Armed Gun Advocates Descend Upon Starbucks In Newtown, Across U.S.

Armed Gun Advocates Descend Upon Starbucks In Newtown, Across U.S.

BY REBECCA LEBER ON AUGUST 9, 2013 AT 4:03 PM

CREDIT: Facebook

Open carry groups are holding “Starbucks Appreciation Day” rallies across the country on Friday, including in Newtown, Connecticut, where a gunman killed 26 people eight months ago.

Starbucks currently allows customers to carry their guns in states with open carry. Gun advocates have taken this move as encouragement to stage “appreciation days,” like the one on Friday.

As many as two dozen gun advocates have stopped by the Newtown coffee shop so far today.

Across the country, many of the participants have posted “Appreciation Day” photos to Facebook where they hold their coffee and guns, and even occasionally children:

Newtown Action Alliance has condemned the move as “reprehensible,” while Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense has demanded Starbucks end its policyof permitting guns. Moms Demand Action will also hold a rally at the Newtown Starbucks this evening in favor of gun violence prevention.

Even after a Florida woman accidentally shot her friend in the leg this Maywhile standing in line at a Starbucks, the company has stood by its policy permitting guns.