Armed on-duty police officers are welcome to visit the new Molly Moon’s location in Edmonds.
That’s according to an email My Edmonds News received Saturday, Aug. 5 from the ice creamery, which opened its 10th store July 23 in Edmonds’ Main Street Commons.
Questions were raised about the Edmonds’ store policy because in 2020 — during the protests on Seattle’s Capitol Hill related to the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police — the Molly Moon’s store put up a sign in its Capitol Hill store alerting cops to its “Gun Free Zone” policy. Read more about that here.
We first sent an email inquiry July 24 about the store’s policy regarding police at the Edmonds store.
In its Aug. 5 response, Molly Moon’s said it’s true that all of its locations are gun-free zones, noting that “our company was one of the first businesses to partner with Washington CeaseFire in 2013 as an early adopter of its ‘Gun Free Zone’ Program.”
But that policy does not apply to on-duty police officers carrying weapons who want to enjoy ice cream, the email from the hello@mollymoonicecream.com address said.
“The policy is intended to help keep our mooncrew, our customers and our communities safe,” the email said. “The Gun Free Zone program is not intended to prevent law enforcement with job-related requirements to carry a firearm from entering private businesses as necessary, and our current policy does not prohibit on-duty police officers from coming into our shops and enjoying our ice cream.
“Cops are allowed to have their weapon on them while on duty when they come in for ice cream,” Molly Moon’s confirmed in a follow-up email exchange.
Wonderful for ice cream, walk-in public, and police, but no parking!! Parking was eliminated from this developer’s initial design and program. BTW, I note that my last comment regarding Molly Moon’s early opening and lack of parking did not make the pages of MEN
Hi Phil,
Please stop posting parking was eliminated from developers initial design. That is false and is currently being constructed in back alley. I am not sure what initial design you are referencing? I am sorry that parking planned off south alley is not constructed yet, hope to have it available soon.
Edmonds is known for no parking so no problem. Will be there,
No problem? Perhaps not for someone so fortunate to be as able bodied as you, but for some of us with mobility issues, it is a major problem, even if for some obscure reason being “known for no parking” makes it ok. Being notorious for no parking is one reason why some of us come to downtown less and less. No problem? Only if one is prepared to write off others with disabilities.
No problem means that the no parking in Edmonds problem has been an issue with our elected officials since I had a store on Main Street for years. It was always brought up to the elected officials every year for years. And nada. So it is what it is…..
So nice to have a gun free zone that all criminals will also follow.
Very glad to have Molly Moon’s in Edmonds, and even happier that they are one of the growing number of businesses taking a stand against gun violence by offering safer, gun-free spaces for their customers!
So are they going pat people down when they go in there, run a body scammer, or just make a declaration of feel good nothing’s. I would just be going there for an ice cream cone.
First, it only stops open carry, because anyone who is carrying concealed halfway decently won’t be noticed. Second, most people who are carrying openly in an ice cream shop are usually doing so as a political statement and aren’t the ones likely to open fire. Third, the employees aren’t and shouldn’t be expected to be high end private security, meaning their training and toolsets to spot and handle concealed carriers are minimal.
This not to say they don’t have a right to enact and enforce it. As my father liked to say: “my house, my rules.” But enforcing it in a way that could catch and deter someone who would cause bullets to fly due to recklessness or bad intent is very difficult. That’s what makes the policy more of a marketing ploy than something that actually makes you safer.
Greg, you are spot on. The sign is an unenforceable political statement meant to disuade legal gun owners from coming to their business. Well, it is working for me. Criminals won’t be detered by their sign. I am deterred by their attitude.
“a political statement meant to disuade [sic] legal gun owners from coming to their business.”
Really? They got together and asked “how can we convince legal gun owners not to come in”? Seems hard to believe. And just a bit simplistic. Not everything is political – some people actually believe guns have no place in public venues. Whether it’s effective is another question, but let’s at least sometimes assume people just genuinely mean what they say and actually believe in something..
