The Open Carry movement has recently brought negative and unwanted attention to the Kroger Company by parading through its grocery stores with loaded weapons, prompting boycotts of Kroger’s across the country. Though boycotts have been an effective strategy on open carry, they are often complicated because laws vary from state to state. This boycott of Kroger’s is complex in California because we don’t allow open carry, and also because Ralph’s Grocery, a Kroger’s chain in California, has been a longtime supporter of Women Against Gun Violence and has shown outstanding corporate citizenship in terms of gun violence prevention.

In 2013 we honored Ralph’s Markets at our Annual Courageous Leadership Awards Brunch. They have been not only a sponsor of our programs, but also have been sponsors of a long-running program in Los Angeles that has taken 11,000 guns off our city streets over a period of just under six years.

In 2009, supporting L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa’s anti-gang plan, Kroger Company contributed over $50,000 to the Los Angeles citywide gun buyback program, in an effort to reduce gun violence and make our city safer. Since then, Kroger’s has continued to support the Los Angeles gun buyback program annually, encouraging citizens to voluntarily turn in their firearms in exchange for gift cards. In 2012, just days after the Sandy Hook tragedy, Ralph’s responded by sponsoring its second gun buyback of that year, which turned out to be one of L.A.’s biggest gun buybacks to date. Ralph’s sponsored another gun buyback on the one-year anniversary of Sandy Hook.

We applaud our local Ralph’s business for their sponsorship of Women Against Gun Violence and the education programs we offer in gun safety. While we acknowledge Ralph’s Grocery’s good corporate citizenship, we also feel that its parent company is wrong on the issue of open carry. We call on Ralph’s to encourage Kroger to change its policy in open-carry states. We also hope that the reckless actions of a few extremists will not overshadow the good works of a corporation that has shown sensitivity and generosity in the face of gun violence.

About the Author

Hollye DexterGuest Blogger and Speakers Bureau Member, Women Against Gun Violence
Having experienced gun violence in her own family, Hollye Dexter is a dedicated advocate for gun reform. Through her nonprofit Art and Soul Programs, she worked for a decade with at-risk teens, keeping them off the streets and involved in arts programs. She is the author of two books and has had many articles published on the subject of gun violence. Hollye has worked with the Brady Campaign, Everytown for Gun safety, Women Against Gun Violence, and established the first Moms Demand Action chapter in Los Angeles.