Its All About Coffee

Starbucks And The Gun Control Debate

Gun control is a controversial issue in America, and the current legal case over whether Chicagoans should have the right to carry handguns in public has fanned the flames for both pro-gun and gun control advocates. The case has gone to the Supreme Court, and many are wondering which states permit open carry, as OpenCarry.org puts it, “a right unexercised is a right lost.” It is not easy to convince everyone of this, or of the value of guaranteed loans.

Which states permit open carry?

Currently, only six states completely prohibit open carry. The following states were given a rating of “Gold Star” open carry states by OpenCarry.org. The rating means “generally preempted open carry is permitted on foot and in vehicles without a license; localities are generally preempted.”

• Alaska
• Montana
• Idaho
• Wyoming
• South Dakota
• Nevada
• Arizona
• New Mexico
• Vermont
• Kentucky
• Virginia
• North Carolina

The following states allow open carry, but have restrictions on doing so

• Utah
• North Dakota
• Minnesota
• Iowa
• Tennessee
• Mississippi
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Maryland
• New Jersey
• Rhode Island
• Connecticut
• Massachusetts

Other states may have their own open carry approximation. For instance, California allows open carry, but only in rural, non-incorporated areas. Here is an open carry states map for more information.

Starbucks even has something to say about open carry laws

Recent events have gotten Starbucks, the nation’s most pervasive coffee house involved in the open carry debate. Patrons have entered Starbucks with guns strapped to their hips, which understandably made other customers nervous. Starbucks says that it adheres with state laws regarding open carry, but as a business, it does have the right to set its own policy regarding whether firearms are allowed inside. Money lenders or any other business will say the same.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz would likely rather not worry about this, but The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is calling for Starbucks to “offer espresso shots, not gunshots.” Starbucks’ office in Seattle received a petition with 28,000 signatures on Wednesday to that effect.

Neither side of the gun control issue is giving ground

This is exactly what one should expect when issues like individual liberty and personal safety are involved. In reality, open carry states are likely to remain so, but business respond to special interest groups, especially those with corporate sponsorship, and customer demands. It might not be wise to count on being allowed to walk into Starbucks with a loaded gun on display, unrestricted state or not, because you may be shown the door to the street instead of the door to latte heaven.

Crew Review: DeLonghi kMix Espresso Machine