Concealed carry supporters deal businesses resistance

Please note: One of the businesses quoted in this story, Fligner's Supermarket, contacted OFCC's Jim Irvine after completing his interview with this reporter. After a short, informative conversation, Mr. Fligner, a gun owner himself, removed his signs. It is once again safe to shop at Fligner's.

June 9, 2004
Lorain Morning Journal

LORAIN -- Supporters of Ohio's new law that allows for the carrying of concealed handguns are taking aim at businesses that ban the practice on their premises.

Ohioans For Concealed Carry is compiling a ''do not patronize while armed'' list of businesses that ban concealed carry and is posting the list on its Web site at www.ofcc.net.

OFCC is also selling ''do not patronize'' business cards, which concealed carry license holders can hand out to the businesses that ban them.

align="right">
The card states: ''You lost my business today and in the future. For your convenience, you will be added to our Do Not Patronize' database.''

The card also features a graphic that depicts the banning of guns being equal to the loss of money.

Jim Irvine, a spokesman for OFCC, said the organization's actions should not be construed as a boycott of the businesses that find their way onto the ''do not patronize'' list.

''It's to let people know they can't go in certain places, so they won't get cited for trespassing,'' said Irvine, who lives in Strongsville and is also a commercial airline pilot.

Several Lorain County businesses are listed on the ''do not patronize'' list, including the Apples grocery stores in Elyria, Lorain and Norwalk, The Morning Journal and Fligner's Supermarket in Lorain.

Ben Fligner, who owns and operates Fligner's, was surprised to learn his business was on the list. Fligner said he decided to ban concealed carry at his store because he feared it could eventually lead to an anger-fueled shooting in his store.

''People might do something they might not usually do if they weren't carrying the weapon,'' Fligner said.

Steve Krakomperger, who owns the Apples grocery stores in Elyria and Lorain, as well as the Village Market in Wellington, would not comment on his decision for banning guns in his stores or on the reaction of his customers.

Owners of some of the other area businesses on the organization's list could not be reached for comment.

More than 25 area businesses and municipalities are listed.

Irvine said businesses that ban concealed carry are setting themselves up for a hard time. He said criminals target businesses that ban concealed carry because ''they know there is no one to stop them.''

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

Irvine said anti-gun advocates have taken to calling businesses that ban concealed carry ''gun-free zones,'' but he thinks they'd be better off calling them ''victim zones.''

''I'm in this to save lives,'' Irvine said. ''I'm alarmed at Ohio's rates when it comes to murders, robberies and carjackings. We never said it (a concealed carry law) will solve crime problems, but it will help lower them.''

Irvine said he's also angered by anti-gun groups who in certain areas have gone to businesses and told them to post the signs that ban concealed carry.

''We knew these signs would go up, and most of them are going to come down,'' Irvine said. ''We also know it's a matter of time before somebody gets killed where there is a no-concealed-carry sign posted.''

Ohio's concealed carry law, passed earlier this year, makes it legal for individuals who apply and are granted a concealed carry permit to carry their weapons clandestinely anywhere they want with the exception of most public buildings, bars, schools and in private business where a sign is posted by ownership stating concealed carry is not permitted.

The Web site lists approximately 650 businesses, banks and taxpayer-funded entities such as city parks and fairgrounds on its list.

More than 1,000 individuals have filled out applications for the concealed carry licenses in Lorain County, according to the Lorain County Sheriff's Department, which issues the licenses.

According to the Sheriff's Department, 437 total licenses have been issued, and 629 are pending background checks. The department has received approximately 25 permit applications a day.