No CCW in restaurants - thoughts

2

2DaMtns

New member
I live in VA, and the laws here don't allow me to carry into a restaurant if it sells alcohol. I can see where it would be a problem if I was drinking and carrying, but that is a Class 1 misdemeanor and so is covered by its own law. I can also see how they might be worried that someone could get drunk and belligerent and get shot by someone who is carrying. I think it is a bit backwards to allow me to carry into a gas station at a half hour before they stop selling alcohol, where I am MUCH more likely to run into a drunk, but not in a restaurant, where I have yet to see someone being as drunk and belligerent as your average gas station patron. And since me drinking and carrying is covered under its own law, I don't see the point. Anyone have any other thoughs that I am not grasping? Or is it just political BS?
 
No you're right, it's just BS. I carry all the time at restaurants here in KY, don't see anyone getting shot over it.

Kaine needs to leave office, pure and simple. He's veto'ed the bill twice now.

BTW you're allowed to open carry in ABC establishments.
 
Agreed, this is crap. It is just the government micromanaging individuals for "safety reasons". Do you not think that someone with a CWP knows that he/she can't consume alcohol?? Puulease!!

Next it will be no guns in all state buildings to protect state employees or no guns in vehicles due to concerns of "road rage".

This is how the antigunners disarm innocents!! The criminals love it!!
 
In Tn it looks like the law will be changed to where you will be able to carry in these places. I would think you and your Va pals could get the law changed for us. See as how we are getting it done for all you guys here. Its taken fifteen years. But worth every phone call.
 
We have the same problem in AZ. We *should* get a repair bill on this soon.

I don't drink a drop, ever, I literally can't stand the taste of alky.
 
In MI we're covered by the "50%" rule. If the establishment obtains over 50% of it's income due to sales of liquor by the glass, it's prohibited. In practice this means if there's "bar" or "Tavern" in the name, you can't carry there.
 
Antigunners like to add restrictions to CCW bills to make carry useless in common situations. Well known strategy. If there isn't such a provision, they pimp up the liability types to convince locations to put up ban signs if the law allows such.

Then, our prehistoric property rights advocates fall for it and post rants. Failing to understand that businesses are compelled to do all kinds of things by the government, they focus on be able to ban carry as some last stand for liberty. Duh. :barf:
 
In MI we're covered by the "50%" rule. If the establishment obtains over 50% of it's income due to sales of liquor by the glass, it's prohibited. In practice this means if there's "bar" or "Tavern" in the name, you can't carry there.
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I believe here in Nebraska it's the same as that.
 
Georgia rules

Can carry in a bar, if I want to, so long as I don't consume alcohol.

Can't consume alcohol and carry a firearm under DOD rules, for that matter...

Anyway, Georgia has some pretty sensible, pro-gun laws.
 
It's silly and totally anti gun BS.

For example, we are allowed to carry in a restaurant in Kentucky that serves alcohol and the Commonwealth has not been shot full of bullet holes down at the TGIFs.
 
Even if your local laws allow carrying in a bar, the owner probably doesn't.

I can't recall the last time I saw a bar that allowed firearms.
Every bar that I have ever seen had at least one sign indicating "no weapons" posted at the door.
 
I open carry in "bars" (the bar portions of restaurants) in Virginia all the time. No, I don't drink.

Haven't had a problem, but if someone fussed, I'd calmly remind them to blame Kaine for vetoing a sensible concealed carry law twice. One place I've open carried in at least a dozen times is, in fact, notoriously anti-gun (Sweetwater Tavern), although no one ever asked me to leave. Since learning the proprietors' dim view of gun owners, I won't give them my money any longer.

I will admit that sitting at a bar with a holstered pistol in plain view requires a bit of forethought and creativity in seating choices. I will not allow someone to approach from the rear while I'm bellied up and feet on the rail.

A booth is your best option, if one is available. You can slide in with your holster towards the wall. Voila. Open, but concealed!
 
Mr. James:
I will not allow someone to approach from the rear while I'm bellied up and feet on the rail.
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And exactly how do you "not allow" someone to approach you from behind when you're bellied up to the bar?

Sometimes, when a bar is crowed, others have to step up between folks seated at the bar in order to get a beer.
 
I open carry in "bars" (the bar portions of restaurants) in Virginia all the time. No, I don't drink.
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Also, just curious, why do you go to bars to not drink?
You're just preventing one more person who does drink from sitting at the bar....and hurting the bar tenders tips.
 
RE: Restaurant laws in VA...not only is it political BS, it's not even well thought out BS.

1) The "no CCW in places serving alcohol" rule was put in place but nobody ever considered that it's still legal to open carry. This wasn't to force open carry, this was because the lawmakers were ignorant of the laws of Virginia as they stood and missed the whole open carry aspect.

2) Kaine "justified" the previous veto by saying "guns and alcohol don't mix" and then the VERY NEXT DAY he approved a law allowing Commonwealth attorneys the privilege of CCW in bars/restaurants.

3) This year he, again "justified" the previous veto by saying "guns and alcohol don't mix". But on the SAME DAY approved a measure allowing active AND RETIRED law enforcement to carry concealed AND THIS BILL DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY DRINKING RESTRICTIONS LISTED!

Fortunately Kaine's term is UP...HE'S GONE at the next election.

Also, just curious, why do you go to bars to not drink?
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Hey, I do that all the time as well (I don't drink at all). Usually it's because I'm with a group of friends and they drink. Also it seems some kind of design oddity that you often have to at least pass the bar area to get to the men's room.
 
Prior to Virginia becoming a shall issue state in the 1990s, people fortunate enough to get a permit could carry in a restaurant.

There were, as far as I know, no problems over the decades that that was in place.


A number of bars that I frequent are "theme" bars, sports, Irish, etc., and have very good food.
 
Hey, I do that all the time as well (I don't drink at all). Usually it's because I'm with a group of friends and they drink.
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Few things are more sad than a non-drinker hanging out with drinkers.
You should start drinking as soon as possible.:p

Also it seems some kind of design oddity that you often have to at least pass the bar area to get to the men's room.
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It's not a design oddity at all.
It makes perfect sense.....
drinkers need to urinate more often than non-drinkers.;)
 
Move to PA..

You can OC and CC in any bar or restaurant that serves. You can drink too and there is no BAC limit for carrying. However, public drunkenness and DUI laws apply. And landowner rights prevail, they set the rules about who can/cannot carry on their property.
 
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