See also: Chipotle: Don't Bring Guns Into Our Restaurants
The Moms Demand Action salvo was launched on August 18. Here's the intro:Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America launched a national campaign today calling on Michael Ellis, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Mr. W. Rodney McMullen, Chief Executive Officer, of the Kroger Family of Stores to prohibit the open carry of guns in its supermarkets in response to incidences of gun violence in and around stores, as well as open carry demonstrations organized by gun extremist groups that brought gunmen with loaded assault weapons into stores.Included below are a number of photos and posts related to this last statement. But here's one example: As the Moms Demand Action release notes, Chipotle, as well as Target, Sonic, Chili's and Jack in the Box, issued gun bans in the wake of petitions from the group. But Kroger hasn't blinked thus far. The company isn't talking at this point, but reps previously issued a statement that reads in part: "We don't want to put our associates in a position of having to confront a customer who is legally carrying a gun. That is why our long-standing policy on this issue is to follow state and local laws and to ask customers to be respectful of others while shopping." Open Carry Texas, whose members have posed for photos with weapons at a number of businesses subsequently targeted by Moms Demand Action, is ridiculing the petition via memes like this one, which references the support of former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg: Meanwhile, the Moms Demand Action effort is gaining more attention from the media, including NPR. We've included that piece here.
Continue to see more Moms Demand Action photos and posts about guns at Kroger stores, hear the NPR report and read the petition. Photos and posts about carrying guns in Kroger stores courtesy of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America:
Continue to see more Moms Demand Action photos and posts about guns at Kroger stores, hear the NPR report and read the petition. More photos and posts about carrying guns in Kroger stores courtesy of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America: Continue to hear the NPR report and read the petition. Groceries, Not Guns petition:A grocery store is one of the last places we should expect to see someone openly carrying a loaded weapon. But Kroger, the largest grocery chain in the country, has policies that allow customers to openly carry guns in its stores -- where moms and their kids shop every day.
Numerous shootings and gun rallies have taken place at Kroger brand stores in recent years. The company policies that have enabled this to happen are not in line with its core values, which include creating a "safe and secure workplace and shopping environment."
Most states have weak gun laws that let people openly carry guns even if they haven't had a background check or training. Private businesses like Kroger have the responsibility to protect their customers when the law won't.
Target, Chipotle, Starbucks, and other businesses have already responded to petitions from moms and supporters urging them to adopt common-sense gun policies in their stores. Now, we are calling on Kroger to do the same and protect families who shop in its stores.
Sign the petition by using the form on the right, and automatically send a message to Kroger's President and CEO asking them to adopt gun sense policies that will keep families safe in Kroger stores.
Here's the NPR report:
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.
