Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in partnership with CREDO Action
What would your reaction be if you and your kids walked into the local Starbucks and, while contemplating the choice between a latte and a mocha cappuccino, you noticed several fellow customers had semi-automatic pistols and ammunition magazines hanging from their hips?
This scenario has become more than a flight of imagination. In several communities in California, and elsewhere, it has become reality.
Welcome to the "open carry" movement, an effort by "gun rights" extremists to foist their interpretation of the Second Amendment on the rest of us by openly carrying handguns in public places. While virtually all states have at least some minimal restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons, few states do anything to regulate the "open carry" of firearms.
Particularly in the Bay Area in Northern California, "open carry" adherents have been gathering in Starbucks and other coffee shops and restaurants -- their semi-automatic pistols and revolvers in plain view -- apparently to make an ideological statement.
The sight of such gun-toters in Starbucks reminds us of the incidents last summer, when anti-Obama protestors appeared at political events and "town hall meetings" with handguns and assault rifles openly strapped to their bodies -- including events attended by President Obama himself.
The "open carry" folks view this as "normalizing" their self-defined "right" to carry guns with them at all times wherever they please, regardless of its impact on public safety. But what about the rights of everyone else who wishes to be free from lethal weapons in public places, except for trained law enforcement?
Surveys show that the presence of more guns in a community does not make people safer, or feel safer; indeed, it has the opposite effect. Studies show that the more guns there are, the more gun violence there is in that location. In addition, 80 percent of those who don't own guns say they would feel less safe if more people in their community acquired guns; only eight percent would feel safer. Even among gun owners, roughly equal proportions would feel less safe if more people had guns versus those who would feel more safe.
Take the reaction of one coffee shop customer in San Ramon, California when faced with a group of pistol packers: "I'm scared. I'm getting out of here. They say they want to make a statement. What's wrong with a T-shirt?"
The "open carry" gatherings provoked an immediate reaction from Californians who were appalled that coffee shops and restaurants would allow guns on their premises. At least two national chains have responded responsibly.
For example, Peet's Tea & Coffee stated that its policy "is not to allow customers carrying firearms in our stores" unless they are uniformed law enforcement officers. It also indicated that it would post a notification of that policy in all its stores and would call the local police for assistance should a customer display a firearm in the future.
After being alerted by local chapters of the Brady Campaign about a scheduled "open carry" meeting at one its Northern California stores, California Pizza Kitchen issued a statement that it "does not allow guests other than uniformed officers to display firearms in our restaurants" because of its concern "that the open display of firearms would be particularly disturbing to children and their parents."
But now we come to Starbucks. When asked about the company's policy on the "open carry" of firearms in its stores, its Customer Relations Department responded to the Brady Campaign's California chapters that "Starbucks does not have a corporate policy regarding customers and weapons; we defer to federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding this issue."
Here's the problem with that answer: generally speaking - and certainly in California - businesses have the right to bar guns on their premises. It is their property and, just as they can prohibit entry by people with bare feet, they can do the same for people with guns.
Despite its response, Starbucks clearly does have a policy and it is one that should be deeply disturbing to the vast majority of its customers.
Starbucks has apparently chosen to allow civilians to carry semi-automatic pistols and possibly even assault weapons into its stores.
Such a policy is disturbing to law enforcement officials as well as Starbucks patrons. As a San Mateo County Sheriff's Lieutenant put it, "Open carry advocates create a potentially very dangerous situation," because when police respond to a "man with a gun" call, they have no idea what the intentions of the gun carrier are and "the result could be deadly."
If a mistake in judgment or perception results in a shooting at a Starbucks, will the company still have no "corporate policy regarding customers and weapons"?
This is no idle consideration. Just this past September, at a picnic hosted by "open carry" activists at a Michigan state park, a gun activist was charged with reckless use of a firearm after he unintentionally fired his semi-automatic handgun in a parking lot. Then there was the California "open carry" activist in December who was arrested for carrying his .357 magnum revolver near a school, complaining, "I just can't see what I did wrong."
Even more disturbing was the man - "of high interest to the FBI because of his alignment with violent demonstrators at abortion clinics" - who was arrested for possession of a semi-automatic handgun which he was carrying openly outside a North Carolina abortion clinic last October.
As these and other incidents show, the "open carry" movement clearly has implications beyond Starbucks. It is part of a broader campaign, led by the National Rifle Association, to force guns into every corner of American society by "normalizing" the carrying of guns in public places, openly and concealed.
The gun pushers want an America where there is nowhere that you and your family can go to be free from guns.
As just one example, the same lawyer who won the U.S. Supreme Court case two years ago which declared a Second Amendment right to have a gun in your home for self defense, has filed a new lawsuit seeking to force localities to allow civilians to carry guns on the streets.
The "open" carrying of guns is just the visible tip of the "guns everywhere" iceberg. The gun lobby's clout in state legislatures has forced consideration of dangerous proposals to allow people to legally carry concealed weapons into bars, churches, workplace parking lots, airports, parks, college campuses and elsewhere.
