CHAPIN, S.C./ SC Firearms -- Gary Atkinson is a good neighbor, even though his nearest neighbor lives hundreds of feet away. He makes his home in rural Chapin, South Carolina on thirteen hilly, mostly wooded acres, along with his wife Lisa, sons Tom and Yates, two horses, three yard dogs, and "too many cats to count" as Gary puts it. "Somebody's got to take in homeless animals" he explains. "If not, well. " His voice trails off. No need to describe the fate of stray animals in a sparsely populated area.

Gary's job in heavy equipment sales brought him from Illinois to South Carolina in 1985. He promptly fell in love with the area, and bought acreage 25 miles and a culture away from the state capitol in Columbia. Gary and Lisa bought a second, adjoining parcel in 1988, and began building their dream house in 1990. "We moved into the house in 1992" Gary says with a laugh, "but we never stopped building. A barn. Outbuildings. A pool. A pond. There's always something going on at our place". When the time came for Gary to change jobs, he stayed in South Carolina.

Gary admits his rural homestead isn't as rural as it once was. Fifteen families now live along his dead-end country road, and more are discovering this long-forgotten corner of Richland County every year. But it remains a close-knit community, where everybody knows everybody else. The kids play together, the adults are good friends, and the entire neighborhood gets together several times a year for a massive "block party".

But being a good neighbor involves more than holding block parties and swimming in each other's pools. It involves being there when people have a need. For example, Lisa prepares meals for shut-ins, and Gary uses his tractor and chain saw to help around the neighborhood. Sometimes he cuts grass for people who can't do it themselves. When Mike, their neighbor across the street, broke his back in a fall from a deer stand, Gary built rails on Mike's front steps so that Mike could get in and out of his house. And when there was a loud explosion in the woods behind another neighbor's house, she immediately called Gary and asked him to investigate. Gary found a tree had fallen across a power line in a right-of-way, and started a fire. He fought the fire himself while others summoned help. By the time trained firefighters arrived, Gary had brought the blaze under control. The firefighters' main job was to put out the still-burning debris. That's the kind of "good neighbor" Gary is.

For 34 years Gary bought his insurance from State Farm, a company that claims it's a good neighbor. Gary's father got him started with the company when he began driving at 16. Gary later bought homeowners insurance from State Farm, and eventually added an umbrella policy to protect the assets he had accumulated. Gary was happy with State Farm. And State Farm should have been happy with Gary, because he has an excellent claims record. True, his car was broken into several years ago. Hurricane Hugo blew down a tree. And a pipe burst, causing damage in his basement. Not bad, for 34 years of State Farm coverage.

Gary's rosy relationship with State Farm came to a screeching halt a few months ago, when he casually mentioned to the local State Farm office that he had been shooting at a range he built in a ravine back in the woods behind his house. The local agent, who he regarded as a friend, didn't like that, and questioned Gary closely. Shooting? With guns? He answered all of her questions, and even took her through the woods to the ravine so she could see the area for herself. She wasn't happy. Neither was the home office. State Farm promptly cancelled Gary's coverage for what the company called "the operation of the shooting range on your property".

Hunting and recreational shooting are a way of life in rural South Carolina, and in much of the rest of America. Gary has enjoyed these activities since he was seven years old, when his father started him with a .22 bolt action rifle. It's a tradition Gary is passing on to his two sons.

Still, Gary tried to appease State Farm by offering to limit his shooting. Would they ever let him shoot on his own property, or did the company insist on a total ban? "Maybe once in a Blue Moon" the agent told him. "What about giving permission to a neighbor to hunt regularly on my property?" Gary asked. "It's just too dangerous" she replied.

Gary next offered to protect State Farm from any liability for his shooting. The ravine was on a parcel of land separate from the house, so what if State Farm just insured the parcel with the house? Gary went out and bought a million dollar liability policy from an NRA- endorsed underwriter to cover his shooting activities. Would State Farm be willing to exclude all shooting activities from his homeowners policy?

Sorry, no deal.

So, what did State Farm want from him? Gary asked State Farm's agent to point out the fine print in his policy, or to show him something in writing, so that he could keep the company happy. She conceded there was no fine print, nothing in the policy, and nothing in writing anywhere. But the company regarded his shooting range as a "factor of increased risk" she told him, and as reason for terminating his coverage.

State Farm's agent claimed that it was unlikely any other national insurance would cover him. Another State Farm agent was consulted who said there was little that could be done. All insurance companies had similar rules. But Gary shopped around, and he quickly learned that other companies were more than happy to insure safe shooters.

Gary now has all the insurance coverage he wants. From companies that are happy to have his business. At prices lower than he was paying to State Farm.

Gary still shoots in the ravine behind his house. And he's still a good neighbor. But he's really, really disappointed with State Farm. "This never was about risk" Gary concludes. "Its about guns. State Farm just didn't want me shooting. Ever."

-----

The Conservative Monitor Received the following note regarding this article. It is a statement reputedly from State Farm Insurance to an interested reader who researched the matter further. The Conservative Monitor is making further inquiries regarding the facts of the case.

State Farm insures millions of gun owners, likely the most of any insurer in the United States -- many of whom are our own agents and employees. We provide firearms property and liability coverage automatically as part of our homeowners insurance policy. We also have personal articles and personal liability policies that cover firearms and the lawful use of those firearms by our policyholders.

Our homeowners policy covers the liability exposure for normal recreational shooting and hunting activities for policyholders and guests. In general, deciding whether to provide or continue insurance coverage involves examining every situation (risk) on its own merits. When the risk presented exceeds our expectations of normal recreational shooting, it may become a necessary business decision to decline coverage. A reasonable level of shooting activity would be within the parameters of intended coverage.

State Farm works very hard to earn and keep the business of its customers; it is a very serious matter when we feel we must end a relationship with a policyholder. Our insurance decisions are based on the individual facts at hand and the level of risk involved.

We hope this information demonstrates that State Farm Insurance is not opposed to the reasonable and responsible ownership and use of firearms.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond.