Store expects booming business

Handguns, rifles and shotguns will be cheaper on Friday and Saturday because the Legislature has designated those days as a tax-free "Second Amendment Weekend."

Neil Schachte, owner of Carolina Rod & Gun, said Wednesday that he expected a sharp uptick in business for the tax-free days. During that time, the store will not charge 7.5 percent in state and local sales taxes, he said.

"We'll do in two days what we used to do in a month." Schachte said that a firearms collector is waiting until the tax-free weekend to purchase 10 guns from the store.

South Carolina had the nation's first tax holiday on guns last year after legislators tacked it on to a tax break on energy-efficient appliances. The state Supreme Court threw out that law in May because of an unrelated energy amendment. Lawmakers restored the gun tax break as a one-time event in the budget this year.

Jim Riffe of Ravenel said he was on a waiting list at the store for a gun that retails for about $800. Even though the firearm would not be available this weekend, Riffe said he would buy it during the tax-free holiday and pick it up later. "I'll come in probably Friday and purchase the gun," he said.

The 7.5 percent sales tax still applies

to ammunition during Second Amendment Weekend. South Carolina is the only state in the nation that has a tax-free weekend for both handguns and hunting guns. Louisiana has a tax-free weekend for hunting guns.

Scott Hornsby, Carolina Rod & Gun manager, said he expected that the two tax-free days would amount to 25 percent of the store's business for the month.

Hornsby expected the store would sell about 70 firearms Friday and Saturday. On a busy day when the sales tax is in effect, it might sell up to 15 guns, he said.

"It's been good for us. Next year, we'll miss it," Hornsby said of the tax-free weekend.

Hornsby said he thought the General Assembly should grant a sales-tax-free weekend for other businesses as well such as appliances and home improvement products.

The store has seen a big increase in first-time gun buyers who are worried about crime and concerned about the government restricting their access to firearms. "That has really kept us afloat," Schachte said.

Schachte, who has sold guns for 30 years, said his business spikes when a Democrat wins the presidency. He took note of a female senior citizen in the store who appeared to be considering purchasing a handgun while talking with one of his salesman. She is the sort of customer the store used to see once a month, but now sees three or four times daily, he said.

Schachte had mixed feelings about the Legislature giving gun shop owners the tax break, which he thought should instead be a one-day event for all retail businesses. "It's not fair. Why should we be singled out to be the beneficiary of a tax-free weekend?"

The tax break reportedly cost about $15,000 in lost state revenue last year. South Carolina has a tax-free weekend for back-to-school supplies in August.

Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com