While most states do not require any permit, license or training of any kind to carry a semi-automatic pistol openly, the NRA assures us that those who have permits to carry concealed weapons are all "law-abiding citizens" whose gun-toting behavior protects the rest of us. Since May, 2007, however, these "law-abiding citizens" have killed at least 117 people, including nine law enforcement officers. During that same period, they have committed eleven mass shootings.
So, Starbucks, what will it be? Like Peets Tea & Coffee, will you do the socially responsible thing and stand up for the rights of families and children to be free from guns when they visit your coffee shops?
Or will you take the chance that there will be more than just shots of espresso being served up in your stores?
If you think Starbucks is wrong here, sign our petition today:
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/starbucks_guns/?rc=brady
Sign our petition to tell Starbucks to keep guns out of its stores: http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/starbucks_guns/?rc=brady
is a criminal enabler and a criminal himself, in my book.
Reporting a handgun theft immediately, gives the police a better chance of catching the thief and retrieving the gun(s) before he kills someone. Reporting ANY crime, immediately- is common sense!
Massachusetts has the lowest incidence of gun thefts from residences and gun stores- in the nation. (only 2.7 families out of 1000 have reported a gun theft during the last 10 years! In Alaska it's 52 out of 1000). This statistic is from the NCJRS (National Criminal Justice Reference System)
con't
Massachusetts's immediate reporting law and heavy fine for failure to report, is a great incentive for gun owners to go out and buy and USE a gun safe or heavy steel (relatively inexpensive)locker when they leave the premises. That goes for deadbolt locks, inexpensive battery-operated, loud siren motion detectors, etc.That's why successful gun thefts are low in Massachusetts..
con't
Massachusetts gun owners know that! Wether a handgun was owned by a law-abiding citizen or owned by a criminal, no one wants to hear a knock at his door from detectives who want to talk to him about not reporting his stolen handgun, then face the severe consequences!
For that reason- Massachusetts gun owners take extraordinary steps to secure their guns. I'm talking: safes, heavy steel lockers bolted to the floor and walls, inexpensive battery-operated, loud motion detector alarms, bolts, etc.
Every state in this country needs to emulate the responsiblity displayed by Massachusetts gun owners. Responsible gun owners who take the extra steps to secure their guns should not have to face an armed criminal who easily stole his gun in another state , not to mention his own. We need to slow down the stolen gun- route to criminals as well as we have the store bought- route.
Every state needs to adopt Massachusetts's stolen handgun reporting law with even stronger penalties.
Contact your state and national congressmen.
Mike Corman
misterfact@yahoo.com
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Or your kid gets shot by a drive by-
or your mom is murdered from a disgruntled gun totting jerk
Too many gun carriers use illegal guns and get away with murder !
GUNS KILL PEOPLE-
NICE !
Sure if you live in YEA HAW Rural areas-
But with all the gang bangers and innocent kids/people dying from gun shots
I don't think this is a good idea-
If you wish to carry around a musket or rifle that is one thing-and the amendment
was written for this kind of fire arms-
Not AKA 47's or pistols -
We do not need any more Guns !
These people carrying them may not have a license or any training-
The NRA runs this country and Obama is in their pockets
We win, you lose now let's get to work.
"It shows how strong our case was," said Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation. "Politicians in Seattle have to get over their anti-gun bigotry and realize that we have certain laws and protections and freedoms in this country, and they need to stand up and protect them, not attack them."
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Judges-ruling-ends-Seattles-gun-ban-84272067.html
And another one bites the dust. How much money did the Brady's put into defending this ban?
This nut carse getting permits to carry guns is another example of why your "open carry" makes no sense.
SALT LAKE CITY — "Walter Fredrick Morrison, the man credited with inventing the Frisbee, has died. He was 90."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,585559,00.html?test=latestnews
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/sarah-knoploh/2010/02/11/coffee-and-second-amendment-don-t-mix-according-alternet
Here's a riddle about integrity or the lack thereof: There once was a guy named twogun who would do anything for a nickle and change on a dime.
That means we are a republic, not a democracy. We have some democratic principles in implementation, but the form is republic.
Republic: Rule of law, representative, has an executive position which is not a monarch, usually an oligarchy
Democracy: Rule of vote, can be direct (true democracy) or representative, has no executive position, usually a polyarchy.”
Get that off a T-shirt, did 'ya?
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DJ: David:
We are a constitutionally limited democratic republic. Read James Madison.
That you take the talking points from corporate right wing even on this most fundamental historical fact, leave me very sad.
That all the free speech money can buy is now to you "free speech."
I cannot afford the same "free speech" Exxon can. I'm dead in the water in political elections unless there are changes. Transcorporations will rule more than before. And before was a lot.
You are among those who go against your own and your families best interests : for health care, for democracy, and I'm very sorry.
I've got to go out into the real world ... and get some fresh air ... with real people with real problems who need a lot of help. Help they will never realize from transnational corporations ... that's for damn sure!
I'm glad the veterans' have a fine medical center here. I guess you would call that socialized medicine and ought to be done away with.
Sadly.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:48 PM on 2/11/2010
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actually....the word democracy does not appear in the constitution anywhere.....