Starbucks' controversial decision to change their gun policy last week as a desire to take itself out the national debate on firearms.
In response to the Starbucks' ban, Business Insider reported fast-food chains McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts both follow Starbucks' old policy. Both major chains follow local gun laws and allow franchisees to make their won decisions on the subject. McDonald's spokesperson Lisa McComb explained McDonald's overarching view on handling guns in its eateries.
"We recognize that there is a lot of emotion and passion surrounding the issue of firearms and open carry weapons laws," he said.
McComb said the fast food chain respects the different views of their customers, but McDonald's company-owned restaurants follow local, state and federal laws that pertain to individuals carrying weapons.
"For franchisee-owned restaurants, operational decisions regarding open carry weapon laws are made by the independent franchisee," McComb said. "That said, as with all aspects of operating a McDonald's restaurant, we expect our franchisees and their crew to follow local, state and federal laws."
Dunkin' Donuts spokeswoman Michelle King said the chain follows a similar ideology.
"Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins restaurants are owned and operated by individual franchisees who are required to follow all federal, state and local laws with regard to firearms," King said, according to the Business Insider.
Starbucks Corporation chief executive, Howard Schultz, announced on Tuesday that the coffee chain's customers leave their firearms at home. Schultz said the decision came from an increase in the number of people bringing guns to Starbucks stores nationwide over the last six months.
"Our stores exist to give every customer a safe and comfortable respite from the concerns of daily life," he wrote in a letter addressed to all Starbucks patrons. "I don't want to put our people in a position of having to confront or enforce a policy (when) someone is holding a gun."
