Remember, a corporation is nothing more that a stack of paper. The only person that can represent the corporation is its attorney. But with that said, first, corporations make decisions that they think will bolster their bottom line and keep their stock holders happy. Second, publicity. How will that publicity effect the bottom line. In other words, how to appease the protesters until the winds change.
The first problem is that some clueless employee doesn't understand the difference between request and mandate. Secondly, when a customer is arrested for trespass, for nothing more than shopping with his/her family, the company will side with the employee knowing the employee was wrong. I speak from experience.
Corporations will lie about anything to accomplish their goals.
When you go into one of these stores ask where their customer gun police is posted. They will look at you cross-eyed.