THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TAG: 9512020553
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH TENNYSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
The anticipated rush to apply for concealed weapons permits never materialized at many sheriff's offices around the state, but businesses prepared anyway, ordering signs banning weapons on their property.
``We were assuming it would be covered completely here to where you couldn't get anything done,'' said Capt. John Goforth of the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office in Asheville. ``So far it's been mild mannered.''
By lunch time Friday, the first day to apply for a concealed weapons permit, his office had processed some two dozen applicants. Goforth said he expected the crowd to pick up, once people realized they wouldn't have to wait in line.
Most offices said lines were short and processing applicants was taking an average of 15 to 20 minutes each. Sheriff's officials in Raleigh said many applicants had been fingerprinted and had completed the one-page questionnaire before they arrived to apply for a permit.
Among the first to apply in Craven County was state Rep. John Nichols, R-New Bern, one of the strongest supporters of the new law. Nichols said he planned to take the necessary safety course next week and then wait, up to 90 days, to receive a permit.
``That's the price you pay for doing it right and making every effort to keep weapons out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them,'' Nichols said of the delay.
Those who had completed the required safety course before Friday had to submit proof, along with the application, a photo identification, Social Security information and the $80 application fee and $10 fingerprinting fee.
``About the only glitch that we've run into is that we're going to accept check or money order only and a couple of people have come in with cash and they can't believe we don't want their money,'' said Maj. Phyllis Moody in Mecklenburg County.
In Mecklenburg, permit applications were accepted only by appointment and 67 people had signed up for Friday.
Moody and sheriff's officials around the state said the majority of applicants appeared to be business people, although some retirees also sought permits. Officials estimated that about 70 percent of the applicants were men.
Most counties hired temporary employees to assist with the expected crush of applicants. In Davidson County, Sheriff Gerald Hege closed three satellite offices, bringing those six employees to the main office to assist in processing. Hege expected to accept as many 150 applications by the end of the day.
``They're coming in steady,'' Hege said of applicants. ``We'll be open as long as it takes so that people getting off work will have the opportunity to come in. We'll be here 'til midnight if that's what it takes.''
Most offices were not so accommodating and planned to close between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. In Durham County, officials did not accept applications. The county plans to offer permitting only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Guilford County reported a steady line of 50 to 75 people waiting to get permits, and had processed about 25 people in the first hour and a-half Friday. In Wake County, 75 people had been processed in the first two hours.
Meanwhile, business owners were beginning to order signs restricting handgun possession on their property.
At American Sign Shops in Raleigh and Winston-Salem, owners said they were receiving several calls a day from people who wanted to order signs banning handguns.
In Raleigh, co-owner Ruth Gill planned to produce 300 decals bearing the silhouette of a handgun inside a red circle with a line running through it and the words ``firearms prohibited.'' The decals, intended for use in store windows and doors, will sell for about $5 each.
Eddie Riddle, owner of Speedy Sign-A-Rama, said his shop had taken orders from two large manufacturing plants to make signs for all employee entrances.
``I've got a feeling there's going to be some demand for them, but I won't live or die by these sales,'' Riddle said. ``But people are slow on stuff like that and they'll put it off. We'll get probably get a run on them in a while.''
The city of Raleigh had begun posting signs in parks and city buildings and expected to complete the work by early next week, said public affairs director Jayne Kirkpatrick.
The signs, which also display the international symbol for ``No'' with a handgun inside, read ``possession of concealed or displayed firearms on this property is prohibited by law.'' by CNB