NEW YORK — Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety released the below statement from founder Shannon Watts in response to Uber’s decision to prohibit guns in vehicles:
“We applaud Uber and other corporations that take the steps that they think necessary to safeguard their customers — and in Uber’s case, their drivers and passengers.
“We have been the driving force behind driving major businesses — including Starbucks, Target and Chipotle among others — to put safety first and adopt gun sense policies like prohibiting the open carry of firearms in the stores and restaurants where we shop and eat with our families.
“It’s time for all of us — individuals, elected officials and business leaders alike — to take the necessary steps to prevent the gun violence that kills 88 Americans every day.”
Moms Demand Action is currently asking Kroger stores to prohibit open carry in its supermarkets in response to incidences of gun violence in and around stores, as well as open carry demonstrations organized by gun extremists who brought loaded semi-automatic assault weapons into stores (photos here). The petition has garnered more than 360,000 signatures.
Moms Demand Action previously launched petitions that garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures asking Target, Chipotle, Sonic, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Jack in the Box, Starbucks, Facebook and Instagram to reform the companies’ gun policies to make customers and communities safer.
- Target asked that its customers not bring their guns into its stores after nearly 400,000 Americans signed the Moms Demand Action petition.
- Sonic and Brinker International, which includes Chili’s Grill & Bar, released statements prohibiting the open carry of guns in their restaurants.
- Chipotle quickly responded to a Moms’ petition by asking customers to leave their guns at home, “because the display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating or uncomfortable for many of our customers.”
- Jack in the Box also responded to the Moms’ petition by announcing that it would enforce a prohibition of guns in its stores, stating that, “the presence of guns inside a restaurant could create an uncomfortable situation for our guests and employees and lead to unintended consequences.”
- After pressure from Moms, Facebook and Instagram announced significant steps to block potentially illegal firearm sales through their platforms.
In addition. Panera proactively asked guests at its 1,800 baker-cafes in 40 states to leave their firearms at home after months of discussions with Moms Demand Action. More information on how Moms Demand Action has led the way on corporate responsibility on gun safety is available here.