Gun Control Rally Planned For Kroger Annual Meeting

When Kroger shareholders arrive at their annual meeting next Wednesday, they'll be greeted by a gun safety protest.

Members of local affiliates of the Michael Bloomberg-backed gun control groups Everytown and Moms Demand Action will be waiting near the supermarket chain's Cincinnati headquarters on October 29th to confront investors and executives.

Kroger currently allows shoppers to openly carry guns in stores in states where the practice is legal. Everytown and Moms Demand Action activists aim to convince the retailer to change this policy, in line with other large chains like Starbucks and Target .

Joining the gun safety groups will be a survivor of the 2011 Tucson massacre outside a Safeway supermarket, when eighteen people, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, were shot. Six were killed. (Giffords has since retired from politics and devoted her career to gun control advocacy; she and husband Mark Kelly launched the nonprofit Americans for Responsible Solutions.)

Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts will be on the scene in Cincinnati and hopes to compel Kroger executives to meet with her in person. The group, in partnership with billionaire Bloomberg's $50 million Everytown project, has been petitioning the country's largest supermarket chain for more than two months.

They've amassed over 300,000 signatures and collectively made 12,000 phone calls to Kroger's corporate offices. The groups spent six figures on a recent ad blitz, including a billboard near the HQ.

In late September, they secured the support of Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Dianne Feinsten (D-Calif.), who jointly wrote to Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen:

“As you know, gun extremists in several states have exploited the current Kroger policy by flaunting assault rifles as they shopped. There is simply no reason why someone would need an AK-47 to purchase milk, bread, or other basic necessities at a grocery store. However, the current Kroger policy allows for these demonstrations,” the senators said.

“We write today to urge you to adopt a policy that would prohibit the open carry of firearms in your stores. In doing so, Kroger would be sending an important message about your commitment to the safety of your employees and customers.”

Still, Everytown and Moms Demand Action have yet to secure a meeting with the retailer's leadership team.

Shannon Watts noted recent incidents of gun crime in stores, including an armed robbery at a bank inside an Ohio Kroger by a man in a skeleton mask.

"Why is Kroger asking customers -- the vast majority of whom are women, and moms -- to handle their risk management for them?" Watts said. "How are we to determine the difference between an armed robber and a person carrying a gun to make a political statement?"

Watts added that she believes most gun owners are responsible, and wouldn't dream of openly carrying their weapons inside a supermarket.

"It's a vocal minority who make so much noise," she said. "They shouldn't be setting the political agenda -- or business policy. Kroger has every right to stop open carry on their own property."

She won't be deterred if Kroger's executives decide not to accept Everytown's petition next Wednesday.

"It took three months for Starbucks to change their policy," she said. "This is the largest supermarket chain in the country. We didn't expect this to happen overnight. But we're in it for the long run. We have the resources to keep going."

Kroger did not return a request for comment.