A San Francisco bakery chain’s “no guns” policy is so strict they’re not even serving on-duty police officers, a move that has Wyoming bakery workers and law enforcement rolling their eyes.
“We’re fortunate. We’re supported by not only the local citizens, but by all the businesses as well. I don’t know how we’d react (to such a ban). I don’t foresee it happening here,” Campbell County Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.
Gun rights advocate Mark Jones of Buffalo said the bakery’s decision to boot cops for carrying guns left him dumbfounded.
“Where to even begin,” said Jones, a spokesman for Gun Owners of America. “That sounds like anti-gun extremism taken to the max.”
A Cop-Free Donut Shop
Reem’s California, which runs a chain of bakeries in the Bay Area, angered local police when an officer was recently turned away from one of its stores. It was reportedly because of the company’s strict policy against anyone carrying a firearm into its stores, according to local news reports.
The San Francisco Police Officer’s Association blasted the bakery on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
“NO COPS ALLOWED. That's the confirmed policy of the bakery chain Reem's," the law enforcement officers’ union posted.
Company Cites Violence, Particularly Against Minorities
For its part, Reem’s California responded that the company plans to stick to its “no guns” policy.
The company stated in an Instagram post that it is particularly concerned about the safety of minorities and therefore doesn’t want any guns on its property, no matter who is carrying them.
"In a time of increased gun violence — particularly impacting people of color, youth and queer people — we believe that a strict policy of prohibiting guns in our restaurant keeps us safer," Reem’s posted.
‘Gun Free’ Zones Backfire?
However, “gun-free zones” supposedly established for safety have the opposite effect, Jones said.
“You see it with the mass shootings and those sorts of things. Gun control just disarms law-abiding citizens,” he said, adding that Reem’s could end up regretting turning a cold shoulder to cops.
“What are they going to do when a bad guy robs their store? Are they not going to want the police there then?” he said.
Wyoming allows for both open and concealed carry of firearms without a special permit. However, some public institutions and private businesses may still forbid firearms on their premises in Wyoming.
Jones said he understands the principle of leaving things to the discretion of business owners, but he still thinks Reem’s policy goes way overboard by not even allowing armed cops doing their jobs to set foot inside their bakeries.
“I’m not disputing private property rights. I’m just pointing to the fallacy that a gun-free zone doesn’t prevent crimes, it just emboldens criminals,” Jones said.
‘Police Are Some Of Our Favorite People’
At Mary’s Mountain Cookies in downtown Cheyenne, cops aren’t only allowed in the bakery, they’re welcomed with open arms, said Morgan Sutherland, who was manning a case filled with decadent creations Monday afternoon.
“I’m glad to have police in and around our store,” she told Cowboy State Daily, explaining that cops were quick to respond and stop a recent attempted crime at the shop.
"Police officers are some of our favorite people,” Sutherland said, adding that despite the hype about cops and donuts, many of those patrolling Cheyenne’s streets prefer cookies.
“We’ve had police joke that they like cookies better,” she said.
That Reem’s would take its stance on guns so far is an absurd extreme reaction, said Jeremy Doggett, who bought a bag of cookies from Sutherland.
“I think they may be reacting a little stringent,” he said, adding that he would be more sympathetic if the chain didn’t allow guns but made an exception for on-duty law enforcement and active military.
Everybody Loves Donuts
Reynolds said he and his deputies are grateful to work in a state where the overwhelming majority support law enforcement and will probably never be refused service simply for carrying their duty weapons.
As for the stereotype that cops crave donuts? Not any more than anybody else, Reynolds said.
“We’re no different from anybody else. There’s a certain percentage of us, me included, that will eat donuts,” he said.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
