By TERRY L. JONES - Associated Press - Sunday, October 5, 2014<\/p>\n
PORT ALLEN, La. (AP) - Business has been booming at Bergerons Restaurant since owner Kevin Cox came up with an emphatic declaration of his support for the Second Amendment: offering any gun-toting customers a reduced price on their meals. <\/p>\n
Cox said hes seen a 15 percent spike in his West Baton Rouge Parish business after news spread that he was handing out 10 percent discounts to people with an appetite for Southern-inspired home-cooking walking into his restaurant with firearms at the ready. <\/p>\n
Today will be the busiest Tuesday Ive ever had; and Saturday was the day I felt the real impact, Cox said during the lunch rush. It has just been crazy good. And most of them dont even carry guns. Theyre just happy I support the Second Amendment and theyre supporting the policy. <\/p>\n
Cox says his phone has been ringing off the hook from supporters from across the country. <\/p>\n
Somebody needs to stand up and say something - thats what Im hearing from folks. It feels great, he said. <\/p>\n
Cox, who wouldnt say if he owns a gun, said the new policy - which went into effect two weeks ago - was initially born of his desire to offer a special discount to law enforcement officers, something many businesses already do. But watching campaigns for stiffer gun control laws heat up following high-profile mass shootings, Cox said he was reminded how secure he felt whenever his gun-toting friends or family members visited the restaurant. So, he ended up expanding the idea. <\/p>\n
The policy is simple: To get the discount a customer can walk in with a gun visibly on display in a holster, or can simply show the weapon to the cashier while ordering. <\/p>\n
Louisiana is one of 31 states where residents are allowed to openly carry firearms without a permit as long as the person is at least 18 years old and legally able to possess a firearm under state and federal law. While state law prohibits guns in some places, like schools or bars, the state Legislature has been a vociferous supporter of gun rights. For example, lawmakers passed a law in 2010 that allows people with concealed carry permits to bring handguns to church and other places of worship, although many churches ban the practice. <\/p>\n
Considering the broad support for gun ownership in Louisiana, few businesses in the Baton Rouge area would be considered as gun-friendly as Bergerons. <\/p>\n
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Marketing tactic pays off with a bang<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By TERRY L. Continue reading