We told you this was going to happen.

It did.

The leadership team has been weighing a complex issue, and I want to be sure everyone understands our thoughts and ultimate decision.

As you’ve likely seen in the media, there has been a debate about whether guests in communities that permit “open carry” should be allowed to bring firearms into Target stores. Our approach has always been to follow local laws, and of course, we will continue to do so. But starting today we will also respectfully request that guests not bring firearms to Target – even in communities where it is permitted by law.

We’ve listened carefully to the nuances of this debate and respect the protected rights of everyone involved. In return, we are asking for help in fulfilling our goal to create an atmosphere that is safe and inviting for our guests and team members.

This is a complicated issue, but it boils down to a simple belief: Bringing firearms to Target creates an environment that is at odds with the family-friendly shopping and work experience we strive to create.

So far, moronic long gun open carriers have forced the following corporations into the position where they’ve felt compelled to ask gun owners to leave their firearms at home:

• Chipotle
• Jack in the Box
• Starbucks
•  Target ( we’re waiting on the official statement)

This is a long chain of public relations defeats that is souring people nationwide on not just the open carry of long guns into private businesses, but is turning people who have given the issue little to no thought to the issue against open carry in every form, everywhere.

Nicely done, jerks.

These businesses are in business to make money. They have a fiduciary responsibility—a legal obligation—to their shareholders to make money. Blocking unsafe slobs from carrying long guns that they clearly don’t know how to handle safely is, as they say, a “no brainer.”

And while I’m sure that the first thing we’re going to hear in the comments section is that C.J. Grisham, Open Carry Texas, CATI, etc., are “owned” by Mike Bloomberg, I assure you that these people are simply dim-witted attention whores who genuinely think they are “helping” the cause of gun rights with every battle they lose.

They are the “crack suicide squad” of the gun rights movement.

“Silly sods,” each and every one.