So what’s all the hoopla about? Parties were being planned at people’s favorite bars that began at midnight, just so gun enthusiasts could swagger in packing heat. Hopefully, the proprietors didn’t count on anyone spending that much money on booze. Toting and drinking are verboten.
Jeff Shapiro of the Richmond Times Dispatch attempts to make sense of the new laws:
Regardless of new laws, the owner of the establishment still rules supreme about whether he or she wants fire arms in their restaurant. Of course, banning guns would require posting a sign, since the gun would now be concealed and no longer visible to the owner.
I have never liked guns around booze. Every year boozing good old boys get to drinking and shooting and someone gets hurt. A few years in the Northern Neck taught me that but I seriously doubt if you have to go that far to see an example.
Everyone thinks they are a responsible gun owner. Just ask them. Meanwhile, I am the mother of a professional bartender. And yes, I am worried. Especially tonight.
The video was amusing. I hope this man isn’t a journalist because he got his facts all mingled up with his disdain.
I won’t be able to attend the PWC celebration dinner being held as I’m DD for another outing where I will be supporting those brave men and women by open carrying at another establishment that serves alcohol.
And I seldom swagger or prance. 🙂
Of course, guns have been legal where alcohol was served prior to this AND consuming was legal. Open carry was mandatory, and drinking while carrying was legal. Yet, none of the doom and gloom ever happened. Those that carry lawfully, especially concealed, are above average in their restraint. Not perfect. But I don’t think that anything will change.
And the signs have been on the doors before this. Many restaurants, and other businesses, in Richmond don’t want armed customers. Laws like this have been enacted all over the country without incident.
We shall see. Perhaps your faith in the human race is stronger than mine. Or maybe I have just known too many AHs. Or maybe both….
Its not faith in humans, its evidence provided by all the other states that have this law. If other states had problems, I would be against it. I think the pros outweigh the cons on this bill. I would rather have people in there, carrying concealed, instead of openly because, as you said, there is drinking going on…..and some drunk might decide to “play” with the person openly carrying.
This is less dangerous.
Pretty sad to think that so called adults have to make a big show about this. At least they ought to have their guns on the hip. How else can they prove that they are armed? And, you know, prove their manhood. (do you think women will be in bars also?)
Why go to a bar if your aren’t going to drink (unless there’s live entermainment of course)?
Hope these idiots don’t go around shootin’ people!
Starry, shooting people is generally against the law. This law does not change the law WRT discharge of a firearm.
Punchak, what about women-folk? If they carry firearms in a purse they’re somehow hiding thier manhood?
There are no bars in Virginia. We have establishments that serve alcohol.
And many of us call them bars. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, its probably a duck.
Technically marin is right, but why does what we call it matter?
Because when it comes to gun laws we have to be very precise lest we take an upstanding father of 2 and brand him a felon because he carried too many bullets, or walked across some line or had a black pistol instead of a green one or any other number of silly laws that impact those that try to follow the law and not the bad guys in life that do mean people harm.
But, the distinction does have a real world difference. Is Friday’s a bar or a restaurant? What if all I want is a diet (yes, I’ve given up on my Obama-lapband) cherry coke and a burger? Should I be denied the right to carry a firearm into that establishment because alcohol is served? How about Wegman’s? Chipotle’s? I doubt you’ll see many parents saying “Don’t go to chipotle’s I don’t want you touchin’ none of that XXX or Corona’s”.
You guys are crushing my diet… I have a craving to hit (visit!) Brother’s Encore tonight..
Punchak,
For one thing, there are no bars in Va. And the women that I know, that will be carrying, will be carrying to prove their manhood? Will you say that they carry to compensate for…..?
Why does carrying a weapon for self protection have to be about anything other than that?
The celebration will happen because it was a long fight and we won.
So those of you who frequent bars would say to your buddy: “Hey, Joe, you wanna got to an establishment that serves alcohol?”
Fatter of mact – I really don’t care about the gun business, but it’s fun to write and read about it here among the Moonhowlings. Case closed from here.
Cargo….nooooo…don’t ask that question…..please………I beg of you……..
Actually, I wish you had fought that hard over something that matters to the rest of us, but I suppose that is selfish on my part. If I had to go to the wall on something, it would probably be in the first amendment, rather than the second.
Punchak, glad you have fun.
I am waiting for the first person to get shot in a bar. You know it will happen, and you know what the reaction will be–a huge outcry against this law with a lot of gun carriers arguing that shootings are the exception.
Incidentally, why carry a weapon into a bar in order to protect yourself? Why would you even go to a bar where you didn’t feel safe? Someone clue me in here.
