Catching a ride in the city has never been easier than with Uber, an app that connects drivers with passengers in seconds, but now the startup has prohibited the possession of firearms “of any kind in a vehicle.”
It’s a clever idea that has revolutionized urban transit, but pairing up with perfect strangers in a random vehicle sounds like the beginning of a plot to 24.
Of course, many Americans have gone through the legal processes necessary to carry a concealed firearm and are often armed while in the city. However, now that the ride sharing app has made their vehicles an official gun-free zone, which means they may find a large portion of their gun-carrying clientele seeking out other companies for their transportation needs.
According to Uber, “Any rider or driver found to have violated this prohibition may lose access to the Uber platform.”
Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, applauded Uber for its decision to take a stand against law-abiding citizens with valid concealed carry permits.
“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,” said Watts.
“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,” she continued.
“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,” said Watts.
Uber isn’t the first and they certainly won’t be the last corporation to take a stand on the wrong side of the gun debate. Restaurants, gas stations and other retail chains around the country have plastered “No Guns” signs in their windows, and now Uber has joined the ranks of gun-free zones, making their rides an easy mark for any criminal looking for a soft target.
(This article was submitted by freelance writer Brent Rogers)
People are fickle! When the businesses that have went to gun free zones gets robbed, I would like to know if they believe that they are still doing the right thing for their customers? When one of the customers are singled out and either beaten or worse yet killed, I am wondering if these “gun free zones” will have enough money set aside for the law suits they will face for making the place more dangerous than safer.
Uber is naive. Drivers would rather be alive without a job than dead. Most that can do. I only feel bad that it make members of our armed forces have to meet me at the access gate.
Making your business a Criminal Empowerment Zone is pure idiocy.
If the consequences are that you lose your uber card that’s a low price for staying safe.
It sounds more like a cya policy which also lets Uber drivers refuse to carry known gangbangers who they suspect are armed.