Rival groups take aim at Starbucks

What does a cup of coffee have to do with guns? Pretty much nothing, in terms of business.

Unfortunately for Starbucks, opposing groups in America disagree, and both are involving an organization that really has nothing to do with their beef.

On Feb. 14, the National Gun Victims Action Council is planning a boycott of Starbucks. On the same day, gun rights advocates nationwide are organizing a Starbucks Appreciation Day.

The love-hate relationship with the coffee company on both sides began when, in 2010, gun owners began holding open carry meetings at Starbucks locations, and the corporation's firearm policy came to light.

Starbucks does not ban guns in its stores; instead, it defers to local law.

So, the National Gun Victims Action Council is planning to shun Starbucks on Valentine's Day. Conversely, firearms advocates are planning to show their affection for Starbucks' policy by purchasing their java with $2 bills.

Catch the significance?

Judging from its lack of response to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's requests for comment, Starbucks has nothing to say about the matter.

Dan Schawbel, managing partner of Boston-based Millennial Branding, said he doesn't believe either of these movements will affect Starbucks' brand.

"It's a massive brand. This has nothing to do with their product," Schawbel said.

Nor does he think either movement will gain steam.

"I don't see this as being a long-term thing. I see it being a short-term thing," Schawbel said. "I think it's more that people just need something to do."

The National Gun Victims Action Council was founded in 2011 and is a registered nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. On a statement the group distributed about the planned boycott, it claims to be "a network of 14 million gun victims." A request for the number of dues-paying members went unanswered. Under its "take action" tab on its Web page, it seemed Starbucks was the organization's singular focus, other than asking people to like its Facebook page or donate money.

As of Feb. 3, the National Gun Victim's Action Council's Facebook page had 182 "likes."

On the opposing side, firearms advocates are using gun-focused websites, such as Robert Farago's TheTruthAboutGuns.com, to spread their message of support for Starbucks. Farago said since the idea was hatched, his website's post about the Feb. 14 events has had more than 50,000 hits.

Contact reporter Laura Carroll at
lcarroll@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588.