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Connecticut Starbucks closes early to avoid clash over gun rights

August 14, 2013

In an effort to avoid fueling the fire around conceal and carry debates, the Starbucks in Newtown, Conn., closed by 5:45 p.m. Friday, according to the NewtownBee.com. A pro-gun meeting had been scheduled at the café, which, in turn, was expected to rally anti-gun supporters to the location as well.

Starbucks said the store planned to close before either side could gather there.

"Today, advocacy groups from different sides of the open carry debate announced plans to visit our (Newtown) store to bring attention to their points of view," Starbucks Vice President Chris Carr said in a letter on the company website. "We recognize that there is significant and genuine passion surrounding this topic, however out of respect for Newtown and everything the community has been through we decided to close our store early before the event started. Starbucks did not endorse or sponsor the event."

Carr's letter also encouraged customers and advocacy groups from all sides of the debate to contact their elected officials, who make the open-carry laws that the company follows.

"Our long-standing approach to this topic has been to comply with local laws and statutes in the communities we serve," he wrote.

The closing didn't keep away all legally carrying patrons. Several gun-toting citizens still showed up from 6 to 8 p.m., during the planned meeting time and at a variety of others times,according to the Newtown Bee.

This isn't the first issue Starbucks has dealt with concerning gun rights. Last month, FastCasual.com reported that an advocacy group was angry after stories hitreporting that Starbucks pre-approved a meeting in Sioux Falls, S.D., for armed gun advocates to rally in its stores. The group, Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense In America, issued an open letter this week asserting that "Starbucks management at headquarters and in-state approved the meeting in advance, but did not notify customers, who were understandably alarmed when more than 60 gun advocates — armed with everything from handguns to semi-automatic rifles to shotguns — were welcomed inside the store."

Starbucks spokesman Danny Cowan said that claim was inaccurate.

"To be clear, we never received an inquiry, nor did we grant approval," Cowan said in a phone interview with FastCasual.com. "That was inaccurate. We deeply respect views of customers and recognize significant passions around open carry laws. We comply with local laws and statues, and we abide by open carry laws. Where these laws don't exist, (guns) are banned."

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Photo courtesy of: www.ilovegunsandcoffee.com