Kroger CFO Michael Schlotman addressed the ongoing battle the retail food chain has with the gun-control organization Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America during an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box on March 25.
“In the fall there [were] these liberal groups who had organized to suggest that Kroger was allowing people to ‘open carry’ firearms in their supermarkets. What was that about and where do you guys stand on that?” asked the host of the show, Andrew Ross Sorkin.
Scholtman responded:
That was a group called Moms Demand Action. They were opposed to the fact that our policy is to adhere to the local gun laws. If the local gun laws are to allow open carry, we’ll certainly allow customers to do that based on what the local laws are. We don’t believe it’s up to us to legislate what the local gun control laws should be. It’s up to the local legislators to decide to do that.
So we follow local laws [and] we ask our customers to be respectful to the other people they are shopping with. And we really haven’t had any issues inside of our stores as a result of that.
Moms Demand Action has been actively targeting Kroger since August 18, after a string of victories in which the gun-control advocates convinced numerous retail stores and restaurants, e.g. Target, Starbucks, Sonic, Chili’s, to release statements asking customers to leave their guns at home.
However, Kroger has not capitulated to Moms Demand Action’s requests. It continues to stand by its policy of respecting local and state gun laws, which in many cases permit the open carry of long guns in the public square.
“With a patchwork of lax gun laws and background check loopholes in states across America, Kroger customers have good reason to feel uncomfortable and unsafe when open carry is allowed in a Kroger store,” said Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms back in October of 2012.
“It’s true that lawmakers should do more to protect us from gun violence, but Kroger’s leadership should not use politicians’ inaction to justify their own,” she continued. “Kroger must change its policy that forces employees and customers to guess whether an armed individual poses a threat to customers.”
Though Kroger’s position is unpopular with Moms Demand Action, it hasn’t seem to hurt it’s bottom line. In December, Breitbart News reported that rose “21 percent” after refusing to prohibit guns in its store locations.
Moms is just another bunch of ignorant Liberals that spout pure nonsense that they cannot back up with facts or statistics. Typical of the Liberal Left and sad that there so delusional they believe there own lies.
These harridans are pure leftist political activists…the sow who started it was a fundraiser and political apparatchik who just happened to pretend she was just a housewife caring for her family. BS…she’s a Soros Slattern. I use Harris Teeter supermarket (Kroger bought them last year)…glad to hear this good business has courage to tell these horrid leftists to go away….sure hope they keep their backbones and values.
Is that the Moms Demand Action group or the Keep Our Own Kids Safe (KOOKS) group. I always get them confused. They look so much alike, kinda like sheep!
If we let our dollars the talking , that should be protest enough. As long as they know why we WILL NOT spend in there ,stores, states . But I’m reminded of a quote by Edmund Burke ” all that evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing “
I commend Kroger and will remain a loyal customer. I, too have not entered a Target store since their submission to these lunatic Mom’s. It’s nice for once to see a large corporation stand up to left wing BS.
I very seldom go into a Kroger store to buy anything, but as they didn’t bow down to MDA, I may just start shopping there a lot more often. I’m a little sick of this political correctness do good c**p!
M.O.M.S. = Malicious Obstructionally Misinformed Socialists
They’re getting all worked up over firearms they can SEE, I guess the guns they CAN’T see, CCW, doesn’t worry them. LOL.
Congrats Kroger, stay the course.
They’re getting all worked up over firearms they can SEE, I guess the guns they CAN’T see, CCW, doesn’t worry them. LOL.
Congrats Kroger, stay the course.
They’re getting all worked up over firearms they can SEE, I guess the guns they CAN’T see, CCW, doesn’t worry them. LOL.
It’s tricky now a days mo guns and mo cameras, time for truth to really shine on. I’m gonna protect mine others and the protesters. They can’t stop texting and driving how can the stop chl-toatters.get real hang up turn off ipods and pay attention. Some people have never been in a bad situation or experience one. train get ready it’s coming.
I would think those liberal women should feel safe shopping under the current situation because no illegal gun carrying criminal most likely isn’t going to risk any crime there when they can go to a “No Gun Zone” and shoot up the place.
Hey guess what skanky moms, you feel uncomfortable shopping there, go somewhere else bitches.
Krogers just earned a lifetime customer.
Amen to that. I have a Concealed Carry Permit and always carry.I shop at Krogers to the tune of at least $100.00 a week and will continue to do so if they stay the course on this. I am a retired police officer,and can assure you that the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Long live the 2nd A!
Thank You Kroger! I do 95% of my grocery shopping in your stores in Central Kentucky. As long as you (Kroger) support our 2nd Amendment Rights, I will continue to support your business. We need more businesses like you that don’t cave to these groups whims and that do follow the law.
Stick to your guns, Krogers, & I’ll continue to shop your store every chance I get. Buckle under to the lunatic gun grabbers & I’ll shop elsewhere.
I’m like Capt. Forrest and when buying online I don’t buy from those commie states either if I can fine it else where and you usually can!
I’m retired and my wife retires in June. We’ve had the trip of a lifetime in the planning stages for years, originally planning to visit all of the lower 48 states and all the U.S. National Parks. We have CCW’s from our home state and will have a handgun with us. Unfortunately due to some of the states anti – 2nd Amendment/ anti-gun stance’s we will be steering clear of those states. During our trip we will also NOT knowingly patronize any business’ that don’t support the Constitution / gun rights. I have written letters to Federal Reps. from those anti – gun states indicating we will not be visiting their states unless they decide to become part of the U.S. and renounce their anti – gun stances (fat chance).
Sad day for us and America.
Come visit the Grand Canyon. No anti-gun laws up here.
Plus one brother. Even here in Ahwatukee ( Phoenix ) I see open carry all the time. Nobody thinks it is odd, nor are they concerned.
