The CEO of Levi’s issued an open letter requesting that the store’s customers and employees avoid bringing guns into its stores, offices or facilities.
In the letter, posted on Linkedin, Levi Strauss & Co. President and CEO Chip Bergh cited a recent incident in which a customer was injured after his gun inadvertently went off. Bergh stated that Levi’s isn’t banning guns.
Bergh, a former army officer, wrote:
The debate in the U.S. over gun safety and gun rights is as complex as it is divisive. As a former army officer, a father and business leader, I’ve heard the arguments from all sides. And, as CEO of a 163-year-old company whose products and presence rest at the intersection of culture and community in more than 110 countries around the world, I feel a tremendous responsibility to share our position on the issue, now, at a time when clarity is paramount.
Providing a safe environment to work and shop is a top priority for us at Levi Strauss & Co. That imperative is quickly challenged, however, when a weapon is carried into one of our stores. Recently, we had an incident in one of our stores where a gun inadvertently went off, injuring the customer who was carrying it.
So, while we understand the heartfelt and strongly-held opinions on both sides of the gun debate, it is with the safety and security of our employees and customers in mind that we respectfully ask people not to bring firearms into our stores, offices or facilities, even in states where it’s permitted by law. Of course, authorized members of law enforcement are an exception.
Bergh added, “You shouldn’t have to be concerned about your safety while shopping for clothes or trying on a pair of jeans. Simply put, firearms don’t belong in either of those settings.”
There were some disgruntled customers after Bergh wrote his letter; one wrote, “You have, though, made it a lot easier for terrorists to recognize Levi stores as a soft target. Nice going.” Another penned, “My safety depends on my lawful carry of a firearm.”
Target Corp., Sonic and Chili’s have also requested that customers refrain from bringing guns into their stores.