U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), along with U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) are calling on the Connecticut Food Association (CFA) to implement a new policy that would prevent individuals from openly carrying firearms into member stores.
A pro-carry organization is threatening to boycott any store that takes up this initiative.
In a letter to association president Wayne Pesce, the three legislators said a priority has to be placed on the safety of employees and customers. They cited other retailers – including Chipotle, Sonic, Chili’s, Target, Panera Bread, Starbucks, and Whole Foods – that have taken up what they deem as the “customer-friendly approach” to keep firearms out of their stores.
Pesce and the CFA were not available for comment.
“Following their impotent efforts to remove the right of armed self defense from people across Connecticut and the country through legislative means, these politicians have decided instead to employ fear based propaganda without basis in reality. The idea that anyone would fear the segment of the population (permit holders) that causes the least amount of crime (less than police officers, in fact) because they do not have a sheet of cloth over their firearm is insane,” said Rich Burgess, president, Connecticut Carry, a non-profit organization devoted to educating and protecting gun carry rights in Connecticut.
Burgess added in an email, “It should be noted that we are well stocked on our No Guns = No Money campaign cards and we have and will be using them in response to any chain dumb enough to fall for this nonsense.”
According to the trio, current Connecticut state law allows anyone with a permit to openly carry a handgun, but private businesses can prohibit open carry in their stores.
“There is simply no reason someone would need to bring their gun with them in order to purchase milk, bread, or other necessities at a grocery store. Customers should feel safe while shopping, and employees should not be fearful while doing their jobs,” the three lawmakers wrote in their letter.
The CFA has 240 member companies that operate approximately 300 retail food stores and pharmacies across Connecticut, and employ over 30,000 individuals. CFA’s members include food retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and service providers of large multi-store chains, regional firms, and independent supermarkets.