I love how immediately the “liberals and lefty’s” are too blame. WAKE UP! The enemy is among you! Many of these are right-wing socialists! Conservatives! They have a long history of being anti and thumping on the Good Book for emphasis. Know your history and know yourselves.
Really? I consider myself a conservative and I’m not “anti” anything. Unless it’s someone trying to take away our rights.
This has got to be the most blatant piece of crapola comment I have ever read. YOU are the enemy, not my Conservative brothers & sisters.
“Right-wing socialist?”
I’m more concerned about one’s actions than what he calls himself; as in actions speak louder than words, as in telling a tree from its fruits.
A gun grabber is a gun grabber, regardless of how he labels himself, or is himself labeled. No finger-pointing here, but let me say that I am among those who WATCHES what people do and not just hear what they say!
You should count me dubious to the intent of your statement, the second you said “Thumping on the Good Book”. Frankly, WTF does that even mean? I’m reading a good book right now. The guns Of The South, by Harry Turtledove. It’s pure fiction, but it’s a fun read. You would not catch me, the consummate conservative, thumping on it for any reason. Steinbeck wrote a bunch of good books. So did Hemingway, and Jack London. I never thumped any of those either. Oh……..you mean the Bible? The concept of which our nation, the greatest nation on the planet was founded? The nation from which the light of freedom and liberty even still shines into the darkest corners of our universe all these centuries later? That good book? Never thumped that one either. Read it quite a bit. Never thumped it. Never seen anyone else do that. This I will tell you, should I actually encounter a man, or woman, thumping that “good book” I will do them the same courtesy as I have with yourself, and listen to what they say upon said thumping. I will consider for better or worse the ideas put forth. Then, I shall make my decision as to whether they merit the forming of my own opinion, or the revisiting of it at the very least. So, if you could please trouble yourself to present me with an example of such I would be mightily obliged. Just one or two of what you seem to make out as such a regular occurrence shouldn’t be a problem for you.Thank you in advance. I await your reply.
Well said !!!!
I am confused “Kroger customers have good reason to feel uncomfortable and unsafe when open carry is allowed in a Kroger store,”. So from that statement concealed carry is OK when you don’t know who’s carrying and who’s not, but open carry is bad because you know. Huh? These people make no sense whatsoever. They are simply anti-gun leftys who think they should be able to make the laws up on the spot and not obey the ones passed by the legislature.
Frankly Kroger or any other business is smart to stay out of this issue. It’s their responsibility to follow the laws of the state in which they operate. It’s not their business to tell people whether or not they can carry a firearm in their store. If it’s legal then don’t get involved. Moms Demand Action are just another offshoot of Bloomberg and his gun grabbing ilk.
They’re idea of “Lax Gun Laws” are any laws that allow us to carry and/or defend ourselves.
I personally don,t open carry even though I am allowed to in my state(texas) ,but ask this question :How likely are you to be attacked in a parking lot if you open carry? Not very.
The only retailer thats against 2nd amendment rights is Starbucks Coffee Shops. (As an American, I’ll never go to Starbucks again)
I’m with you, if there is a company that is against guns I won’t buy from them, and that means Starbucks!!!
Really? Gee! I,m not sure I quite understand what you tried to say.I,ve never heard of “right wing socialist” since the two are diametricly opposed in what they seek after. You should sit down,sort this out and get it straight .
Moms Demand Action only create killing grounds by bullying Companies to become gun free soft targets. They are also anti gun bigots driven to make legal firearm activites criminal offenses.
I support parents teaching firearm safety, shooting fundamentals, street smart tactics and arming their children. I gave handguns to my kids and upgraded them to guns of their preference when they had enough experience to make good decisions on it. My wife, daughter and I all have CWP and have a firearm witin reach 24/7. My son does no have a CWP, he’s a police officer and SWAT Team Member, no permit needed 24/7. He has the training guns I taught him with and they will be used for all the grand kids AND all their kids too if the anti gun bigots are kept in check. Invest in your kids not their video games and smart phones. Quaility time that may save their lives.
Spot on. Look how Dominos has paid the price for it’s own knee jerk anti gun ignorance.
Numerically speaking, I am astounded that a shrill minority typically gets it’s way over the vast majority with common sense.
That is because the majority (GUNOWNERS) are LAZY!! When is the last time you saw gunowners out protestingin front of Starbucks or anyone else for stepping on our rights???
Whens the last time you went into a pro gun rights establishment and THANKED the manager or a letter to their corporate office thatnking them??
Gun owners……for the most part…..we are LAZY and the rights we lose here and there are mostly our fault. There are more of us then them. They just scream a lot louder.
Perhaps we gun owners and gun right advocates are not “lazy”, but patient; since ultimately, we do not speak or yell with our mouths but with a cacophony of myriads of different calibers. However, we may be too patient all along and thus allow push to come to shove.
I do understand your sentiments. The silence on the part of the decent has allowed for the minority LGBT agenda to be shoved down our throats.
Gotta admire Kroger. Kudos to them for not giving in to the leftys. Wish more businesses would stand up to them. Hmm.,..bottom line increased??… Imagine that. And what’s that you say..? Target is closing stores???? Well, maybe the leftys can get their groceries at Starbucks, or Sonic or Chili’s…….while they are getting robbed…… hmmm???
Target DOES Not have a ban or signs or anything else at their stores ( at least not the ones in Central VA ) Target Corp will tell you that their stance is similar to Krogers in that the Local Laws dictate policy.
If you ask any store employe, most have never even heard of the No Gun Target statement
My home Target allows open carry. Flagstaff, AZ. Gotta love a “Right to carry” state.
I will continue to be a loyal Kroger customer. I haven’t been to a target since they caved to the commie liberal minority