Mount Vernon’s Distillery is open!! History in a bottle. Now only if they’d open up the smithery and make a few muskets……… 🙂
While I support the change to the law that allows CCP holders to bring their weapons into the restaurant, this does not preclude owners from asking for patrons NOT to bring weapons into the establishment on a voluntary basis. The owners could even offer a premium of some sort for those who pledge to leave the guns in the car/home.
As for concerns for potential trouble at a particular place, if you are worried that some crazy might open up while you are about to eat your supper, then don’t dine there.
BTW, CCP holders are, based on national crime stats, the LEAST likely to commit gun crimes.
@Swooping Buzzard
I’ll answer that. Those who carry consistently, do so to protect themselves and their loved ones, and sometimes those around them. Mandated open carry forced them to be open to possible harassment, being a target, etc. Some don’t have the retention training, or ability to carry openly.
If one leaves a firearm in a car, locked or not, its vulnerable to being stolen. Also, now, the emergency tool that you need is locked away from you. One doesn’t carry a firearm to a place where you feel threatened. One just carries a firearm. When going out to a restaurant, the danger is the walk to/from a car. In parts of Richmond, that doesn’t mean a parking lot. That means, down the street, and in poorly lit areas.
@Swooping Buzzard
I am waiting for the first person to get shot in a bar.
Starting now? People haven’t been shot in bars before this law passed? You’ll need to compare both, I think, to be fair. 😉
You know it will happen, and you know what the reaction will be–a huge outcry against this law with a lot of gun carriers arguing that shootings are the exception.
I heard the same wailing back when Virginia went from may-issue to shall-issue with CHP permits. Thousands of innocent people were going to be killed! Never happened. In fact, the crime rate dropped dramatically.
My son says that guns are always in bars.
Having said that, there are always fights in bars. I don’t know why people haven’t been shot in bars. The only shootings I know of are in outdoor type informal bars.
I just don’t like guns and booze. I have never seen any good come out of guns and booze. Not making predictions. Just stating an opinion.
Geeze, all this time, I walk from the parking lot to the restaurant or bar, and I have not been carrying. Does that mean that I am lucky, or they just think I am packing.
I really do not have a problem with people that carry – I do however, have a problem with someone that is packing, and drinking at the same time. I have personally witnessed a bad outcome, when the two have been mixed.
To those that say, but if you are carrying, you will not be drinking – tell that to those who drive after drinking.
I agree with Pat. I don’t care if people carry. And some have good reason to. I don’t want to go to my favorite restauarant and sit next to it though. We are back to those 5 senses again….I don’t want to look at someone’s gun when I am eating. Maybe I am just a sissy.
Drinking and carrying, drinking and driving, the potential for bad outcomes is there.
I may have shared this before. I have a very close friend whose son is in jail for manslaughter. He is lucky. He got a 10 year sentence. Had it been murder he would have served 25 years. He acted impulsively. It was a 10 second bad decision that had life altering consequences. Not just for the dead man, but for the dead man’s family, kids, significant other….the list goes on. NO booze was involved, just very intense emotion. Bang, you’re dead. Your life is over.
Moon,
Now that we can carry concealed, you won’t have to look at anyone’s guns.
Btw, the Virginia Citizens Defense League dinners were a success. At least 80 people were at my restaurant, carrying openly and concealed. Alcohol was served to others in the restaurant. No one was shot, or, appeared concerned. I asked the management. No one complained.
The baby back ribs were good. And my daughter got an invitation for Doc Thompson to come see his radio show.
Did you take pictures?
Was this in Richmond? Were you in charge of setting things up?
I would prefer to not look. If you aren’t a gun type…its unsettling.
what is the proper etiquette, for someone carrying concealed? If their pant leg rises, or shirt untucks, or jacket opens – do I mention to them that they are not concealed, and that I am well aware that they are carrying?
And do they carry right or carry left? Don’t forget that one Pat.
There was a shooting at KC’s in Manassas not long ago.
No, no pics. I found out about the dinner at the last minute and just showed up. It was in Richmond. Others were in Northern Va., Norfolk, Charllottesville, and others. About 450 people rsvp’d. Info can be found at http://blog.vcdl.org/ where they have pics and a write up.
About the etiquette…..heck, if I was carrying concealed, I’d appreciate it if someone mentioned that I was showing…..at least in VA, a concealed carrier doesn’t get in trouble for “flashing” by accident since open carry is legal. Other states will arrest you if you accidentally show your weapon. Some conceal more casually than others. Some try to make the weapon “invisible” while others, not so much.
@Pat.Herve
what is the proper etiquette, for someone carrying concealed? If their pant leg rises, or shirt untucks, or jacket opens – do I mention to them that they are not concealed, and that I am well aware that they are carrying?
There’s no ‘proper etiquette’ that I know of. Personally, I would tell someone (discreetly and quietly), and I would thank anyone for mentioning it to me.