DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A gun-control advocacy group is stepping up its pressure on the Kroger grocery chain to prohibit open-carry of guns in its stores.

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America delivered petitions with nearly 300,000 signatures to the Kroger Co. on Thursday. But company officials gave no indication they were considering the change.

Kroger spokeswoman Rachael Betzler says the company policy is dictated by state and local laws.

The Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/1vDEDUd ) reports that the Moms Demand Action group intended to deliver petitions to Kroger, Harris Teeter, Fry’s and other Kroger-owned stores in various states. Kroger has headquarters in Cincinnati and a large presence in Ohio.

Founder of the group, Shannon Watts, says it’s up to businesses to put policies in place to protect shoppers.

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Information from: Dayton Daily News, http://www.daytondailynews.com

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