Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is claiming that 64 percent of Kroger customers favor banning open carry in store locations, according to the results of a survey commissioned by the gun-control organization.
The main findings of the survey, which was conducted by the Benenson Strategy Group via the telephone from Oct. 14-17 in 31 states where open carry is lawful, included the following:
- 64 percent of Kroger shoppers think customers should not be allowed to open carry guns in Kroger stores;
- Kroger could lose up to twice as many customers if it allows open carry than if the company prohibits it;
- One in four parents who shop with their kids say they would definitely not shop at Kroger with their children if open carry is allowed;
- More than half of Kroger shoppers polled have guns in their homes; and
- 61 percent of Kroger shoppers who have guns in their home do not believe it would be an infringement on their Second Amendment rights for a store to prevent people from openly carrying a gun in a store.
Despite intense pressure from Moms Demand Action, Kroger executives have remained steadfast in their belief that local chains should follow local gun laws, a stance that Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, finds untenable.
“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 Watts in a Tuesday press release, in reference to the survey results.
“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.”
Yet, at least one gun-rights organization is questioning the validity of the poll and the apparent agenda of Moms Demand Action to disarm law-abiding citizens in the public square.
“This is nothing but a sham poll designed to bully Kroger into banning its customers from carrying the tools of self-defense,” said Dudley Brown, President of the National Association for Gun Rights in an email to GunsAmerica. ”
“We encourage businesses to not disarm their customers,” Brown continued. “Gun free zones are criminal safe zones, rendering the public defenseless in the event of a crime.”
Moms Demand Action, which along with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns makes up Everytown for Gun Safety, has had success pressuring other retail chains and restaurants to adopt a ‘please don’t bring your firearms into our stores’ policy — which is short of a ban, and more like a polite request.
Among those businesses to heed the call of Moms and change company policy on firearms, include: Target, Starbucks, Chipotle, Sonic, Jack in the Box, and Chili’s, and most recently New Seasons Market which has grocery stores in Oregon and Washington.
“Kroger claims to be a ‘Family of Stores,’ so where are their family values?” asked Watts. “We are asking Kroger leadership directly: Why are you siding with gun extremists, rather than mothers and the majority of Kroger shoppers, who support ending open carry in Kroger stores?”
I also love shopping at Kroger. We don’t have one where I live but anytime I’m where a kroger is located I shop there. Have never encountered a rude employee and love their prices and merchandise! !!
It is arrogant for anybody other than the Kroger management to say “Kroger must change its policy that forces employees and customers to guess whether an armed individual poses a threat to customers.”
Kroger “must” sell me groceries. That is their job. There is no other “must”, only opinions on what they “should” or “should not” do, but the only opinions that they “must” follow are those of the managers in the corporate office.
That is the problem with blue state America, too many of those people think others “must” do what they would prefer them to do, and not enough respect for other people to make their own decisions.
I agree with Kroger’s ! I do not open carry much of the time, but I do Conceal Carry ALL OF THE TIME.
I DO NOT SHOP ANYWHERE THAT IS GUN FREE !
In my opinion it is unwise to open carry a firearm.
1- It lets the criminal know you have it
2- You could then be watched for an opportunity to take it
3- Your home could be burglarized now that you have advertised that you are a gun owner
4- You’ll be the first one the criminal targets in a shootout
5- Witnesses will be describing the person they saw walking around the store with a gun before the incident
6- Most of the public thinks anyone open carrying is either showing off, or some type of nut
7- Most people will not be able to prevent a large muscled up former convict from taking their gun
*** In one of the concealed carry classes I took, the instructor was demonstrating how to confront an offender using a pistol, and when I disarmed the person holding the rubber gun, it led to challenges from several participants, especially the younger macho types who couldn’t believe that I could disarm anyone within 6′ of me before they could get a shot off, and those who did get a shot off, would have either hit the floor or the ceiling. One large young man who said he was a black belt kept wanting to try again as I took the pistol away by putting him in a joint lock with the pistol pointed at his face. Point being I was in my fifties at the time, and am a very small guy. The average former convict outweighs me by over 50 pounds of muscle, is probably faster, definitely stronger, and has been in multiple confrontations and street fights. Advertising that you have a firearm not only makes citizens nervous, it also makes you look like a chump to a felon whose only way of getting a firearm is to steal it!
This makes good sense. People without a police uniform, who open carry, are only making others uncomfortable. Concealed carry leaves those who intend harm, wondering who might have a weapon. Those who intend to commit a crime will likely rethink their plans when concealed carry laws and store policy allows open carry.
