Target asks customers to leave guns at home

A prominent proxy advisory firm recommends that Target shareholders should vote against seven of the 10 directors because of the data breach. A prominent proxy advisory firm recommends that Target shareholders should vote against seven of the 10 directors because of the data breach. Photo: Steven Senne / Associated Press Photo: Steven Senne / Associated Press Image 1 of / 48 Caption Close Target asks customers to leave guns at home 1 / 48 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO - Megastore chain Target, which has been in the middle of a tug-of-war between open carry advocates and advocates of tighter gun laws for more than a month, joined a growing list of businesses Wednesday asking customers to keep guns at home.

"There has been a debate about whether guests in communities that permit "open carry" should be allowed to bring firearms into Target stores," a interim CEO John Mulligan said in a statment. "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."

Jamie Addams, Texas chapter leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said she applauds Target's decision, adding that it isn't a "radical request."

"Our organization fully supports the Second Amendment. We respect every one's right to own guns," said Addams, of San Antonio. "But while we are out shopping and eating with our family, in places where you wouldn't normally see a loaded rifle, we respectfully call on corporations to create policies that make us feel safe."

Addams and about 30 other members rallied at the Park North Target on Sunday, asking customers to sign a petition requesting the franchise to enact a policy prohibiting open carry in stores, but were told to leave by the store's manager, who threatened to call the police.

C.J. Grisham, president of Open Carry Texas, which has garnered national headlines during the last year, said he is disappointed with Target's decision and that it will make customers more susceptible to robberies.

"When you remove the right of self defense, you victimize your customer base," Grisham said. "Robberies at businesses that have enacted similar policies including Jack in the Box, Sonic and Chili's have increased."

The Minneapolis-based store has nearly 1,800 stores in the country and is the third largest general merchandise retailer in the country, according to the National Retail Federation.

During the last 18 months, a growing list of businesses have asked customers to leave guns at home after open carry advocates, many in Texas, have entered stores with semi-automatic rifles, shotguns and black powder pistols and posted photos and videos online.

Openly toting these long guns is legal in Texas without a license or training.

Groups including Moms Demand Action have subsequently and successfully petitioned businesses, including Starbucks, Chipotle, Jack in the Box, Chili's, Maggiano's and Sonic, to enact policies.

"Because background checks aren't required for private sales of firearms, we don't know who these individuals are who are carrying these guns in public," Addams said.

Last month, the National Rifle Association called open carry acitivists in Texas "weird," "scary," "counter-productive" and "downright foolishness", but retracted the statement two days later.

kparker@express-news.net

Twitter: @KoltenParker