Starbucks sticking to its open-carry gun policy

SEATTLE, Wash. – Guns at Starbucks? The coffee giant says it is sticking to its policy to allow customers to legally carry guns in its coffee shops.

Despite protests from gun control advocates, legal gun owners have recently been walking into Starbucks and other businesses to test state open-carry gun laws. There are 43 states that have such open-carry weapon laws, including Oregon and Washington.

Starbucks has unwittingly found itself at the center of the debate. (See "Starbucks says leave us out of gun debate.") A company spokesperson said if it bans guns from its premises it would be turning away law-abiding customers, and that's a precedent this company doesn't want to set.