Received a response from Starbucks

**tropicmaster** · 03-09-2010, 05:31 PM

I wrote a short thank you notevia e mail to Starbucks after reading of their travails dealing with the brady folks in California, and today received the response below. Please take the time to thank your local Manager for his corporations support, and if you can find the time send an e mail to the corporate site. People like us showing our support is the only thing that will defeat the anti gunners- we cannot be a "silent" majority!

Hello, ********

Thanks for contacting Starbucks Coffee Company.

We recognize that there is significant and genuine passion surrounding the issue of open carry weapons laws. Advocacy groups from both sides of this issue have chosen to use Starbucks as a way to draw attention to their positions.

While we deeply respect the views of all our customers, Starbucks long-standing approach to this issue remains unchanged. We comply with local laws and statutes in all the communities we serve. In this case, 43 of the 50 U.S. states have open carry weapon laws. Where these laws don't exist, we comply with laws that prohibit the open carrying of weapons. The political, policy and legal debates around these issues belong in the legislatures and courts, not in our stores.

At the same time, we have a security protocol for any threatening situation that might occur in our stores. Partners are trained to call law enforcement as situations arise. We will continuously review our procedures to ensure the highest safety guidelines are in place and we will continue to work closely with law enforcement.

We have examined this issue through the lens of partner (employee) and customer safety. 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.

As the public debate continues, we are asking all interested parties to refrain from putting Starbucks or our partners into the middle of this divisive issue. As a company, we are extremely sensitive to the issue of gun violence in our society. Our Starbucks family knows all too well the dangers that exist when guns are used irresponsibly and illegally. Without minimizing this unfortunate reality, we believe that supporting local laws is the right way for us to ensure a safe environment for both partners and customers.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective.

Warm Regards,

Alyssa R.

Customer Relations

**Growler67** · 03-09-2010, 06:29 PM

Temper your enthusiasm with the core facts. Starbuck's is still listed as an Anti-gun corporation here: http://www.pinkpistols.org/antigun.html the recent news surrounding the issue may merely be a reflection of the general sentiment near their corporate HQ in regards to the "Lakewood 4" incident in which 4 LE Officers were shot and killed in a Forza Coffee Shop as they were getting ready to begin their morning shift. Sentiment in and around the Seattle and Tacoma area is stong AND vocal.

The recent story garnering Starbuck's media attention is most likely that they don't want to be anyones billboard (forcably) without a fundimental change in their corporate philosophy and public acknowledgement thereof. Consider it a minor victory in a single battle but hardly a strike in our favor in the greater war on Gun Rights.

They are in fact acting just like the majority of the Leftist Coast Corporate entities, benign and willing to accept credit for something that is not of their making - a slap in the face to the Brady dolts in this particular instance. Wishing to remain, as much as possible, on the fence about any REAL issue is part and parcel to the way things work here. They have NOT proclaimed that they are in favor of Gun Rights. They merely stated, when pinned to the counter, that they comply with the local laws regarding Open Carry where legal to do so. Hardly a statement in favor of our position. If it hadn't been for the Brady folks pushing the issue and the recent shooting of 7 officers over the course of 3 months, they would very likely NOT have made any comments at all. They were in fact backed into the corner and forced to give an opinion. They carefully chose the words they used are still, corporately, just as Anti-gun as they have ALWAYS been.

Spend your money on a $4 cup of coffee is you wish, I can brew it for pennies at home and fill a thermos.

**tropicmaster** · 03-09-2010, 07:54 PM

My enthusiasm as you call it, is not over a perceived position on Starbucks part, but rather over the fact someone took the time to reply to my e mail, as well as the fact that they did not "go along". I sent negative e mails to the other parties involved informing them that I was no longer a customer and why, yet none of them could be bothered to reply.

"They have NOT proclaimed that they are in favor of Gun Rights. They merely stated, when pinned to the counter, that they comply with the local laws regarding Open Carry where legal to do so."

The other corporations involved chose not to honor state and local laws. I feel if Starbucks was totally anti gun they would have used this opportunity as an easy out to ban all guns regardless of local laws and rights, just as the others did

As far as your last statement goes I'll lose no sleep tonight worrying about you drinking a nickel cup of coffee if you will have lose your concern over what I choose to spend, and where for my coffee.

**MLB** · 03-10-2010, 10:34 AM

They would be complying with the law whether they chose to allow concealed handguns or prohibit them. Both are legal options on private property. They chose to allow. I'd call that a positive step (or at least not an anti-gun step).

I don't expect Starbucks to trumpet gun rights for us. I'm simply happy they are not actively denying them.

**cougartex** · 03-10-2010, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by MLB

They would be complying with the law whether they chose to allow concealed handguns or prohibit them. Both are legal options on private property. They chose to allow. I'd call that a positive step (or at least not an anti-gun step).

I don't expect Starbucks to trumpet gun rights for us. I'm simply happy they are not actively denying them.

I agree.

**Growler67** · 03-13-2010, 03:19 AM

tropicmaster You spend where you like and drink the same. I'm just saying that they may have stated certain words in certain ways but are not changing their core positions. The only reason this go any press at all is because the Brady Dolts knew of their long time position (why else did they choose/target) them to become a hill to plant a flag upon. Starbuck's just didn't like being coerced into being the mouthpiece for the Brady's is all.

Couple that with the recent and fresh sentiment of the local officers shot in the communities in and around their corporate headquarters is why I think they took any kind of stand at all. That they actually responded to you is one thing. What they mean behind their words may be a completely different thing all together. I vote everyday with my wallet and in my wallet I carry these and have and will continue to hand them to store/shift managers as I deem fit.

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