Hello,
It has come to my attention that the Brady Campaign has been waging a PR war against a number of businesses, attempting to bully them into creating policies restricting the right of law abiding citizens to legally carry firearms in their stores.
Thank you for your current corporate stance observing each state's individual firearms carry laws. I ask that you continue allowing citizens to carry firearms in your stores in accordance with each state's laws.
On their petition, the Brady Campaign claims "The practice of packing heat in places like Starbucks is intimidating and could be potentially dangerous to our families and communities – and it must be stopped." This is a blantant and intentional distortion of the facts. I would like to share the qualifications I must meet in order to legally carry a concealed handgun in my home state, Kentucky:
- Not be a felon
- Not be a fugitive from justice
- Not be addicted to any controlled substance
- Not have been adjudicated as having a mental illness
- Not be subject to a domestic violence order or emergency protective order
- Not have been convicted of a crime of domestic violence
- Not be prohibited from the purchase, receipt or possession of firearms, ammunition or both
- Not have two or more convictions for drunk driving
- Not have been committed as an alcoholic
- Have not been convicted of Assault in the fourth degree or Terroristic Threatening in the third degree
- Demonstrate competence with a firearm by successful completion of a firearms safety or training course offered or approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Training.
Frankly, licensed firearms owners are the last people Starbucks should be afraid to stand behind in line.
I and millions of others legally carry a firearm specifically to defend ourselves and our families. While I respect the rights of property owners such as Starbucks to regulate the posession of firearms on their property, I do not do business with companies that require that I disarm to enter their property. My safety, and the safety of my family, is far more important than any product.
Companies like California Pizza Kitchen and Peet's Coffee and Tea have permanently lost my business because they have banned the legal carry of firearms by paying customers like me. Thank you again for your current strong stance in favor of current state laws, and the right of self-defense.
Sincerely,
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