Firearms, Coffee, Open Carry, and Controversy

Gun laws differ from state-to-state.  For example, in Nevada one may have a loaded handgun in the cup holder of one’s car but in California you’d go to jail for that.  In Nevada you can legally carry a loaded handgun as long as it is in plain sight but in California, after some Black Panthers tried that, the law was changed so your handgun must be unloaded but in plain sight.  It seems as though some  gun owners are reminding people of their legal right to keep and bear arms by walking around some cities with their handgun on their hip in a holster but the ammunition in a pocket away from the gun.  And they’re walking into Starbucks to order their lattes like this.

I first learned about the Open Carry movement while watching the local news in San Francisco.  People will show up at a pre-determined place wearing their sidearm (unloaded) and hangout, drinking coffee or talking.  Many members of the public, alarmed at the sight of people openly carrying a handgun, will call the police.  When the police arrive they are allowed to verify that the handgun is unloaded and, if it is, there are no charges.

The movement seeks to exercise their rights by reminding people that they are allowed, in California, to openly carry and unloaded weapon.  Peet’s Coffee and California Pizza Kitchen have issued statements saying they will not allow people openly carrying to enter their stores of be on their property while Starbucks has said it’s not their place to discriminate against people who are following the law.

CPK does not allow guests other than uniformed officers to display firearms in our restaurants. CPK is a family oriented restaurant and the comfort and well being of our guests is a top priority. We are concerned that the open display of firearms would be particularly disturbing to children and their parents.

While Peet’s Coffee & Tea respects and values all individuals’ rights under local, state and federal laws, our policy is not to allow customers carrying firearms in our stores or on our outdoor seating premises unless they are uniformed or identified law enforcement officers. Like most other private businesses, particularly retail establishments, we believe this policy is in the best interests of all of our customers, regardless of their personal beliefs. In no way does this policy conflict with or discriminate under the law, and it does not take a position on the law.

I find these statements highly ironic.  Little Johnny, whom CPK says might witness something “particularly disturbing” probably goes home and plays Xbox’s Halo2 all night with his friends online shooting and killing each other for giggles.  Little Johnny’s parent should be responsible enough to educate their child about the differences between responsible and irresponsible firearm ownership.  Such is the idea behind the fact that so many under-21 Americans engage in binge drinking and other irresponsible behavior because drinking is considered taboo until such a late age.

Starbucks is to be applauded for the stand they are taking:

“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,” the company said in its statement.

The anti-gun smear organization, the Brady Campaign, has, of course, been right out in front trying to intimidate Starbucks into changing their policy:

Brian Malte of the Brady Campaign said carrying guns intimidates and frightens people, and said the group thinks Starbucks will “do the right thing” and change its policy.

“They’re putting their workers in harm’s way by allowing people to carry guns into their stores, especially open carry,” Malte said.

Of course, the Brady Campaign is silent when such inconvenient truths are disclosed such as the fact that:

Even as gun ownership has surged in the US in the past year, violent crime, including murder and robbery, has dropped steeply.

After several years of crime rates holding relatively steady, the FBI is reporting that violent crimes – including gun crimes – dropped dramatically in the first six months of 2009, with murder down 10 percent across the US as a whole.

The Brady Campaign also ignores the fact that whenever a state allows its citizens to carry a loaded, concealed handgun legally they always see their murder rate drop.  They also forget to mention that people who are carrying openly are doing so legally whereas the “other” patrons who might be packing heat surupticiously are most likely breaking the law and couldn’t care about being responsible.

Although I rarely buy coffee I certainly will be taking my business to Starbucks and not to Peets (or California Pizza Kitchen for food).

To learn more about the Open Carry movement, visit their website.

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