Panera Bread has joined the list of businesses asking customers not to bring their guns into their stores as the gun control debate rages on.
The company asked gun owners not to bring their weapons into stores in a release on Monday.
“We ask that guns not be brought into this environment unless carried by an authorized law enforcement officer,” read the statement, CNBC reports. “Panera respects the rights of gun owners, but asks our customers to help preserve the environment we are working to create for our guests and associates.”
The company’s CEO Ron Shaich spoke further on the matter, saying, “We're simply respectfully requesting that people leave their guns at home. It's that simple."
Huffington Post reports Panera joins companies like Starbucks, Target and Chipotle.
A group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is on one side of the debate, which has been campaigning for stores like Kroger to not allow the presence of guns in stores. Its founder, Shannon Watts, was clearly pleased with Panera’s new rule, saying it follows "months of discussion between Panera and Moms Demand Action."
Other groups on the other side of the coin, like Open Carry Texas, have been rallying against no-gun policies like Panera’s.