imported post
Yet another great article!
EVERYONE should take the time to hit that Starbucks link and show your support. Here is what I sent, feel free to plagiarize as you see fit:
I recently read that the Brady campaign has been targeting Starbucks for allowing customers who are legally carrying firearms to gather in the stores. The claims are that such customers somehow intimidate or pose a risk to other customers.
As a gun owner, Concealed Pistol License holder, and most importantly in this case, coffee drinker. I just wanted to thank you for taking the position of allowing law abiding citizens to exercise their rights in your business instead of bowing to pressure from a radical group that essentially is demanding you to discriminate against a subset of your customers.
In Washington state, the open carry of firearms is absolutely legal. While some may feel uncomfortable in the presence of firearms (open or concealed), that feeling is overwhelmingly the result of irrational fears instead of any legitimate threat or concern.
While you may be aware of those customers who openly carry firearms and realize how small of a segment they are, please understand that there are many, many times that amount of law abiding citizens who routinely carry legally concealed firearms as well.
I am sure that it is a safe wager that the majority of your customers are in support of your position, and against the tactics used by Brady and other similar groups trying to push a minority opinion and their radical views on citizens and businesses a like.
Sometimes people think that the more noise a group makes, the more support they have. That is not the case. Pro-rights organizations consistently garner more support than the fringe groups who advocate for the restrictions or elimination of rights.
Reasonable and rational people make up the "Silent" majority, and the silence is mostly due to things that run as they should. Make no mistake though, while generally silent, we are still the majority.
I learned long ago in customer service training that a company will get feedback from a relatively high percentage of it's dissatisfied customers, but a considerably smaller percentage of it's satisfied customers will take the time to comment.
Put me down as one who approves, and please give the appropriate weight to my comments. I've gone from a Starbuck's, Tully's, or "whatever is close" coffee drinker to one who will seek out a Starbucks and support you in return for supporting me.
