Kroger, the parent company of King Soopers and City Market stores in Colorado is asking open carry customers to not bring their firearms to the store when they shop.

Except for law enforcement, Kroger has joined Wal-Mart and other stores are asking its customers to not bring their guns to go shopping.

The reason for the request?

“Our No. 1 priority is the safety of our associates and customers,” Kelli McGannon, a King Soopers spokeswoman, said Wednesday.

Mass shootings recently have led several retail outlets to ask customers to not be armed when they shop.

Also in the statement released yesterday, Kroger said:

 it is “joining those encouraging our elected leaders to pass laws that will strengthen background checks and remove weapons from those who have been found to pose a risk for violence.”

Colorado's open carry law reinforces the rights of gun owners to own and carry firearms openly.