The Denver-based company Chipotle is asking customers to refrain from bringing guns into its restaurants after gun rights activists brought military-style assault rifles into one of its restaurants in Dallas, Texas.
As reported by Time, Chipotle issued a statement on Monday asking their customers not to bring guns into their restaurants, although it remains unclear whether they are banning them or not.
“Recently participants from an ‘open carry’ demonstration in Texas brought guns (including military-style assault rifles) into one of our restaurants, causing many of our customers anxiety and discomfort,” a statement from Chipotle reads. “Because of this we are respectfully asking that customers not bring guns into our restaurants, unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel.”
Chipotle says it typically defers to local laws on the issue because it doesn’t think it’s fair for employees to ask customers not to bring guns into stores. But backlash following a gun rally at a Dallas Chipotle this weekend led the chain to take action.
“The vast majority of gun owners are responsible citizens and we appreciate them honoring this request,” the statement continues. “And we hope that our customers who oppose the carrying of guns in public agree with us that it is the role of elected officials and the legislative process to set policy in this area, not the role of businesses like Chipotle.”
Chipotle had been under pressure from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a Michael Bloomberg-backed gun control group, who had been circulating a petition asking Chipotle to ban guns in response to the Dallas gun rally. A press release from the organization claims their petition had gathered over 10,000 signatures.
Moms Demand Action released a second press release on Monday thanking Chipotle for their quick decision to ask customers not to bring guns to their restaurants.
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 also posted a victory post on their Twitter page:
Thank you, @ChipotleTweets for your #GunSense! http://t.co/rh5cSONVbm #MomsDemand pic.twitter.com/d9ybik8OlM
— Moms Demand Action (@MomsDemand) May 19, 2014
The Guardian reports that another Bloomberg backed group, Everytown, “launched a #BurritosNotBullets campaign on Twitter after pictures emerged of guns being carried in Chipotle. It celebrated the chain’s decision with a tweet on Monday.”
WE WON! Guns are no longer welcome at @ChipotleTweets restaurants. #BurritosNotBullets pic.twitter.com/j94klvgEdi
— Everytown (@Everytown) May 19, 2014
Earlier on Monday, Everytown also posted a tweet showing two men holding rifles inside a Chipotle.
What are these gun extremists doing at @ChipotleTweets? We want #BurritosNotBullets: http://t.co/wkZdPm9Qk5 pic.twitter.com/c3fK4EczMi
— Everytown (@Everytown) May 19, 2014
You can watch a news clip, below, from WCAV:
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