Residents Against 'Open Carry' Call for Boycott of Grocery Store

Some local residents from Newtown, Bethel, Redding, Georgetown and Wilton are up in arms over Caraluzzi’s open carry policy, and are boycotting their stores because of it.

Those against the open carry law are voicing their disdain by giving the family-owned business one star ratings on Facebook:

Jennifer Clarkson Killin — 1 star “Very disappointed to hear that Caraluzzi’s allows customers to carry guns in their stores. Yes, local law permits it, but businesses are also well within their rights not to, and many do. There was an incident in this store with a gun recently. I am taking my business and my annual $15,000 elsewhere until you put the safety and peace of mind of your customers first.”

Dana Amy Jonson — 1 star “ I have shopped at Caraluzzi’s for YEARS but was saddened today to learn that they permit open carry in their stores (and, yes, I got this information from the stores themselves). While open carry is legal in CT, private businesses can decide not to allow guns in their stores. Carraluzzi’s does not yet have such a policy. So that you are aware, Costco, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Price Rite, Starbucks, and Target have policies that do not permit guns in their stores.”

Sharon Monteith — 1 star “Sadly, the current ‘open carry’ policy is a safety issue - not a political issue. No matter how wonderful the customer service is, the produce and meat is, and the overall quality is (and it is), this is no different than any other safety issue. If I don’t feel safe, I don’t go. And the visible presence of arms being carried by people who may or may not be nutjobs - in a GROCERY STORE - is not only craziness, but sad.”

But for as many one-star ratings the store has received, supporters of the Caraluzzi family and their business are firing back.

Andrew Purchia III — 5 star “Great family owned business. I was happy to see that you allow people to legally carry their firearms on your premises. My kids and I feel safe here when we shop.”

Warren Stevens — 5 star “Thank you for respecting the 2nd Amendment, and the Constitution. What you are doing in your store is what the principals of America are all about. Do not pay attention to the narrow minded anti gun rhetoric, you are doing the right thing. Note that the pro gun replies here are 5 to 1 over the anti gun fear mongers.”

David Amato — 5 star “Very happy to hear that a local business allows law abiding citizens the right to carry firearms in your stores. I wish more stores were like yours as while I don’t carry every day, I refuse to support those that would ban a legal law abiding customer that right. God bless!

Anthony Caraluzzi Sr. opened up his first grocery store in 1949, after working 27 years for Gristede’s Supermarkets in the Bronx, NY, according to their website. In 1952 with the help of his sons, the store expanded to Redding and later to Newtown.

How do you feel about Caraluzzi’s open carry policy? Tell us in the comments.

Photo by bennettvictor50 via Flickr Creative Commons