Port Allen restaurant offers discount to gun-carrying customers

PORT ALLEN, LA (WAFB) - Walk into many stores, restaurant or workplaces nowadays, and you see the signs reading "No weapons allowed."

But a popular local restaurant is bucking that trend by not only encouraging people to show off their guns, but offering a discount to those who do.

It's the Friday lunch crowd at Bergeron's with fried catfish, the top seller. Owner Kevin Cox says 500 people come through the Port Allen restaurant daily. So about two weeks ago, he started a new promotion to help some of his customers save money.

"If you have a gun on you, I'm going to give you a discount," said Cox.

The discount is 10 percent off if you show that you're carrying a gun into the restaurant. Cox said it's an idea that started with welcoming police officers with their duty weapons on their side and has now branched out to include civilians.

"My friends and relatives would come in with their guns on their holster. I felt good about that. It made me feel safer that they were there with their gun so why not include all good citizens with the officers too," said Cox.

Those citizens who are customers agree saying not only are they protected by their Second Amendment rights, but they're also providing a service to the restaurant and all its patrons.

"I think it protects the restaurant. It discourages people from breaking in. If they think someone may have a gun and it's concealed, you'll think twice about coming in and robbing somebody," said Bergeron's customer Steve Moore.

Mike Campbell left his gun in his truck and carpooled with a buddy so no 10 percent discount for him, but, he too believes the new promotion is a plus.

"You feel safer because I mean somebody walks in and wants to rob the place, they're going to think twice when they see it's not a gun free place," said Campbell.

Fried fish might be the special of the day, but the talk at Bergeron's is about guns, and a restaurant owner hoping more law-abiding customers won't be afraid to show them off.

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