Gun Rights Group At Odds With Chipotle Over Ban
DALLAS (KRLD) -- Chipotle is asking customers not to bring firearms into its stores after members of the Dallas Chapter of Open Carry Texas brought military style assault rifles into one of its restaurants over the weekend.
"We had all different types of long-guns, some people had shot guns. I personally carry an AK-47," said member Alex Clark, who attended the lunch. "There were a few AR-15's there. The rifles were loaded. There's no reason to carry an unloaded weapon -- it wouldn't do any good."
After the incident, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America announced a petition calling on the food chain and other companies to ban firearms from their stores. Chipotle did on Monday, releasing a statement saying that guns in their stores might intimidate customers.
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. Because of this, we are respectfully asking that customers not bring guns into our restaurants, unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel.
Clark doesn't believe that anyone was intimated by their actions this weekend. In fact, he says that Chipotle employees actually welcomed them into their store.
Lunch at Chipotle! @ChipotleTweets @OpenCarryTexas @MomsDemand pic.twitter.com/dSAGKZ0F52
— OCT: Dallas County (@OCT_Dallas) May 17, 2014
"We got there, and nobody gave us any strange looks or asked us why were there," said Clark. "They just welcomed us in, and we ate lunch."
Clark said that Chipotle employees even commented on a Facebook post by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, encouraging them to come in and "have some burritos".
He is disappointed by the company's decision.
"I'm honestly a little bit disappointed, but it is there right to do that as a corporation," said Clark. "I don't think they would have done that if it would not have been for Moms Against Action, which bombard Facebook and Twitter and things like that."
Clark says the group is not related to a gun rights group which caused a scare at a Jack In The Box in Fort Worth weeks earlier.
The Moms Demand Action group released a statement following Chipotle's decision, praising the company's bold stance.
"Moms are grateful to Chipotle for taking quick action today to stand up for the safety and security of our families," said founder Shannon Watts. "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."
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