Dive Brief:

• In states with “open carry” laws, which allow people to carry unconcealed guns in most public places, demonstrators in recent weeks have been bringing guns into chain restaurants like Starbucks, Chipotle, and Jack in the Box, and to retail stores like Home Depot and Target.

• The highly publicized moves have led to counter-demonstrations by anti-gun groups and concerned citizens. A gun-control advocacy group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, financed in part by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, has successfully asked Starbucks and Chipotle to ban guns in their stores and is now aiming for Target.

• Most of the controversial activity has occurred in Texas, spurred by the pro-gun group Open Carry Texas, but retailers in Alabama, Ohio, North Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin, and Virginia have also seen demonstrations and counter-demonstrations.

Dive Insight:

The gun debate has literally moved into retail stores in recent days, and in some cases the activity has put retailers in a tough spot. Customers, even many pro-gun advocates, have become nervous at the sight of guns in retail locations, especially those with children. But when stores are in areas where much of the population favors open-carry laws, reactions by retailers have tried to assure customers that stores are safe while making no strong policy against guns.