Panera Bread: Leave Your Guns At Home

Panera Bread CEO Ronald Shaich took an unusual step today.  He is asking customers to leave their guns at home, msnbc.com reported.

“Within our company, we strive to create Panera Warmth. This warmth means bakery-cafes where customers and associates feel comfortable and welcome. To this end, we ask that guns not be brought into this environment unless carried by an authorized law enforcement officer. Panera respects the rights of gun owners, but asks our customers to help preserve the environment we are working to create for our guests and associates,” the company’s management said in an emailed statement to msnbc.

Over the past year, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America has been lobbying various corporations, including Panera, to ban armed individuals from coming into stores.

The new policy on guns takes immediate effect from Monday at Panera’s more than 1,800 cafes, which are located in 45 states and Canada.