Moms Demand Action Thanks Chipotle for Asking Customers to Leave Their Guns at Home in Quick Response to Moms’ Petition
5.20.2014
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is thanking Chipotle today for asking customers not to bring guns to their restaurants in response to a petition launched earlier today. Moms Demand Action launched the petition after a gun extremist group brought semi-automatic, loaded assault weapons (photos here) into a Dallas-area store this weekend. Within just a few hours the petition (which can be found here) received more than 10,000 signatures.
In a statement released today to media, a spokesman for Chipotle said, “…we are respectfully asking that customers not bring guns into our restaurants, unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel.” The Chipotle statement went on to say that, “…because the display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating or uncomfortable for many of our customers, we think it is time to make this request.”
“Moms are grateful to Chipotle for taking quick action today to stand up for the safety and security of our families,” said Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Businesses have a duty to protect their employees and patrons – especially in states where no background checks or training are required to buy semi-automatic rifles and carry them openly in public. Chipotle’s statement that firearms are not welcome in their restaurants is bold and meaningful – it shows that you can support the Second Amendment while also taking reasonable measures to ensure that Americans are safe and secure in the places we take our children.”
Moms Demand Action previously launched petitions that garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures asking Starbucks, Facebook and Jack in the Box to reform the companies’ gun policies to make customers and communities safer. Starbucks announced that guns are no longer welcome in its stores and Jack in the Box announced that it would enforce a prohibition of guns in its stores as a result of the campaigns.Facebook and Instagram also announced changes to block illegal gun sales after 230,000 Americans signed a Moms Demand Action petition asking for stronger protections against illegal gun sales on the two social media platforms.