Murphy, Blumenthal, Urge Target to Ban Loaded Firearms in Stores

This just in from Senator Chris Murphy's office:

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) called on Target interim President and CEO, John J. Mulligan, to implement new policies that would prevent individuals from carrying firearms into the company’s stores. Late last month, a loaded gun was found on top of a superhero Playskool toy box in the toy aisle of a South Carolina Target.

“As Target customers, we were very alarmed to learn that a loaded gun was left in one of the toy aisles in a South Carolina Target. Thankfully no one was injured by this handgun but it should serve as a wakeup call to Target and similar stores that more can and must be done to provide a safe and welcoming environment for customers. We hope that you will adopt a new corporate policy that prevents individuals from carrying firearms into your stores. This latest example shows that when policies are not in place to prohibit firearms in stores all children are at risk for doing something so innocent as reach for their favorite superhero toy. Obviously, this incident raises serious questions about the safety of customers, particularly children, at this specific Target store but also your company’s commitment to the safety of all stores.”

The Senators are urging Target to follow the customer-friendly approach other companies, such as Starbucks and Chipotle, have taken to prohibit firearms in their stores.  

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The full text of the letter is below:

June 9, 2014

John J. Mulligan

Interim President and Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Target Corporation
1000 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55403

Dear Mr. Mulligan:

As Target customers, we were very alarmed to learn that a loaded gun was left in one of the toy aisles in a South Carolina Target. Local reports state that the gun was in plain view on top of a superhero Playskool toy box when a Target loss prevention employee found it and realized it was loaded. Thankfully no one was injured by this handgun but it should serve as a wakeup call to Target and similar stores that more can and must be done to provide a safe and welcoming environment for customers. We hope that you will now adopt a new corporate policy that prevents individuals from carrying firearms into your stores. In doing so, Target would be following the customer-friendly approach other companies, such as Starbucks and Chipotle, have recently adopted.

Teaching children about firearms and how to safely handle them is critical for parents who own guns. However, this latest example shows that when policies are not in place to prohibit firearms in stores all children are at risk for doing something so innocent as reach for their favorite superhero toy. 

Furthermore, this incident comes shortly after bizarre behavior by some individuals to protest at Target and other stores by carrying their assault weapons with them while shopping. Even the National Rifle Association described these protests as “weird” before backtracking so as to not offend fringe gun owners.  We would hope that seeing pictures of people with assault rifles strapped on their back waiting in line to check out at your store would be enough to convince you that the current policy is insufficient; but regardless, this latest example should demonstrate the need for a policy shift.

Obviously, this incident raises serious questions about the safety of customers, particularly children, at this specific Target store but also your company’s commitment to the safety of all stores.  Again, we urge you to implement new policies that would prevent customers with loaded weapons from entering your store. Thank you in advance for your consideration and we look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY

United States Senator

RICHARD BLUMENTHAL

United States Senator

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