Major Restaurant Chain to Gun Owners: We Respect Your Rights, but Leave Your Firearms at Home

Panera Bread is asking customers not to bring firearms into its locations, becoming the latest company to take an anti-gun stance in an attempt to “preserve the environment we are working to create for our guests and associates.”

The new policy asks that no one other than law enforcement officers bring guns into any Panera Bread location.

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In a Monday statement, the restaurant chain cites “Panera Warmth” as part of the reasoning behind the decision:

“Within our company, we strive to create Panera Warmth. This warmth means bakery-cafes where customers and associates feel comfortable and welcome. To this end, we ask that guns not be brought into this environment unless carried by an authorized law enforcement officer. Panera respects the rights of gun owners, but asks our customers to help preserve the environment we are working to create for our guests and associates.”

Anti-gun groups, like former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety, have tried to pressure various businesses into announcing anti-gun policies.

Some of the anti-gun campaigns came after a pro-gun group, Open Carry Texas, held open carry demonstrations at establishments like Target and Kroger.

(H/T: Huffington Post)