Newtown Action Alliance, Guns Down America, #NoRA, Orange Ribbons for Gun Safety, Moms Rising, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, Raleigh-Apex NAACP Applaud Subway for Banning Open Carry
For Immediate Release
July 7, 2020
Press Contacts:
Newtown Action Alliance
John Kelley
917-679-6475
Guns Down America
Brandon Lorenz
414-241-0730
Raleigh-Apex NAACP
Gerald D. Givens Jr.
919-662-5006
#NoRA
Ben Jackson
Orange Ribbons For Jaime
Fred Guttenberg
fred@orangeribbonsforjaime.org
Moms Rising
Lisa Lederer
202/371-1999
Newtown Action Alliance, Guns Down America, #NoRA, Orange Ribbons for Gun Safety, Moms Rising, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, Raleigh-Apex NAACP Applaud Subway for Banning Open Carry
Newtown, CT - The Newtown Action Alliance, Guns Down America, #NoRA, Orange Ribbons for Gun Safety, Moms Rising, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence and Raleigh-Apex NAACP applaud Subway for changing its policy to ban open carry inside its restaurants even in states where open carry is permitted. Subway has joined many prominent American businesses, including Walmart, Target, Starbucks, Kroger, CVS, Walgreens, Wegmans and others that have established clear policies that ask individuals to leave their guns at home.
After heavily armed protesters carrying AT4 rocket launchers, multiple pistols, and shotguns patronized the Subway restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina during the COVID19 pandemic shutdown period, the gun violence prevention community sent multiple requests to John Chidsey, CEO of Subway, to encourage him to keep his employees and customers safe in North Carolina, Connecticut and other states from the threat of gun violence by prohibiting people from openly carrying weapons in his restaurants.
On May 18, 2020, Newtown Action Alliance, Guns Down America, and Daily Kos sent a letter signed by 153 families and survivors directly impacted by gun violence to Mr. Chidsey. 43,167 Americans signed this coalition petition and Moms Rising also submitted a petition with 10,000 signatures. Last week, Connecticut Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy followed up with this letter to Mr. Chidsey.
Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance stated: “We are grateful that Subway listened to the families and survivors directly impacted by gun violence, as well as Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy, and concerned citizens from Connecticut and across the nation by changing its policy. In a nation plagued by the scourge of gun violence and lockdown drills, the mere sight of weapons in restaurants and other public venues is often triggering. Many Americans, including those of us from Sandy Hook who have been exposed to gun violence, suffer from PTSD.”
“Too often, we see businesses behaving without regard for the safety of their customers. It’s another reason Subway is a standout. I’m so proud of Subway for doing the right thing and working to keep their customers safe from the dangers of unnecessary guns in their restaurants,” said Alyssa Milano, the cofounder of #NoRA and Board Advisor of Newtown Action Alliance.
Fred Guttenberg, Founder of Orange Ribbons for Gun Safety and Board Advisor of Newtown Action Alliance said: “Thank you Subway and Senators Blumenthal and Murphy. I lost my daughter because she was murdered in school. I learned the hard way gun violence does not announce itself ahead of time and can happen in unexpected places, including a quick service restaurant. The safety of your customers and employees is dependent upon important decisions like this. Thank you for taking this important first step to protecting those who work and those who eat in your restaurants.”
Gloria Pan, gun control campaign director at MomsRising, said: "No matter what we look like, where we live, or where we come from, we want our loved ones to be safe and free from the threat of gun violence. And no one wants to feel scared as we begin to return to our favorite restaurants. Moms across America applaud Subway's prioritizing the comfort and safety of its workers and our families, who are Subway's customers, by banning open carry."
Gerald D. Givens Jr, President, Raleigh-Apex NAACP and board member of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, said: “After armed protesters patronized Subway in Raleigh on Saturday, May 9, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence and the Raleigh-Apex NAACP put out a call to gun violence prevention organizations for help to stop future recurrences. We were grateful when support grew quickly on the local, state and national levels. Subway joined with us to say safety comes first. This moment is a testament to the power of the people and businesses coming together to make a difference and being the change.”
“American businesses feel the impact of our lax gun laws on a daily basis and have a responsibility to do whatever it takes to keep their employees and customers safe,” said Igor Volsky, Executive Director of Guns Down America. “I’m proud that Subway listened to the thousands of Americans who called on it to ban open carry in its restaurants and look forward to continue working with the company to help build safer communities with fewer guns.”
###
Newtown Action Alliance (http://newtownaction.org) is a Newtown-based, national grassroots organization formed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. Our mission is to achieve the steady and continuous reduction of gun violence through legislative and cultural changes.
Guns Down America (gunsdownamerica.org) is moving our country toward a future with fewer guns by running campaigns to weaken the gun industry, the gun lobby, and the lawmakers who support them.
#NoRA (https://noranow.org/) is a diverse coalition of artists, activists, survivors of gun violence, policy experts, and celebrities co-founded by Alyssa Milano in the wake of the Parkland massacre. #NoRA’s mission is to move culture into a less violent place by counteracting the influence of NRA money in the American political system.
Orange Ribbons for Jaime (https://orangeribbonsforjaime.org/) is a 501(C)(3) foundation whose purpose will be to support causes important to Jaime in life, but also causes that will deal with the way her life was tragically cut short. We will look to make donations in the world of dance, and to organizations that deal with bullying and children with special needs. On February 14th, 2018 our 14-year-old daughter Jaime Guttenberg, along with 16 other victims at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were tragically murdered by a troubled former student. Orange Ribbons For Jaime will honor our daughter by supporting programs that were important to her, as well as those dedicated to pursuing common sense gun safety reforms.
MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.
North Carolinians Against Gun Violence (NCGV) is a non-profit organization that has been working for more than 25 years to reduce the number of incidents of gun-related deaths in our state each year. NCGV’s mission is to make North Carolina safe from gun violence through public education on gun violence prevention, the enforcement of current gun laws, and the enactment of new legislation. For more information on NCGV visit www.ncgv.org.