Carrying for a cause: Gunowners come to Sumter and Schley

Local News

September 19, 2009

Robert Griffin

AMERICUS — They walked up to the counter at Ryan’s Family Steakhouse, and paid their way in just like everyone else. They walked through the restaurant towards the meeting room at the back of the restaurant garnering more than a few concerned, or questioning looks.

The looks were not given because of the way the people looked, or how they were dressed, but because of one item that each had strapped to their belt — their handgun of choice.

Members of the GeorgiaCarry.org, a premier gun rights advocacy group in the state which fights for individuals rights to bear arms, were joined by John Monds, the Libertarian candidate for Governor of Georgia.

Starting out their morning at the Lil’ Red Barn in Ellaville, where they had breakfast. They journeyed out to their newly adopted mile on U.S. Highway 19 South in Ellaville, where they spent the morning cleaning up the area.

The group then made the journey to Ryan’s where they enjoyed lunch and heard from Monds, and Fundraising Chairman of Georgia Carry, Chuck Turney.

“What we are trying to do is try to put a positive face on gun owners,” said Turney. “We are painted as ‘crazed’ most of the time, but in reality we are normal citizens who want to protect themselves,” Turney said.

Monds came at the groups invitation to the event, where he gave the group a short talk about why he was running for Governor, and what he stood for. Monds then opened the floor for a question and answer session on his stances on issues facing not only gun owners, but state citizens. The group thanked Monds for coming, to which he responded, “I love coming to places like these, and talking to people about Freedom.”