Every day at Target, in everything we do, we ask ourselves what is right for our guests? We make all of our decisions with that question in mind. Questions have circulated in recent weeks around Target’s policy on the “open carry” of firearms in its stores. Today, interim CEO, John Mulligan, shared the following note with our Target team members. We wanted you to hear this update from us, too.
The leadership team has been weighing a complex issue, and I want to be sure everyone understands our thoughts and ultimate decision.
As you’ve likely seen in the media, there has been a debate about whether guests in communities that permit “open carry” should be allowed to bring firearms into Target stores. Our approach has always been to follow local laws, and of course, we will continue to do so. But starting today we will also respectfully request that guests not bring firearms to Target – even in communities where it is permitted by law.
We’ve listened carefully to the nuances of this debate and respect the protected rights of everyone involved. In return, we are asking for help in fulfilling our goal to create an atmosphere that is safe and inviting for our guests and team members.
This is a complicated issue, but it boils down to a simple belief: Bringing firearms to Target creates an environment that is at odds with the family-friendly shopping and work experience we strive to create.
The statement was later reinforced by a clarification which noted that the statement was merely a request for customers to leave their firearms at home. They would make no effort to post their stores against the legal carriage of firearms.
Basically, what the company really wanted to say was something like this.
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Well, there's a lot to this crap. "Open carry" has two meanings, one in Georgia, where it's a personal protection pistol, and Maryland, where it's only a long gun rifle, basically useless in personal self defense. Mostly, I presume these long gun "open carry" states really want to be against all carry, concealed or otherwise, like Maryland, because the sight of a long gun carrier in town is looking at a potential sniper, and makes people's views on carry move toward "no".
ReplyDeleteThose long gun carriers "demonstrating their rights" are kind of giving people the oogies and actually, in my belief, pushing people away from the 2A goal of real sidearm carry.
Sidearm carry should be the norm in this country, and frankly, open carry is much handier than concealed, but as long as one can switch from one to the other per venue, it would be no problem.
Problems occur when a store or other entity(government) requires guns be "left behind" poses an even greater risk. If I must leave my pistol in my car in the parking lot in a legal open carry society, then the thieves know 2 things!
Yup! you guessed it! Every car in the parking lot has a loaded gun in it, and nobody in the store is armed!
Can you say PERFECT?
Just break that window, and i own the store!
Just leave your gun at home. Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteJust leave your gun at home. Problem solved.
July 5, 2014 at 11:51 PM
Yeah, because then they would be dead and have no more problems, right?
effing moron.