Chipotle, IStockDid you know you can order a Patron margarita at Chipotle? We just found out the other week. That's very fancy. Anyway, now you can enjoy your Patron margarita and not worry someone's AK-47 will accidentally knock it over.
Because Chipotle is "respectfully asking" that customers leave their firearms at home. The new stance comes after members of gun rights group Open Carry Texas brought their weapons into one of the chain's Dallas-area restaurants and sparked a petition from Moms Demand Action.
Moms Demand Action explains, "Moms want to know that when we take our families out to eat burritos, we won't be confronted with bullets. We support the Second Amendment but we also need to feel safe and secure in the places we take our children."
Open Carry Texas founder C.J. Grisham counters, saying, "We always let the manager know we're coming. We try very hard to make people feel comfortable. We're peaceful, we're looking for a place to eat, but we have guns. If we're not welcome, we're not going to spend money there."
Looks like they'll have to find a new place to order a burrito bowl.
"The issue of gun ownership or gun rights has become one of the most contentious debates in the country," the chain said in a statement. "Chipotle has never taken a position on this issue, as we focus instead on our mission to change the way people think about and eat fast food."
They continued (via Forbes):
"Recently participants from an 'open carry' demonstration in Texas brought guns (including military-style assault rifles) into one of our restaurants, causing many of our customers anxiety and discomfort. Because of this, we are respectfully asking that customers not bring guns into our restaurants, unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel.
"Historically, we felt it enough to simply comply with local laws regarding the open or concealed carrying of firearms, because we believe that it is not fair to put our team members in the uncomfortable position of asking that customers refrain from bringing guns into our restaurants. However, because the display of firearms in our restaurants has now created an environment that is potentially intimidating or uncomfortable for many of our customers, we think it is time to make this request.
"We acknowledge that there are strong arguments on both sides of this issue. We have seen those differing positions expressed in the wake of this event in Texas, where pro-gun customers have contacted us to applaud our support of the Second Amendment, and anti-gun customers have expressed concern over the visible display of military-style assault rifles in restaurants where families are eating. The vast majority of gun owners are responsible citizens and we appreciate them honoring this request. And we hope that our customers who oppose the carrying of guns in public agree with us that it is the role of elected officials and the legislative process to set policy in this area, not the role of businesses like Chipotle."
"[This] has nothing to do with us and Open Carry Texas members and everything to do with a national gun control organization harassing and bullying corporations into submission," Open Carry Texas posted on Facebook.
They continued, "We have been welcomed into every restaurant we enter by employees and customers. Yet, gun control bullies that don't even live in our state troll our Facebook pages looking for their next target."
Meanwhile, gun rights activists are the ones flooding Chipotle's Facebook page, ranting about the "libtards" and threatening to boycott the chain. And naturally they pulled out everyone's favorite argument: If we don't have guns, who's going to shoot the person trying to shoot up the restaurant?!
"Well you feel pretty stupid when customers start getting robbed," one person commented, while another chimed in, "I will never support any business that prefers I be a victim." Living with that mentality must be EXHAUSTING. Always being paranoid that someone is going to shoot you while you're eating chips and guac...
Others have come out to support Chipotle's stance. One such person wrote, "Thank you for your common sense decision. You have kept me as a customer."