Posted on 12/17/2001 6:08:00 AM PST by dhuffman@awod.com
Associated Press
GREENVILLE - The number of South Carolinians applying for gun permits has doubled since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a state agency reports.
In November, the State Law Enforcement Division received 1,013 new applications for concealed weapons permits.
That was four times as many as last year. So far in December, SLED has received 976 applications, up from 406 received the same period last year.
David Blanton, owner of Top Gun Shooting range in Boiling Springs, says he's noticed an enrollment increase in his gun training classes, which applicants sit through for eight hours to qualify for permits. "It has jumped something fierce," he said.
He says those applying for permits tell him they want to be prepared to defend their families in case shopping malls become more likely targets than national landmarks.
"They don't think we're going to have any more airplane hijackings, they think it's going to be more of a smaller scale," said Blanton, a former Spartanburg County deputy.
"But they do think it's going to be wider spread," he said.
Upstate resident Ron Aleshire said the attacks on Washington, D.C., and New York pushed him to apply for a permit.
"It's self-explanatory: self-defense," said Aleshire, who also wants to get a permit for his wife. "It opened our eyes. If it can happen there it can happen here. I've got the guns. I just want to carry them legally."
Mike Teal, owner of Simpsonville Gun & Pawn, says he's certain the attacks have influenced people to apply for concealed weapon permits. Teal says he saw sales peak at the beginning of October before they returned to normal levels.
"People don't think the terrorists are going to come knocking on their front door, but the attacks were a slap in the face," he said.
But some gun shop owners and gun retailers say they have not noticed significant increases in sales since the attacks, especially not near the scale of concealed weapons permit applications.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, which represents the shooting sports industry, did its own informal study after the attacks and found gun sales increased at stores near the attack sites, said Paul Erhardt IV, foundation spokesman.
In October, there also appeared to be a slight increase in sales nationally but not necessarily because of the attacks, he said.
But one thing for sure since Sept. 11, people have become more security conscious and have a "heightened sense of awareness," said Charles Dean, a certified weapons permit instructor.
"People are concerned," he said. "I don't blame them much."
Note that South Carolina allows every citizen not otherwise disbarred to posess guns. Every citizen may with limitations carry a gun in their auto. South Carolina requires a permit only for concealed carry of a weapon.
The conspiracy of ignorance masquerades as common sense.
Tell me that didn't put a twist in Sarah Brady's knickers!!! LOL!! You have to love this guy!
"The granting of a concealed handgun permit shall not thereby authorize the possession of any handgun or other weapon on property or in places where such possession is otherwise prohibited by law or is prohibited BY THE OWNER OF PRIVATE PROPERTY"There are still retail establishments that will press charges to have your permit revoked permanently if you are found to be in possession of a firearm, even if it is concealed and carried legally. I believe Wal-Mart is one of those retailers and I don't think they are the only one. What will it take to convince these people that those of us carrying firearms legally are not the ones they should fear?
Grass Roots Gun Rights South Carolina has long had a successful program of warning CWPermittees of where they are welcome and where they are not welcome.
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