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The Whataburger at 2461 Government St. in Mobile, pictured here in 2008, is one of 12 Whataburger locations across Alabama. (Press-Register file/G.M. Andrews)

The president of the Texas-based Whataburger fast-food chain, which has 12 locations in Alabama, has issued a statement reiterating the company's policy against customers openly carrying firearms in its restaurants.

The statement comes just a few weeks after lawmakers in Whataburger's home state of Texas approved a new open-carry law that will allow licensed Texans to openly carry handguns in belt or shoulder holsters.

Whataburger, which was founded in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950, has 780 locations across the South, including six in the Birmingham metro area, three in Mobile, and three others in South Alabama. The fast-food chain is based in San Antonio.

Whataburger President and CEO Preston Atkinson, who says he enjoys hunting and has a license to carry a concealed firearm, said in his statement that Whataburger's policy is a "business decision that we made a long time ago'' out of respect for employees and customers who "tell us they're uncomfortable being around someone with a visible firearm who is not a member of law enforcement."

"As a company serving customers with many different viewpoints, we're sometimes caught in the middle on controversial issues like this one," Atkinson went on to say. "We hope you and your members, along with our other friends in the gun rights community, understand our position and will continue to visit us. We appreciate your business."

Under the new Texas open-carry law, which goes in effect in January, businesses such as Whataburger that do not want their customers to open carry must post a sign that is displayed in a "conspicuous manner" at the entrance and that containers very specific wording about their no-open-carry policy.

In Alabama, a state firearms law that went into effect Aug. 1, 2013, allows owners of property open to the public to post adequate notice prohibiting firearms and to have violators, including licensed carriers, arrested for trespassing if the individual refuses to leave when asked to do so in the presence of a law enforcement agent.

Here is the full text of Atkinson's statement:

There's been a lot of talk the past couple weeks about Whataburger's open carry policy, and I wanted to reach out to personally explain our position.

Whataburger supports customers' Second Amendment rights and we respect your group's position, but we haven't allowed the open carry of firearms in our restaurants for a long time (although we have not prohibited licensed conceal carry). It's a business decision we made a long time ago and have stood by, and I think it's important you know why.

But first, as a representative of Whataburger, I want you to know we proudly serve the gun rights community. I personally enjoy hunting and also have my concealed carry license, as do others at Whataburger.

From a business standpoint, though, we have to think about how open carry impacts our 34,000+ employees and millions of customers. We serve customers from all walks of life at more than 780 locations, 24 hours a day, in 10 states and we're known for a family friendly atmosphere that customers have come to expect from us. We're the gathering spot for Little League teams, church groups and high school kids after football games.

We've had many customers and employees tell us they're uncomfortable being around someone with a visible firearm who is not a member of law enforcement, and as a business, we have to listen and value that feedback in the same way we value yours. We have a responsibility to make sure everyone who walks into our restaurants feels comfortable. For that reason, we don't restrict licensed concealed carry but do ask customers not to open carry in our restaurants.

As a company serving customers with many different viewpoints, we're sometimes caught in the middle on controversial issues like this one. We hope you and your members, along with our other friends in the gun rights community, understand our position and will continue to visit us. We appreciate your business. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Preston Atkinson

Whataburger President and CEO