said:
Except perhaps moderation; you could probably have an excess of that. LOL!
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haha yeah, I hear ya. There will never be a happy medium with this. I OC when needed for utility purposes. Sometimes I leave the piece in the vehicle and wear an empty holster and sometimes not. I have never OC'd to prove a point. However, times are changing and less and less people have a reason to OC which causes others to become overly sensitive around firearms.
 
300sniper said:
And when a bunch of attention whores start bringing slung ar15's into the small mom and pop shops in some attempt to make a statement, how long before those shops kindly ask the AW's to take their bullshit elsewhere?

I see no fault in the business decision of this. Starbucks sells coffee. They tried/are trying hard to keep out of the pro/anti gun debate like any business should. Attention whores on both sides of the issue are the reason they had to finally make a statement.

...Off to get my morning Starbucks mocha.
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Again, line in the sand. A slippery slope scenario changes nothing.

Starbucks is a Business, they have the right to run their business anyway they want. Consumers have the right to shop anywhere they want.
 
Shooter McGavin said:
They only asked for people not to open carry, unless you are LEO. You can still conceal carry, besides we don't have open carry in Texas.
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Yeah, and like I said above, most folks are missing the entire point. It's become a garbled national news "story" that isn't national here. Here in WA where this originated, we do have open carry. One guy got hassled by two cops in a store down the street from me one time, the audio is on Youtube. The next day or so, a bunch of Opencarry.org folks showed up, all open carrying. Cops showed up, didn't wanna flex their idea of the law this time.

The protests here were to illustrate to the police, who were starting to get out of control, that we set the laws, they just enforce them, and we can change them anytime we like and then those will be the laws they enforce, like it or not. It worked, a memo was issued, and now, last weekend as others in the past, I open carried all over downtown Seattle making it a point to go by and visit businesses that don't like that kind of thing, true anti establishments. I've done it a few times. I don't even get looks, nor asked to leave. It's not an issue, not until some cops come along and enforce, well, no law --just some made up shit. It's only an issue if the establishment asks you to leave and you refuse --then it's trespassing. No gun window stickers are a waste of a $1.00. They don't mean anything here without the law to back it up --and only three places are off limits by state law: true bars, big outdoor concerts and courthouses/jails --but they have to provide a weapons check.

Now though, some folks didn't get the memo that the protest is over. There's this one asshole that literally sits at the outside table by the door at the ground zero Starbucks in Spanaway with his pistol ON the table! Really!? I wouldn't want that at my business either, would you? Would you want your business being used as ground zero for a political debate? Would you want your customers to have to walk past armed persons with drawn pistols just to enter your coffee store? Didn't think so.

Think twice about jumping on this bandwagon. They aren't against you. They just don't wanna be dragged into the fight. Keep it concealed and they don't care, really they don't. A smile doesn't hurt either, it makes folks less uneasy and fence sitters don't view you as a threat hellbent on shoving firearms down everyone's throats. Be smart about this people.

Besides, it was just a year or two ago that everyone was buying extra coffee to support them because they wouldn't bend to the anti's... They still aren't, but now they don't want your gold plated and unholstered Desert Eagle to be the first thing they see coming into the store. Are some of you guys that fickle to think this is against you?

There's plenty of reasons to boycott Starbucks. The carry debate just isn't one them.
 
I don't know why people say that Starbucks is over priced, I went and got a cup of coffee yesterday from my local one and it was under $2 I believe. Now if you get their fancy flavored drinks, it get's a little higher, and obviously if you buy the big gulp cup it's more expensive.

I personally don't see and issue with what he said, and based on what the 2A people are doing(walking in with slung rifles, laying firearms on the table while they sit there and wish someone would say something anti 2A) I can't fault him in the least bit. If people were being complete morons and they were respectfully carrying and safely carrying for the sole purpose of protecting themselves, this would not have been done.

I will continue to go to Starbucks and buy a cup of coffee if I need one and am near one of their stores, I will also continue to take my year old son there for his smoothie because he loves them.
 
I carried happily in Starbucks last night, what they dont know wont hurt them
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Exactly, concealed is concealed. If someone knows you're carrying, its not concealed.

I don't like Starbucks coffee. Not one in my town anyway. Once a year I go to Portland to visit my daughter. I hang around the Clackamas Town Center while she's at work. Starbucks is close to Barnes and Noble book store. I normally get a book, then some Starbucks Ice Tea and set in there outside tables, smoke and read, waiting for my daughter to get off work.

I always carry, and I don't see me changing my habits any time soon. If they decide to put in metal detectors or something I'll get my coffee/tea elsewhere.
 
Ha! This is hysterical. When Starbuck said they would abide by the laws set forth by the "Fed and State" people cheered and produced "Guns and Coffee" stickers, patches, shirts, and other such propaganda. Now that they have "requested" the people not do it, everyone his bashing them. Guess what, they are still abiding by the laws. Until a sign is posted you can carry all you want. This is still America right? Land of the Free? Free to Choose? .... Maybe not. Lets not have all of our other rights trampled by those of us who are marching to support the 2nd.

Chip
 
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I normally get a book, then some Starbucks Ice Tea and set in there outside tables, smoke and read, waiting for my daughter to get off work.
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That's still legal?
 
