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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release

More Than 25,000 Americans So Far Agree: No 'Room for Guns' in Coffeehouses

A Brady
Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence petition drive with CREDO Mobile
Company to urge the Starbucks Coffee Company to prohibit guns in its
retail outlets is attracting substantial support, with more than 25,000
people signing. The petitions will be delivered to the coffee retailer
soon.

The petition is at https://act.credoaction.com/campaign/starbucks_guns/?rc=brady.

WASHINGTON

A Brady
Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence petition drive with CREDO Mobile
Company to urge the Starbucks Coffee Company to prohibit guns in its
retail outlets is attracting substantial support, with more than 25,000
people signing. The petitions will be delivered to the coffee retailer
soon.

The petition is at https://act.credoaction.com/campaign/starbucks_guns/?rc=brady.

"We urge Starbucks to respect the rights of the vast majority of its
customers, who seek to take their families into its stores without
facing the intimidating presence of openly carried guns," said Paul
Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign.

Two weeks ago, after
gun enthusiasts began targeting California restaurants for meetings,
carrying their handguns out in the open, executives with Peet's Coffee
and Tea and California Pizza Kitchen announced they would exercise
their private property right to prohibit the "open carry" of guns in
retail locations. Concerned citizens in California started urging a
third chain, Starbucks, to similarly prohibit the "open carry" of
firearms in its retail establishments, but Starbucks rebuffed their
requests.

Last Thursday, Helmke sent a letter to Howard
Schultz, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Starbucks Coffee Company, asking the company to change its policy. No
response has been received.

The open display of firearms in
public places is inherently threatening and intimidating, and poses
risks to those nearby, to law enforcement and to the community. When
open carrying of guns has occurred in retail stores, other customers
legitimately become alarmed and the police often are called to the
scene, contributing to a volatile and potentially dangerous situation.
One Sheriff's Lieutenant in California said when police respond to a
"man with a gun" call, they have no idea what the intentions of the gun
carrier may be and "the result could be deadly."

The "open
carry" rallies and the Brady/CREDO petition drive have garnered
extensive media attention, not only in San Francisco where the
activities have been centered, and Seattle, where Starbucks is based,
but in the Los Angeles Times, CBS News online and other media outlets.

Visit CREDO Mobile's website at https://www.credomobile.com.
Formerly Working Assets, the company was established in 1985 to help
busy people make a difference in the world through everyday activities
like talking on the phone. To date, $65 million has been raised for
progressive causes, including over $250,000 for the Brady Campaign to
Prevent Gun Violence. The company also serves as a strong political
force, with a 1,000,000 strong CREDO Action activist community that
fights for progressive change.

Brady United formerly known as The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and its legislative and grassroots affiliate, the Brady Campaign and its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, is the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence. We are devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.