Back in September 2013, the Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission issued a warning to licensed establishments – Reminder: “Long guns” prohibited in TABC. The notice stated, in part, “Although an individual may have the legal authority to openly carry certain firearms in public, a business that is licensed to sell or serve alcoholic beverages is prohibited by state law from allowing rifles or shotguns in the building.” As you can see from the picture above, that didn’t not happen at last week’s Open Carry Texas gathering at a Dallas Chipotle. Motivated by the prospect of losing their liquor license, perhaps, the chain has issued the now-standard non-legally binding (i.e. toothless) “request” to customers to leave their firearms – including handguns carried by Concealed Handgun Licensees – at home . . .
Recently participants from an “open carry” demonstration in Texas brought guns (including military-style assault rifles) into one of our restaurants, causing many of our customers anxiety and discomfort. Because of this, we are respectfully asking that customers not bring guns into our restaurants, unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel . . . The display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating or uncomfortable for many of our customers.
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America claims their anti-gun agitation convinced Chipotle to issue the statement. MDA jefe Shannon Watts tied the “ban” to protecting Americans’ Second Amendment rights. [Full football spiking press release below.]
Chipotle’s statement that firearms are not welcome in their restaurants is bold and meaningful – it shows that you can support the Second Amendment while also taking reasonable measures to ensure that Americans are safe and secure in the places we take our children
Either way, this was an ill-advised demo – given that Texas’ next governor will sign an open carry bill if it reaches his desk. A right is a right, but it’s not right that the odds of an open carry bill just went down. For what?
MDA press release:
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is thanking Chipotle today for asking customers not to bring guns to their restaurants in response to a petition launched earlier today. Moms Demand Action launched the petition after a gun extremist group brought semi-automatic, loaded assault weapons (photos here ) into a Dallas-area store this weekend. Within just a few hours the petition (which can be found here ) received more than 10,000 signatures.
In a statement released today to media , a spokesman for Chipotle said, “…we are respectfully asking that customers not bring guns into our restaurants, unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel.” The Chipotle statement went on to say that, “…because the display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating or uncomfortable for many of our customers, we think it is time to make this request.”
“Moms are grateful to Chipotle for taking quick action today to stand up for the safety and security of our families,” said Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America . “Businesses have a duty to protect their employees and patrons – especially in states where no background checks or training are required to buy semi-automatic rifles and carry them openly in public. Chipotle’s statement that firearms are not welcome in their restaurants is bold and meaningful – it shows that you can support the Second Amendment while also taking reasonable measures to ensure that Americans are safe and secure in the places we take our children.”
Moms Demand Action previously launched petitions that garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures asking Starbucks, Facebook and Jack in the Box to reform the companies’ gun policies to make customers and communities safer. Starbucks announced that guns are no longer welcome in its stores and Jack in the Box announced that it would enforce a prohibition of guns in its stores as a result of the campaigns. Facebook and Instagram also announced changes to block illegal gun sales after 230,000 Americans signed a Moms Demand Action petition asking for stronger protections against illegal gun sales on the two social media platforms.
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Much like Mothers Against Drunk Driving was created to change laws regarding drunk driving, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was created to build support for common-sense gun reforms. The nonpartisan grassroots movement of American mothers is demanding new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and is part of Everytown for Gun Safety along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 1.5 million supporters including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for reforms that respect the Second Amendment and protect people. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand. Make any pro-gun comments at either and we’ll ban you so fast it’ll make your head spin. [NB: I added that last bit.]