An article published in the Huffington Post in February 2010 addresses the controversy stirred by gun owners exercising their rights to openly carry firearms in some states. Starbucks has refused to ban guns in its cafes in “open carry” states.
“The fight for retailers heated up in early January when gun enthusiasts in northern California began walking into Starbucks and other businesses to test state laws that allow gun owners to carry weapons openly in public places. As it spread to other states, gun control groups quickly complained about the parade of firearms in local stores. Some were spontaneous, with just one or two gun owners walking into a store. Others were organized parades of dozens of gun owners walking into restaurants with their firearms proudly at their sides.”