ISRA: Starbucks' CEO Announces 'Open Season' On His Employees

News provided by

Sep 18, 2013, 08:44 ET

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Sept. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

As millions of hunters and sportsmen prepare to take to the fields this autumn, the CEO of the Starbucks coffee chain announced today that his employees are now fair game for urban thugs, murderers, robbers and rapists. This announcement came by way of an open letter from the firm's CEO, Howard Schultz, in which Schultz informed law-abiding gun owners that, although their cash and credit cards are very welcome at Starbucks, their lawfully-owned firearms are not. Thus, Schultz has declared Starbucks stores to be pacifist oases inhabited by persons unwilling to defend themselves against violent crime.

"The Starbucks announcement is a slap in the face to every American who loves freedom and honors our Constitution," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. "Shultz's announcement is pure political grandstanding and does not at all reflect this nation's proud heritage of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership."

"Of course, we recognize and support Schultz's right to control his stores as he sees fit," continued Pearson. "However, gun owners have the right to shop elsewhere. The ISRA is advising its members to stay away from Starbucks for two reasons. First, in protest of Schultz's disrespectful attitude towards lawful gun owners and our Constitution. Second, because Starbucks and its customers will be sitting ducks for violent criminals since nobody in the stores but the thugs will be armed. In short, it will be just too dangerous to hang out in a Starbucks store."

"There are plenty of places to get a great cup of coffee," said Pearson. "There remain some nice mom and pop coffee shops that haven't been run out of business by corporate marauders like Starbucks. So I urge gun owners to shop locally where you can get a cup of Joe without having to swallow a dose of the gun-grabbers' self-righteous indignation."

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

WEB SITE: http://www.isra.org

SOURCE Illinois State Rifle Association