Popular drive-in restaurant Sonic and Chili’s Bar & Grill are the latest two dining establishments to ask for no guns indoors after demonstrations at their locations.
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Open carry activists recently have brought firearms to Sonic, Chili’s and Chipotle in Texas, the latter of which has already asked customers to not carry inside.
“We’ve considered the views and desires of our customers and employees that staff the drive-ins across the country,” Sonic said in a statement. “Accordingly, we’re asking that customers refrain from bringing guns onto our patios or into our indoor dining areas. With respect to the storage of guns in vehicles, we ask that our customers continue to honor local laws.”
Chili’s parent company, Brinker International, was more moderate in its announcement.
“[W]e kindly ask that guests refrain from openly carrying firearms into our restaurants and we will continue to follow state and local laws on this issue,” a statement read.
The Bloomberg-backed Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America had called on Sonic and Chili’s to take action in the wake of the demonstrations at their restaurants, and the group responded approvingly Friday.
“Moms thank Sonic and Brinker International, which includes Chili’s Grill & Bar, for taking action to stand up for the safety and security of our families — we are heartened that we can take our children to these family-oriented restaurants and not worry about being confronted by customers with semiautomatic rifles,” Shannon Watts, Moms Demand founder, said.
