Posted on 08/22/2010 6:58:40 AM PDT by marktwain
A bank in Chappell Hill is taking the second amendment out of the vault by letting their customers carry guns inside.
At first glance, you might not notice anything unusual about the Washington County bank, but take a closer look.
"If you've got a handgun carry license I don't have any problem at all and I encourage you to bring it in the bank," Chappell Hill Bank President Edward Smith said.
Chappell Hill Bank is one of the oldest banks in Texas, and it's also one of the first banks to encourage the right to bear arms.
"I've been looking at what's been happening in this country; lawlessness, and we've been robbed several times, so I changed it to reinforce the second amendment," Smith said.
While Smith is a firm believer in the Second Amendment, Steve Moreland is too. He's been banking at Chappell Hill for nearly 20 years.
"I believe the second amendment is what protects our country. It protects the people in our country and I believe that licensed firearms are safe as long as you have educated people carrying them," bank customer Steve Moreland said.
Smith says Chappell Hill has been robbed five times since opening in 1907, two in the last 26 years, with the most recent in March.
"He came in here wearing a bandanna, just like out of the old west and he was successful," Smith said.
Smith says he hopes his new message will be too.
"The management recognizes the second amendment, and the other is, if you come in here wanting to rob them, you better watch out. You might get something more than money."
It's a new idea that's catching on as other banks in Texas hope to follow the lead of one of the oldest banks in the state.
I’d like to see how this will affect bank robbery rates for these banks. I would imagine that criminals would choose to rob banks which require that their customers be unarmed.
Importantly, this is concealed carry, as Texas still, I believe, prohibits open carry.
As a tactical note, as this will discourage criminals from business hours bank robbery, I suspect that the typical bank robber will consider hitting them only right when they open, or just before close, when there are fewer people inside.
And I didn’t say the typical bank robber was smart. However, they may soon come with the standard feature of air conditioning.
...entering the bank a few months back I was approached by a couple of big guards asking me if there is anything I needed....
I took out the check I was cashing and said...just cashing a check....
I did not volunteer any information,nor did they ask further....but I knew they thought I was carrying....
I was NOT carrying that day....but that is not always the case, and it is none of their business if I was or was not carrying....
You should see how you have to enter a bank in Italy. One person at a time enters a glass-walled tube thing. You have to leave any bags you are carrying in a locker outside the door. Once inside the tube, you hit a button, the door closes, you are scanned, then the door opens on the other side to allow you into the bank. I think they limited the number of patrons that could be inside the bank at one time as well.
I agree that it is none of their business.
If I’m dressed and beyond range of one of the carbines, I’m carrying, legally and concealed. Not looking for trouble: better to have and not need then need and not have.
While I seldom have to physically enter the bank I use, online services being what they are, I go as I normally would in public, armed. After all, it’s not like I’m looking to rob the place...
Of course, to be fair, this is NH, so perhaps it is a bit less rowdy than the rest of the world.
New Jersey, take note!
How about people coming onto your property? Is that any of your businsess?
This is a crucial point that gun control supporters absolutely refuse to get:
Every bank that I am aware of “allows” customers to carry guns inside. Every commercial business that I am aware of “allows” customers to carry guns inside.
The only places that I am aware of that do not “allow” people to carry guns inside are airports, courtrooms and other government facilities, where you have to pass through a metal detector and get your property searched in order to enter. They do not “allow” you to carry a gun inside. If you have one, and they find it, they will take it away from you.
Sure, a bank may have a sign up that says no guns permitted. They may also have a sign up that says no robberies are permitted. It has the same effect.
If the law prohibits you to carry a gun, most law abiding citizens will voluntarily comply with the law. This only ensures that anyone intent on committing a crime will have the peace of mind of knowing that there will be no victims shooting back.
There is a reason why mass murderers like to attack in schools, churches, and other places where guns are not “allowed.” It is the same reason why mass murderers don’t ever attack in gun stores or gun ranges.
It is perfectly legal to carry a concealed weapon into any Bank in Kentucky unless the bank itself specifically denies the right by posing a sign. Anyhow, most robbers will avoid robbing a bank in which any of a dozen customers might be able and willing to shoot him!!!
Bet that this gentleman’s bank is not going to be robbed...while his chain-store bank competitors will be emptying their tills to robbers
Looks like they got their charter 1/1/1907
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