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SC: More local merchants alarmed and armed
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
More local merchants alarmed and armed
By Tiffany Jonas
Contributing Writer
While handgun sales have been in a decline since 1994-discounting a spike for the few months following September 11-recent data shows that handgun sales rose to 1.3 million units in 2002 compared to 1 million the previous year. The 2003 report, prepared for the National Sporting Goods Association by research firm Irwin Broh & Assoc., is based on a consumer study of 100,000 U.S. households and 2002 retail sales totals of handguns and other goods.
Are businesses in South Carolina following the trend?
Charleston Police Chief Reuben Greenberg fanned the flames in January during a meeting with a group of James Island business owners frustrated by increasing crime in their area. A Jan. 24 Post and Courier article reported Greenberg as pointing out that one downtown business, whose employees are all armed, hadn't been held up for 20 years. When a meeting attendee asked if Greenberg was telling them to arm themselves, Greenberg reportedly said, "That's a decision you have to make for yourself."
So far, some businesses haven't budged. Michael Keck owns Mike's Bikes, a James Island retailer of bikes, kayaks and outdoor equipment that recently suffered a minor burglary. Keck was not at the January meeting and had not heard of the chief's comments. "I don't know if I agree," he said, when told. "I'd rather lose a little bit of money or merchandise than have my employees shot."
Instead, Mike's Bikes has a monitored alarm system. Most of its merchandise is charged to credit cards and there is little cash on hand. During the recent burglary, Keck says, the alarm did go off. The burglars "grabbed and ran" before the police responded, so they didn't make off with much. The thieves, all under the age of 16, were later caught.
Frank Cain is of a different opinion. Owner of Palmetto Business Systems on upper King Street, Cain supports the right of a business owner to use a firearm to protect his or her livelihood. "It makes sense for responsible citizens to have the right and the option to arm themselves for self-protection," he says.
Trader World, one of the largest firearms dealers in the state, runs an indoor range and a SLED certified training program on Cross County Road. Owner Bill Duke has seen an increase in gun sales since September 11-and also recalls several James Island business owners walking into his outlet in the weeks following Greenberg's comments to inquire about gun training.
One of Trader World's SLED certified instructors, Frank DiNardo, teaches "concealed carry" and personal protection, armed and unarmed, and has seen a recent increase in clients of all ages, including business owners responding to Greenberg's comments.
DiNardo heard about the chief's statement soon after the January meeting. Concerned, he drove to a James Island business owned by one of the attendees, a woman who had been victimized twice, and offered his services for free. "Completely pro bono," he says. "She didn't take me up on it."
However, DiNardo says many other business owners and professionals have taken advantage of his services. The list of his clients includes cab drivers, real estate agents, bankers, jewelers, car sales staff, doctors, lawyers and truck drivers. "I work with them in a basic course and teach them about firearm safety, firing and unloading," he says. "I help them pick out a firearm that suits their needs and which they can handle. From there, they get a concealed weapons permit."
One of DiNardo's clients is a commercial real estate executive, who asked to be identified only as "J.J." A Charleston native, J.J. had been in the real estate business for two decades when he ran into a particularly dangerous situation.
"We'd gotten a call that a North Charleston store we were leasing was unlocked. We thought it was vacant. There were about 10, 15 people standing outside the store," he recalls. After getting into the store and locking the door behind him, he checked the rooms. "I went in the back and there were two men sleeping on the floor. I walked in and identified myself and said, `Gentlemen, you'll have to get up and leave.' One of them picked up a two-by-four and came at me."
Fortunately, J.J. talked his way out of the situation. The men left and J. J. exited through a back door. "It really bothered me," he says. "I had no way to protect myself. I was on the Citadel wrestling team-but that won't protect you from somebody hitting you on the head with a two-by-four."
J. J. applied for a gun permit and now carries one in a shoulder holster under his suit jacket, though he is careful to say that he does not display or use it unless it is his last resort, as he has been trained. "You can start low and go high," he says, "but it's hard to start high and go low."
Thinking about arming your business?
Follow these safety guidelines from the National Rifle Association
If you choose to keep a gun for self-defense in your business:
- Obey all local, state, and federal laws. Federal and state laws are listed on the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action web site at www.nraila.org/library.asp.
- Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
- Get training. The National Rifle Association has 46,000 certified instructors that provide firearm training in multiple disciplines. It is also developing a course called "Personal Protection Outside the Home" to address the needs of business owners. The course should be available the first quarter of 2004. To find a local instructor call NRA headquarters for instructor information, 800-672-3888, selection 6, ext. 1496.
