Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) says guns are no longer welcome in its stores. The decision to adopt the new policy comes after gun rights advocates recently brought semi-automatic, loaded assault rifles into one of the famed burrito chain’s Texas-area restaurants.
The Denver-based company said in a statement that it is “respectfully asking customers not to bring guns into our restaurants, unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel.” The Chipotle statement went on to say that, “because the display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating or uncomfortable for many of our customers, we think it is time to make this request.”
The announcement came 24 hours after an anti-gun activist group called “Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America” launched a petition on Monday against customers bringing guns into Chipotle. Within just a few hours the petition received more than 10,000 signatures.
Last year, Starbucks (SBUX) also told customers that guns were no longer welcome in its cafes. The company said the debate about whether people should openly carry guns “had become increasingly uncivil and that the chain did not want its stores to be used as a political stage”. The Seattle-based coffee chain stopped short of a ban.
Chipotle shares are down around $4 today, trading at $496 as of 12:23PM EDT.
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