If you ask me about open carry vs concealed carry, I am all for slung rifles/shotguns/whatever you want to carry, wherever you want to carry. Go ahead, sling a rifle 24/7 wherever you are. That sucker gets heavy after a while. It rubs the clothing til it needs to be sewn up, slings get rough and start to rub wherever they are on the body, come on, carry all you want, have at it. The mroe of you all carry, the less I won't have to...I'll just carry a hammer or soemthing in my pack and be done with it
 
Starbucks is requesting customers not carry guns in the store.

Switchblade said:
If you ask me about open carry vs concealed carry, I am all for slung rifles/shotguns/whatever you want to carry, wherever you want to carry. Go ahead, sling a rifle 24/7 wherever you are. That sucker gets heavy after a while. It rubs the clothing til it needs to be sewn up, slings get rough and start to rub wherever they are on the body, come on, carry all you want, have at it. The mroe of you all carry, the less I won't have to...I'll just carry a hammer or soemthing in my pack and be done with it
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When people ask me why I carry a pistol, I tell them it's because too many people would freak out if carried my rifle.

There's no tactical advantage to open carry. Uncle Sam can do it; he knows how. But Uncle Elmo is a different matter: He is simply bringing a gun to whatever conflict may start around him.
 
Perhaps Starbucks will require that customers wash their hair and shower before coming in the store. There are many traits of Starbucks customers that I find offensive.
 
I frequent Starbucks quite often and in my state can open carry. However I prefer my double shot of espresso to be accompanied by 10 shots of 45 via concealed carry. No reason to get the natives restless, express my views to idiot strangers or be distracted over a good cup of coffee. I like their coffee and its an atmosphere where I can read and get business done via the net. If you don't like their political view or their coffee go elsewhere.
 
Starbucks is requesting customers not carry guns in the store.

sandwarrior said:
Have you seen some of those peoples hair? It's not the hair that'll kill ya, it's whats in it...
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LOL. We used to call it RNFN: Red Not Found in Nature. I still have two bottles of it, bought in Bratislava, for use in self defense only.
 
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Graham said:
When people ask me why I carry a pistol, I tell them it's because too many people would freak out if carried my rifle.

There's no tactical advantage to open carry. Uncle Sam can do it; he knows how. But Uncle Elmo is a different matter: He is simply bringing a gun to whatever conflict may start around him.
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The Israeli's started allowing everyone to carry long arms or whatever in the open because they were experiencing what we now call active shooter attacks. We have seen these same type of attacks increase over the last four years in our nation. The frequency of these attacks is increasing year by year along with population growth.
The fact is, with people seeming to just legally go buy a firearm, then a day, month, or year later go shoot innocents, their is merit to find a good solution that works in open carry. Sure, no amount of gun control will stop this. The only thing that will stop this is a population carrying slung or openly holstered arms. The days of being a gun free zone of targets should be behind US. The shooter lives out a fantasy where he can easily shoot unarmed people at will. Deny that, and we pretty much solve the problem.
 
Starbucks is requesting customers not carry guns in the store.

Switchblade said:
The Israeli's started allowing everyone to carry long arms or whatever in the open because they were experiencing what we now call active shooter attacks. We have seen these same type of attacks increase over the last four years in our nation. The frequency of these attacks is increasing year by year along with population growth.

The fact is, with people seeming to just legally go buy a firearm, then a day, month, or year later go shoot innocents, their is merit to find a good solution that works in open carry. Sure, no amount of gun control will stop this. The only thing that will stop this is a population carrying slung or openly holstered arms. The days of being a gun free zone of targets should be behind US. The shooter lives out a fantasy where he can easily shoot unarmed people at will. Deny that, and we pretty much solve the problem.
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In most of the Middle East no one bats an eye when you carry openly in public. Of course, they have other problems.

Don't forget, though, that in Israel in the 80s the military started requiring empty chamber/magazine-out because there were too many poorly trained people having NDs on public transportation.
 
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Switchblade said:
The Israeli's started allowing everyone to carry long arms or whatever in the open because they were experiencing what we now call active shooter attacks. We have seen these same type of attacks increase over the last four years in our nation. The frequency of these attacks is increasing year by year along with population growth.
The fact is, with people seeming to just legally go buy a firearm, then a day, month, or year later go shoot innocents, their is merit to find a good solution that works in open carry. Sure, no amount of gun control will stop this. The only thing that will stop this is a population carrying slung or openly holstered arms. The days of being a gun free zone of targets should be behind US. The shooter lives out a fantasy where he can easily shoot unarmed people at will. Deny that, and we pretty much solve the problem.
Click to expand...

I'll have to strongly disagree. As a pro 2A guy, I still like going around without having to wear a gun when I don't have to. There was a time in this country when things settled down, we had peace and prosperity (2 big reasons why violence is now on the rise) and people were happy to go out not having to wear a gun.

My biggest issue with all of this carry/no carry is too many people I see carrying think it's a lifestyle you have to live out. Remember, a gun is a tool. A tool you use to protect yourself or take game when necessary. Or compete with. Packin' it around on the outside say's you're dangerous, leave you alone. It's like saying "I'm dangerous, but I'm on the good side." People with a fear of guns don't hear the "...but I'm on the good side." Yeah that irritates me that people think because you'll stand up for yourself that you're all about violence. But as anyone who's carried knows, that violence comes a lot faster than you can talk your way out of it.

Being prepared doesn't mean you have to show the world you are scary.
 
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One only needs to Google Israeli terrorist attacks foiled by armed Israeli citizens to find out how many, and how often an armed populations is able to defend itself against those wanting to kill them. Kinda like at FT. Hood, or the Navy Yard, or ............
 
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