SOURCE: THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION
http://www.crbj.com/Articles/2003/08252003/More local merchants alarmed and armed.htm
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878<P>
By Tiffany Jonas
Contributing Writer
While handgun sales have been in a decline since 1994-discounting a spike for the few months following September 11-recent data shows that handgun sales rose to 1.3 million units in 2002 compared to 1 million the previous year. The 2003 report, prepared for the National Sporting Goods Association by research firm Irwin Broh & Assoc., is based on a consumer study of 100,000 U.S. households and 2002 retail sales totals of handguns and other goods.
Are businesses in South Carolina following the trend?
Charleston Police Chief Reuben Greenberg fanned the flames in January during a meeting with a group of James Island business owners frustrated by increasing crime in their area. A Jan. 24 Post and Courier article reported Greenberg as pointing out that one downtown business, whose employees are all armed, hadn't been held up for 20 years. When a meeting attendee asked if Greenberg was telling them to arm themselves, Greenberg reportedly said, "That's a decision you have to make for yourself."
So far, some businesses haven't budged. Michael Keck owns Mike's Bikes, a James Island retailer of bikes, kayaks and outdoor equipment that recently suffered a minor burglary. Keck was not at the January meeting and had not heard of the chief's comments. "I don't know if I agree," he said, when told. "I'd rather lose a little bit of money or merchandise than have my employees shot."
Instead, Mike's Bikes has a monitored alarm system. Most of its merchandise is charged to credit cards and there is little cash on hand. During the recent burglary, Keck says, the alarm did go off. The burglars "grabbed and ran" before the police responded, so they didn't make off with much. The thieves, all under the age of 16, were later caught.
Frank Cain is of a different opinion. Owner of Palmetto Business Systems on upper King Street, Cain supports the right of a business owner to use a firearm to protect his or her livelihood. "It makes sense for responsible citizens to have the right and the option to arm themselves for self-protection," he says.
Trader World, one of the largest firearms dealers in the state, runs an indoor range and a SLED certified training program on Cross County Road. Owner Bill Duke has seen an increase in gun sales since September 11-and also recalls several James Island business owners walking into his outlet in the weeks following Greenberg's comments to inquire about gun training.
One of Trader World's SLED certified instructors, Frank DiNardo, teaches "concealed carry" and personal protection, armed and unarmed, and has seen a recent increase in clients of all ages, including business owners responding to Greenberg's comments.
DiNardo heard about the chief's statement soon after the January meeting. Concerned, he drove to a James Island business owned by one of the attendees, a woman who had been victimized twice, and offered his services for free. "Completely pro bono," he says. "She didn't take me up on it."
However, DiNardo says many other business owners and professionals have taken advantage of his services. The list of his clients includes cab drivers, real estate agents, bankers, jewelers, car sales staff, doctors, lawyers and truck drivers. "I work with them in a basic course and teach them about firearm safety, firing and unloading," he says. "I help them pick out a firearm that suits their needs and which they can handle. From there, they get a concealed weapons permit."
One of DiNardo's clients is a commercial real estate executive, who asked to be identified only as "J.J." A Charleston native, J.J. had been in the real estate business for two decades when he ran into a particularly dangerous situation.
"We'd gotten a call that a North Charleston store we were leasing was unlocked. We thought it was vacant. There were about 10, 15 people standing outside the store," he recalls. After getting into the store and locking the door behind him, he checked the rooms. "I went in the back and there were two men sleeping on the floor. I walked in and identified myself and said, `Gentlemen, you'll have to get up and leave.' One of them picked up a two-by-four and came at me."
Fortunately, J.J. talked his way out of the situation. The men left and J. J. exited through a back door. "It really bothered me," he says. "I had no way to protect myself. I was on the Citadel wrestling team-but that won't protect you from somebody hitting you on the head with a two-by-four."
J. J. applied for a gun permit and now carries one in a shoulder holster under his suit jacket, though he is careful to say that he does not display or use it unless it is his last resort, as he has been trained. "You can start low and go high," he says, "but it's hard to start high and go low."
Thinking about arming your business?
Follow these safety guidelines from the National Rifle Association
If you choose to keep a gun for self-defense in your business:
- Obey all local, state, and federal laws. Federal and state laws are listed on the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action web site at www.nraila.org/library.asp.
- Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
- Get training. The National Rifle Association has 46,000 certified instructors that provide firearm training in multiple disciplines. It is also developing a course called "Personal Protection Outside the Home" to address the needs of business owners. The course should be available the first quarter of 2004. To find a local instructor call NRA headquarters for instructor information, 800-672-3888, selection 6, ext. 1496.
SOURCE: THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION
http://www.crbj.com/Articles/2003/08252003/More local merchants alarmed and armed.htm
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878<P>
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