Apparently those 65% of moms who don’t want to see your guns are okay with having them as long as they don’t see them and think they’re safer when you have guns but not in plain sight.
Like small children with their hands over their eyes, if I can’t see you, you can’t see me.
more b.s. i say i can find 70% who favor concealed carry in krogers……all i have to do is pick the people i want and not the people you want to answer any questions. jackson, michigan. so far i have only found one place with a sign posted for no concealed weapons and i no longer do business there.
I guess I will have to let Kroger know that this policy is unacceptable to me and probably 90% of the women where I live. I see more women openly carrying a pistol than I see men. Especially at night in some of the big poorly lit parking lots or malls around here. I don’t see it often but they do and it makes me feel good to see a mother with a correctly sized functional firearm at their side. I can probably extrapolate that a majority of the women, and men are carrying concealed. There used to be a lot of problems with teen or young adults ganging up and robbing, hurting or scaring people. I don’t see it anymore. I did see a lady repositioning her shotgun in her pickup the other day. Some carjacker is going to have a real bad day.
Tell the Mothers that have been assaulted leaving Kroger that they can’t openly carry a firearm when walking through the Kroger parking lot at night with their child or children. A visual deterrent is preferred by some people to a concealed weapon.
I’m not in favor of “Open Carry” But that said, if it’s not against the law, go for it, “mr.bad guy” will know who to drop first. I’ve been off and on carrying for 40 + years, I don’t want “mr. bad guy” know what I’ve got for him if something happens, I will keep mine concealed.
I’ve been a kroger shopper for 55-years. (I WILL NO LONGER SHOP AT KROGERS) And neither will my 4-boys or their families.
Why not Mike? Is it because Kroger is not caving in to mommies deciding who gets to express their second amendment right? I’m sure you will not be missed.
When will these people wake up o the fact that the customers who openly let you see that they are carrying a firearm are not the ones to be afraid of. The criminals hide their guns till they put them to use. To fear someone simply because you can see a firearm is a phobia, not rational thinking.
Amen !
First off in my opinion the only reason to shop at Kroger are the ” Boar’s Head deli meats ” what other reason would a sane person have to shop at a store where rudeness ( especially the Younger workers ) applies and the prices ( Cat chow at 17.00 per bag, verses 12.00 at Walmart and Target ) abound.
Although Target did sort of join the anti-gun nuts they told me from corporate that it was basically to shut up the anti-gun nuts and they like Kroger will abide by local gun laws and as of yet no signs appear in Central VA.
I think most of the onboard types are just doing this to shut up these Anti-Gun Nuts!!
Freds is one of the best stores a person can shop at here in Richland WA. Friendly and helpful staff, And I love that Fred’s is in support of good American citizens exerciseing their God given rights! These ignorant gun extremists and fear mongerers don’t understand that I as a gun owner i have no intention of using my fire arm on another human being unless they are a threat to me or my family’s life. The gun extremists somehow think that the police can be everywhere right when you need them. The only thing that keeps an individual safe is his or her ability to protect themselves.
Really? Walmart has sold more jobs over seas than any other company, and you want to complain about a rude clerk at your local Kroger? I’m sorry, but there are rude people everywhere. I shop almost exclusively at Kroger, and I love their prices and service, and the fact that they are based in my home town of Cincinnati. Did you know that Walmart’s purchasing headquarters is in China? It’s a fact. And by forcing manufacturers to lower prices by moving their facilities to China, they have done more damage to the U.S. economy than any other single company. I am proud to say that I have not given one cent to Walmart in over five years. If you love America, you will join the boycott.
None of the things you said about Kroger apply where I shop. Prices are sometimes higher but they quickly even out when you consider the reduced gasoline prices you get as a result of shopping there. They are no more expensive than Walmart for groceries. Both have good aspects and bad. But I gave up buying groceries at Walmart and started shopping at Kroger because they have better quality food. They also have specialty items Walmart will never carry. I would actually have preferred to stay at Walmart but I can’t. They just lack too much. And the fact that Kroger sticks up for my rights just solidifies my loyalty to that company. I will likely never go back to Walmart for my groceries now.
Kroger sale prices are easily the equal of Walmart, and when you consider the e-coupons you can easily add to your account I can often do better pricewise. I also shop at Meijer, and I prefer there be more competition than less, but Walmart is not our friend. They are at best occasionally a necessary evil. In addion to abandoning the Made in the USA promise they made to customers in favor of sucking up to China, Walmart has driven many small businesses to close all across America. How many locally owned and operated family stores have been forced out of business by these agents of Chinese economic sabotage? Lots of them!