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Starbucks’ Open Carry Policy Becomes Fodder for Comedians

April 18th, 2010, blog post by Megan Montplaisir

 

Peet’s Coffee & Tea and the California Pizza Kitchen chose to adopt a ban on the open carry of firearms in their establishments, due to the outstanding number of complaints from their loyal patrons.  The open display of firearms makes people uncomfortable and invokes a sense of fear in a place that should make you feel welcome and safe to be able to enjoy the atmosphere and services the business offers. 

 

Gary Trudeau, creator of the famous Doonesbury comic phenomenon chose to incorporate the controversy surrounding Starbucks and their open carry policy in his daily comic strips.  Trudeau carefully uses his characters to illustrate the absurdity of allowing firearms to be openly carried in places of business that one would not normally see guns.  He wrote three different comics, all of when are listed below.  

 

March 22, 2010

March 23, 2010

March 27, 2010

 

In a FAQ post Trudeau explains that he was a big supporter and even a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) when the organization represented gun safety and sportsmanship.  However he ended his member when the NRA became more of a political lobby organization versus a sportsmanship organization.  

 

Two of the most successful and well known night time comedy hosts created two satirical parodies detailing the impact of the open carry gun policy to the absolute extreme.  Jimmy Kimmel from Jimmy Kimmel Live mocks out an extreme situation of an open carry activist coming into Starbucks.  This humorous and satirical video brings into light the craziness of the open carry movement and shows the lack of thought for Starbucks employees.  

 

Jon Stewart of The Daily Show approaches the open carry movement from the side of open carry activists.  The satirical report explores the “discrimination” of people who open carry and their alternative lifestyle of public displays of protection.  

 

However light and humorous the issue of open carry is in the media, they all underscore a deeper issue of public safety and gun control.  More businesses need to take a stand against open carry activists for both the safety of their employees and the sake of the public.