Oregon State Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Want Fred Meyer, and Its Parent Company Kroger, to Change Its Dangerous Gun Policy
Kroger Campaign Follows Moms’ Previous Corporate Public Safety Victories with Target, Starbucks, Chipotle, and More
Portland-area members of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America delivered petition signatures from Fred Meyer shoppers to their headquarters on Tuesday morning. The moms encouraged Fred Meyer President Lynn Gust to change the store’s gun policy, which currently allows open carry, putting the safety and security of its customers and employees at risk.
Oregon law, like that of many states, allows people to openly carry rifles and shotguns in public with no permit and no training, unless a community has passed its own law. These laws contain a loophole that make it easy for a dangerous criminal to buy a gun from a stranger online–no background check, no questions asked–and carry it into public places where we take our children.
“I don’t want to worry about gunmen in the supermarket as my child and I shop for groceries,” said Anneliese Davis, a volunteer with Oregon state chapter of Moms Demand Action. “It is far too easy for criminals and other dangerous people to get a gun in America without a background check, and I’m uncomfortable shopping at a store that puts gun extremists ahead of the safety of my family. Fred Meyer should prohibit the open carry of firearms immediately.”
Oregon members of Moms Demand Action are fighting for gun safety on all fronts. After the state Senate stalled legislation enacting criminal background checks on all gun sales in 2013 and 2014, Moms Demand Action volunteers mobilized Oregon voters to turn out and vote for Senate candidates with gun sense. As a result, Oregon now has a pro-background check majority in the state Senate and a governor who has promised to make gun safety legislation a priority.
“It’ll take legislative action as well as support from the companies we trust to finally curb this epidemic of gun violence in this country,” Davis added. “Oregon moms are proud to do our part to show Fred Meyer and Kroger that their shoppers want and deserve a safer, more kid-friendly experience in their stores.”
Moms launched a petition in August demanding that Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain, stop allowing the open carry of gun in its stores. The petition has garnered more than 350,000 signatures. Kroger has owned the Fred Meyer brand since May 2009.
While Kroger has not yet changed its open carry policy, in recent weeks, New Seasons Market, a chain of more than a dozen grocery stores located in Oregon and Washington, and Panera Bread recently joined other major brands, including Target, Starbucks, Chipotle, Sonic, Jack in the Box, and Chili’s, in asking guests to leave their firearms at home.
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of American mothers fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million members and more than 40,000 donors. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand