Moms To Staples: Guns Don't Belong in the Aisles With Notebooks And Pencils

By Susan Petroni

A gun control advocacy group is demanding that Staples no longer allow customers to carry guns in stores.

Members of the Massachusetts chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America plan to deliver a petition with more than 12,000 signatures to Staples headquarters in Framingham, Mass., on Tuesday, March 4 to ask the retailer to listen to moms across the country and stop allowing guns in their stores, nationwide. 

“The presence of firearms creates an inherent and unnecessary risk for Staples shoppers,” said Ann Krantz of Wenham and the communications lead for Moms Demand Action Massachusetts.

Last August, a female customer inside a North Carolina Staples "negligently fired her gun," said Krantz. 

"It is sheer luck that no one other than the gun owner was injured. But what about next time? It’s time for Staples to put the safety of its customers first and keep guns out of its stores," said Krantz.

Krantz, in a phone interview, said while Staples does not sell guns it does allow customers to carry them in their stores nationwide. 

Shoppers do not see customers carrying guns, except for law enforcement, due to state laws, said Krantz.

"We will be asking Staples to do the same across the country," said Krantz. Exceptions would include law enforcement. 

Moms Demand Action has succeeded previously in convincing national brands to shun firearms in their establishments, according to a press release.

In September, Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz announced guns were not welcome in the company’s stores and cafes after pressure from Moms Demand Action.

“Moms make the majority of purchasing decisions for their families,” Krantz said in a written statement. “We intend to support businesses who take measures to keep our children and families safe.”

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