Gun rights activists have been bringing their guns to Target stores in Texas for months, sometimes with children in tow. Today, Target "respectfully" asked these customers to cut it out.

In a statement, interim CEO John Mulligan explained, "This is a complicated issue, but it boils down to a simple belief: Bringing firearms to Target creates an environment that is at odds with the family-friendly shopping and work experience we strive to create." A Target spokesperson noted that asking customers not to bring guns to shop is a "request and not a prohibition."

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is calling the decision a win. The group got 400,000 signatures on a petition asking Target to prohibit customers from bringing guns to the store. Chipotle and Starbucks have responded similarly to similar petitions.

Open Carry Texas, the group which organized many of the walk-through-Target-with-guns events, hasn't issued an official statement yet. Some of the photos of OCT women carrying guns and leading their children through the store have been removed from Facebook.

[Images via Facebook/Mother Jones]