Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Gun-Friendly Small Businesses Popping Up Across America

While several gigantic chain stores have recently decided to ban guns, small businesses around the country are taking the opposite approach – and it is paying off.

Business is booming at places like Shiloh Brew & Chew in Maryville, Tennessee, which posted a “guns are welcome” sign earlier this year. At The Cajun Experience in Leesburg, Virginia, a promotion meant to attract armed customers resulted in an “overwhelming” response, owner Bryan Crosswhite says.

Crosswhite has even started a website — www.2amendment.org — listing pro-gun businesses around the country. More than 57,000 businesses have already signed on.

Some pro-gun businesses are taking things a step further — not only welcoming armed citizens but also offering them discounts. This too has resulted in increased sales. When Louisiana restaurant “Chicken Express” offered a free combo meal to armed patrons, owner Randal Neel says it resulted in the busiest Saturday the store has ever had.

Another Louisiana restaurant owner, Kevin Cox of Bergeron’s Cajun & Creole, recently decided to give armed customers a ten percent discount. Each day there are between 12 and 20 who take advantage of the discount, he says.

Cox told a local TV station that he is simply trying to make his restaurant safer.

“Don’t [places that ban guns] realize that’s where [thieves] are going to go?” he said. “I want to take the opposite approach – how do I make my place safer?”

While pro-gun businesses have seen a spike in sales, anti-gun establishments have faced an intense backlash. After a gun ban at a Georgia restaurant caused an uproar among customers, the owners were forced to issue a retraction on their Facebook page.

“The sign that was put up regarding firearms has been removed,” the statement read. “It was our intention to get the attention of irresponsible gun owners. But then we realized that irresponsible gun owners do not pay attention to signs.”

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