Captain’s Journal – by Herschel Smith
Marina Lambrou, owner of the Boston Pizzeria on Woodruff Road, said she knew some of her customers had permits to carry concealed weapons before the law changed in February to allow permit holders to take their guns into establishments that serve alcohol.
Lambrou chose not to prohibit guns, and she said the issue hasn’t been a problem.
“I don’t prohibit and I don’t encourage it,” she told The Greenville News. “I just feel this is a free nation, and if someone feels like they need the extra protection, then God willing, let them do it.”
State law enforcement and restaurant officials say they know of no problems since the law went into effect seven months ago. The law allows permit holders to take guns into places that serve alcohol but allows businesses to prohibit guns and doesn’t allow permit holders to consume alcohol.
Erin Dando, leader of the South Carolina Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a gun reform group, said more businesses would prohibit guns but the new law requires the signs banning guns be 8 by 12 inches with 1-inch lettering.
“Frankly, the size requirement is alarming for business owners and it’s prevented some from putting them up,” she said. She said one business that has posted a sign has heard negative feedback from members of a gun rights organization.
Gun owners said on The Greenville News‘ Facebook page they are voting with their feet if restaurants choose to ban weapons.
“Only a couple of the restaurants where I have eaten decided to post signs after the new law went into effect,” posted Stephen Combs. “Their food wasn’t exceptional enough for me to feel the need to disarm and patronize them.”
“If there have been any incidents, I’m not aware of them,” said Jerrod Bruder, executive director of the South Carolina Sheriffs Association.
He said the organization’s concerns about the changes in the law had to do with training and education. The new law still requires training of permit holders but has dropped the number of mandatory hours of training.
Thom Berry, a spokesman for the State Law Enforcement Division, said he wasn’t aware of any incidents involving concealed weapons permit holders and businesses that serve alcohol under the new law.
Sgt. Jennings Autrey, a spokesman for the Greenville County Sheriff’s office, also said he wasn’t aware of any such incidents.
Board members of the South Carolina Restaurant and Hotel Association said they think the new law hasn’t produced any problems.
My goodness. Is that what we have to do to make an informative news report? Ask everyone and their cousin too about it? How about my dog? Wonder what Heidi thinks about it? Does she know of anyissues resulting from the law?
No, there aren’t any issues. There won’t be with concealed carriers, and the next step is to get open carry passed in South Carolina, over the objections and opposition of communist State Senator Larry Martin. Martin opposed recent attempts at legalization of open carry in S.C. because those horrible Negros down around Charleston might open carry and thus affect the tourism industry in South Carolina. Yes. Seriously. Really. I wouldn’t be able to make this up if I tried. That’s why he opposed open carry.
But open carry worked as well in Mississippi as I said it would. My readers in South Carolina might want to tell Larry what you think about him – one way or another.
“Martin opposed recent attempts at legalization of open carry in S.C. because those horrible Negros down around Charleston might open carry and thus affect the tourism industry in South Carolina. Yes. Seriously. Really. I wouldn’t be able to make this up if I tried. That’s why he opposed open carry.”
wow… that’s whack.
And ‘racist’ too, I believe