Washington, D.C. - The Starbucks Coffee Company allows customers to carry guns, yet prohibits employees from having weapons in Starbucks stores.  “These two policies seem to be in conflict,” said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.  “If employees having guns is dangerous, why isn’t it equally dangerous for customers to have guns?”Starbucks’ Standards of Business Conduct manual, posted on the company’s website, reads “Partners [employees] may not have or possess any weapon while in a Starbucks store, plant or on other Starbucks property."  The manual is here: http://assets.starbucks.com/assets/sobc-fy09-eng.pdf. The Brady Campaign launched an online petition ...read the full release

Washington, D.C. - Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, issued the following statement about news reports that John Patrick Bedell, the dangerously mentally ill California man who opened fire on police guarding the Pentagon March 4, was armed with a gun sold without a Brady background check at a gun show in Las Vegas, Nevada:"If media reports are correct, a dangerous and delusional man was denied a gun by a Brady background check in California, but was able to arm himself with a gun purchased at a ...read the full release

Washington, D.C. - Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which filed amicus briefs in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in both Commonwealth v. Runyan and Commonwealth v. DePina, released the following statement on the Court’s rulings:“The gun lobby’s argument that the Second Amendment gives gun owners the right to place children at risk by leaving unsecured guns in the home was appropriately rejected.  Courts must continue to reject efforts by the gun lobby and gun criminals to strike down common sense gun laws that save lives.”  Former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger and the law ...read the full release

Washington, D.C. – Brady-endorsed Democrat Eileen Filler-Corn won a Special Election this week for the 41st district of the Virginia House of Delegates, defeating Republican Kerry D. Bolognese.Filler-Corn was one of the founders of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Million Mom March, and has been a strong leader for and supporter of common sense measures to reduce gun violence.  “I hope Eileen is able to bring some much needed common sense to the Virginia House of Delegates on gun issues,” said Andy Goddard, President of the Richmond Million Mom March Chapters.  “I look forward to working with her in ...read the full release

Washington, DC – Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, observed the oral argument today in the case of McDonald v. City of Chicago at the U.S. Supreme Court, and issued the following statement:"In the two years since the Heller decision, courts throughout the country have rejected the arguments of gun criminals and the gun lobby that the Second Amendment enshrines their 'any gun, anywhere, any time' agenda."Today's arguments seemed to indicate a consensus around the Court's strong language in the Heller decision that reasonable restrictions on gun ownership are 'presumptively lawful.'"Either way the Court decides ...read the full release

Washington, DC – Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, issued the following statement on news that New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg has been diagnosed with stomach cancer:"The Brady Campaign extends its heartfelt wishes to Senator Lautenberg for a quick and full recovery in his battle against cancer.  As one of the strongest fighters in Congress for common sense policies that protect the American people, we know the Senator will use that same fighting spirit against this latest challenge.  Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family." ...read the full release

Washington, DC – Most states have weak or non-existent gun laws, helping feed the illegal gun market and allowing the sale of guns without background checks including at gun shows, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.  Forty-three states fail to close the loophole that allows criminals to buy guns at gun shows without Brady background checks.  Scores range from the first-ever “zero,” earned by Utah, to 79 for California. The complete scorecard results can be accessed at www.bradycampaign.org.“Most states, unfortunately, are doing very little to protect citizens from gun violence.  Most states are allowing dangerous people to ...read the full release

Washington, DC –  The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence today applauded the recent decision by Buckhorn Grill to protect its customers and staff by keeping public firearms out of its restaurants.  Buckhorn Grill's policy mirrors that of Peet’s Coffee & Tea and California Pizza Kitchen, who also made their "No Guns Except For Police" policies clear in recent weeks after so-called "open carry" gun activists wore semi-automatic pistols and ammunition magazines into their establishments."The Buckhorn Grill management did the right thing to protect the families and children who visit their restaurants," said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign ...read the full release

Washington, DC – A Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence petition drive with CREDO Mobile Company to urge the Starbucks Coffee Company to prohibit guns in its retail outlets is attracting substantial support, with more than 25,000 people signing.  The petitions will be delivered to the coffee retailer soon.   The petition is at http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/starbucks_guns/?rc=brady. “We urge Starbucks to respect the rights of the vast majority of its customers, who seek to take their families into its stores without facing the intimidating presence of openly carried guns,” said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign. Two weeks ago, after ...read the full release

Washington, DC – Radical gun enthusiasts have begun parading into California restaurants and coffeehouses in recent weeks brazenly displaying handguns.  The gun activists have frightened customers, alarmed police and caused at least two restaurant chains to establish firm policies prohibiting firearms in their retail locations.  Ten days ago, gun violence opponents in California started urging a third chain, Starbucks, to similarly prohibit the "open carry" of firearms in its retail establishments, but Starbucks has rebuffed their requests.  Today, the national Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence joins with its chapter leaders in California and across the nation in urging the ...read the full release