Is the fact that schools, bars, hospitals, and courtrooms are gun-free zones a marketing ploy? There’s a reason why these institutions don’t allow guns. Now that research on gun violence is more plentiful (the ability to research gun violence with public funds had been prevented for years by politicians sympathetic to the NRA and their ilk), the evidence is clear: more guns equals more gun violence. Businesses that choose to be gun-free zones, similar to hospitals, bars, etc., understand that fact and want safe spaces for their customers. What’s wrong with that?
Edmonds is getting like Seattle on their greedy free parking . It’s a reason why a lot of people don’t go for a day in Edmonds . I’m sure the neighbors will be selling their parking spots along the roads very soon
Back Alley Parking should be for Disabled Parking Only! Walking is healthy ! Let’s keep Edmonds a Pedestrian Friendly Town !
Unless you’re trying to bank, grab coffee or support local businesses. You can be pedestrian friendly & still provide adequate parking.
Hey Brian, are you always so negative? It’s a small ice cream shop in a cute, little town. Relax.
Hey I agree with you, go there because the ice cream is delicious. Also let’s keep Edmonds a cute little town
With MM’s prices there will not be many Police there unless they get a pay increase.
If the police officers aren’t welcomed then I’m not interested in going there either. The police, the firemen, the school resource officers we used to have until the school board removed them and anyone in law enforcement are the helpers. Instead people have adopted the mentality of protecting the criminals not the public. Criminals will always steal guns or knives or machetes or any other object they can use to hurt people. I want an officer with a gun drinking coffee or eating an ice cream sundae next to me. Teach your children this.
Just to clarify — police are welcome.
I know that…I read that. I just know about that companies past history. I’m glad they have decided to welcome them. Anyone that works at an establishment should welcome them and if they don’t that employee should be fired. I’m happy to see they have clarified that. I wish them good business.
A family member of mine is the survivor of a horrific violent crime. The police caught the animals who did it in under 24 hours. I am thankful for our armed police, and I will never go to Molly Moon’s for their past stance on the people who put their lives on the line to keep us safe. It’s easy to hate on the police for the bad deeds of a few–until someone you love literally has a gun to their head.
I agree. The best thing we can do is support businesses that align with our values, beliefs and other principles. Often, that means voting with your wallet. In this case, Moon’s will have to succeed without my dollars.
And they have! I was excited to see something open in this promised new venue. Great seasonal choice.
Whenever I walk by, the place is packed; great use of the outdoor seating spaces too.
Glad to hear your “current” policy doesn’t prohibit on-duty police officers who are required to carry fire arms from buying a scoop at your store, Molly, but stop gaslighting the public as if we somehow misunderstood the message you sent loud and clear in 2020 when the opposite suited your purposes.
How did this progress from she is happily opening her doors to police..the very people who keep us safe to…we aren’t going to go into a ice cream store because a police man with a gun may be in there? Insanity. Wait until you want a officer and then start this crazy mantra.
Maybe MM’s should introduce a “Blue Light Special” with free donuts twice a day. Get some good police Karma going here.
Ron, you may be right…
I agree Kathryn and Stephainie. Thank you for the gaslighting comment…..truth.
BRAVO for the Police and ice cream; good luck with parking!! 6th & Main is NOT a major walking attraction.,
Hi Phil,
6th & Main is not a walking attraction right now, but when the rest of Main Street Commons opens and begins humming, foot traffic will increase greatly. I expect that end of the block will be as busy as the other end.
I find downtown fairly unbearable now on most nice days and about any weekend. Just too many Peeps. Feels like I’m at a fair or something. We did go to the movie the other afternoon and that was great, but passed on a restaurant after; ’cause we had too much “good for you” food at home. In a couple hours we get to quit hearing too loud Rock music that, isn’t too good, from the Taste nearby. I can’t even tune out that Base by turning off my hearing aids. It strikes me that commercial Edmonds is doing pretty well and that is a good thing that I don’t want too much of, personally speaking only.