Recently, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz wrote an open letter asking customers to leave their weapons at home in states where openly carrying guns is legal. Call me naive, but isn’t it the responsibility of a CEO to encourage behaviors that keep his customers safe?
In states like California where they might arrest you for shouting “BANG!” ANY public venue is a candidate where a maniac could open fire and not expect return ammunition from legally armed citizens. However, thanks to Mr. Shultz’s ANNOUNCEMENT, I suspect every would be mass murderer who lives in a state where citizens are allowed to carry guns, openly or otherwise, has just moved Starbucks to the TOP of his list!
In his letter, Mr. Schultz says, “For those who champion “open carry,” please respect that Starbucks stores are places where everyone should feel relaxed and comfortable. The presence of a weapon in our stores is unsettling and upsetting for many of our customers.”
Uh…YA! Especially when it’s being wielded by a nut job with no one around who can take him down!
How comfortable does Mr. Schultz think he’s made EVERY customer of his, in states where citizens are allowed to openly carry guns, who will now have to come to grips with the fact that Starbucks is now near the top, if not on THE top, of the list of places to slaughter innocent people?
I have an open question for Mr. Schultz. “Does your request include Starbucks Kiosks too and places where Starbucks products are sold?” If it does, you’ve just added all those giant establishments to the list of dangerous places for children, families and other innocent living souls to be in states that are more open to gun ownership.
Here’s my open letter to anyone who goes to Starbucks in states where openly carrying guns is legal. “The CEO of Starbucks wants your money, but only if you are willing to be a sitting duck in his stores for maniacs.”
Michael Malgeri is the creator of the “Johnny Profit” series of children’s books, which teaches young people about capitalism. He authored H.R.422, a Congressional Resolution that creates awareness of the superiority of Capitalism as an economic model. His website is www.Kids4biz.com