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SALT LAKE CITY — Big retailer Target announced Wednesday that it would no longer allow customers to carry guns inside its stores.
In recent weeks, discussion was sparked over Target allowing individuals to open carry in its stores that operate in communities that permit it. The group, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America challenged the policy in June, and Wednesday, Target’s CEO announced it was changing its policy.
“Our approach has always been to follow local laws, and of course, we will continue to do so. But starting today we will also respectfully request that guests not bring firearms to Target — even in communities where it is permitted by law,” CEO, John Mulligan said in a statement.
The advocacy group said it was requesting the change in an effort to keep families safe after photos of men with Open Carry Texas surfaced.
“Target is a central part of the lives of American moms, and we expect to feel safe and secure when we wheel our kids around in the store's red shopping carts,” the group wrote June 4. “We support the Second Amendment, but people walking through the aisles flaunting their loaded weapons — which has been happening in stores across the country — is unacceptable. Many states allow open carry without a background check, license or training, so it’s up to companies to protect their customers when the law won’t.”
In recent months, the group has gotten several major companies to create similar policies. Target joined Starbucks, Chipotle, Jack in the Box and Sonic in the shift, according to Moms.
“This morning, Target announced that it heard our concerns and will no longer allow firearms inside stores,” Mom Demand Action for Gun Sense in America wrote on its Facebook page. “This huge change made by one of our country’s largest and leading retailers is proof that when women and mothers collectively use our voices and votes, we will change the culture of gun violence in America.”
Mulligan acknowledged the concerns on both sides of the issue in his statement Wednesday.
“This is a complicated issue, but it boils down to a simple belief: Bringing firearms to Target creates an environment that is at odds with the family-friendly shopping and work experience we strive to create,” he wrote.
