West Hollywood Nightclub Beefs Up Security In Wake Of Orlando Mass Shooting
WEST HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — One of the most popular gay nightclubs in Southern California has beefed up security in the wake of the Orlando nightclub massacre.
David Cooley, owner of The Abbey on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, said: "My biggest concern is ... my responsibility is the safety of my customers and employees."
He said he had 36 security guards, four of them armed, working during the L.A. Pride festivities, and they checked every bag and made sure no one had a weapon.
Cooley said he planned on having the armed security guards continue working.
The Abbey on Monday night lit 49 candles for each deceased victim and put up a sign that read: "Pray for Orlando."
Cooley said what happened in Orlando hit too close to home for him, as a club owner and someone in the gay community. "It was a very emotional day. It was really an emotional day."
Meantime on Monday night, a vigil was held at Mickey's in West Hollywood, where people who spoke to CBS2/KCAL9's Brittney Hopper said they supported having armed security.
"If anyone can come in with these assault rifles, nobody can be up against them. So, I would think that is a necessity unfortunately," said Donna Finkelstein, who is a gun-control advocate.