Gun Owners Gather At Restaurant

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Dozens of gun owners poured into a Cobb County restaurant Tuesday evening, flexing their now-renewed rights to carry concealed weapons into eateries and elsewhere in the state.

Organizers called it a "gun-in."

Christo's is in east Cobb, and is known for its gyros and pasta. Tuesday night, they were served to a crowd packing heat.

"The turnout (was) tremendous, yeah," said owner Christos Giannes.

Doug King brought his new baby boy.

"It's not a question of needs, it's a question of rights," King said. "And in the end, I think that one of the things that has made our country great is that we respect everybody's rights."

Michael Menkus of GeorgiaCarry.org sat with his 9-year-old daughter.

"In five years, after this law has passed, crime will decrease in Georgia as criminals realize, 'Hey, our victims can fight back'," Menkus said.

Even the waitress wore a button that read, "Guns Save Lives."

"I'd much rather have it and never in my life use it -- which I never want to use it -- than have that one time that I need it and not have it," said gun owner Justin Burmeister.

Because the restaurant serves alcohol, this marks the first time in its history, customers have been allowed to come in wearing guns.

Ron Wolf, head of the Georgia Restaurant Association, said some business owners don't want guns on their property. They'll be posting signs. Wolf says it's a gray area in the new gun law.

"Even if we post a sign at the front of our business that says firearms prohibited, we don't have metal detectors, we're not going to frisk our guests coming in, and so, again, we're back to the honesty and integrity of the person carrying the gun to see the sign and say 'I can't go in there'," Wolf said.

Gun-toting customers at Christo's agreed -- restaurant owners should have the right to ban concealed weapons from private property. But likewise, they don't have to patronize those establishments either.