INDIANAPOLIS, May 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today launched a national petition calling on Jack in the Box CEO Leonard Comma to enforce the company's existing no-firearms-in-stores policy. Jack in the Box has a policy prohibiting firearms in any of its corporate-owned stores – and the Fort Worth store is one of them. The petition comes in response to last week's semi-automatic rifle carrying demonstration at a Fort Worth, Texas Jack in the Box store that terrified employee so much that they locked themselves in the freezer, according to local police. You can find the petition here.

Texas law currently allows people to openly carry loaded rifles in public with absolutely no training, permitting, or minimum age requirement. Combined with estimates that 40 percent of gun sales occur without a background check in the U.S., this means that people can legally carry loaded rifles in Texas without ever having passed a criminal background check. There is no way for employees, customers, law enforcement or municipalities to know who these armed men are and whether they pose a threat.

"Jack In The Box is disregarding the safety and peace of mind of patrons, employees and law enforcement by allowing groups and individuals to openly carry shotguns and rifles onto their properties," said Kellye Burke, Texas Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. "These businesses are subjecting hourly employees to danger and fear – and their customers, in search of burgers, to the potential for bullets."

"Where state gun laws dangerously allow individuals with no background check or training to buy semi-automatic rifles and carry them openly in public, businesses have a duty to protect their employees and patrons," said Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. "That's why we are calling on Jack In the Box and other businesses to follow Starbucks' lead and prohibit the open carry of rifles on their property."

Moms Demand Action previously launched petitions that garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures asking Starbucks, Facebook, and Instagram to reform the companies' gun policies to make customers and communities safer. Starbucks changed its policy of allowing guns in stores as a result of the campaign. Facebook and Instagram also announced changes to block illegal gun sales after 230,000 Americans signed a Moms Demand Action petition asking for stronger protections against illegal gun sales on the two social media platforms.

About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

Much like Mothers Against Drunk Driving was created to change laws regarding drunk driving, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was created to build support for common-sense gun reforms. The nonpartisan grassroots movement of American mothers is demanding new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and is part of Everytown for Gun Safety along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 1.5 million supporters including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for reforms that respect the Second Amendment and protect people. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand

Contact

Lizzie Ulmer: lulmer@everytown.org or 269-271-2331

Kim Russell krussell@momsdemandaction.org or 917-226-4420

SOURCE Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America