Who here drinks?

In Iowa the carry permit allows one to drink when carrying but not over .08% BAL. (Same as DL.) One can carry and have a drink or two at a bar. This has beenthe law almost 2 years now and none of the licence holders state wide have over drank and the streets have not turned into the wild west.
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No not the wild west. But there were a couple of incidents shortly after the law changed that did not bode well. Like the guy in Des Moines that went to a bar with a pistol, loaded with shot shells, stuck down the front of his pants and managed to shoot himself in the the last place any man would want to. I heard it could not be saved and was amputated.:eek: But things have been sedate from then on, as far as I know.
 
Indiana has no law saying that you cannot carry into an establishment serving alcohol or even that you cannot enjoy an adult beverage while carrying.
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TX law allows drinking while carrying, however carrying while intoxicated is a criminal offense. To complicate things, the definition of intoxicated is not the same one used for DWI and the law does not define a minimum legal blood alcohol level for carrying with a CHL.
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Same in NV, and even when most non Governmental establishments post signs saying "no guns" can't legally stop you except kicking you out for whatever, tress passing.

I try not to carry with beer one in me, but it has happened.

All in all, it's never a good idea to mix guns & alcohol. Ever.
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TBS, when I'm at home and on my 3rd or 6th drink. Am I supposed to put all my guns in the safe?
 
Talk of blood alcohol levels and statutes is one thing, but everything could easily change if a hostile prosecutor puts the matter before a jury.

"So Mr. Servo...you claim that you were sure your life was in danger. You claim that you had no other choice, and that your judgement was sound. However, studies have shown that judgement can become impaired at levels as low as 0.04%."

That's not a position from which I'd want to defend my actions.
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I have to play devil's advocate here a little. I have been in multiple threads that discussed using handloads, silencers, short barreled rifles, etc. I have several NFA items and I won't use them for the above stated reason. Almost every one of those threads has multiple people telling me that what a prosecutor might try isn't relevant because, " if it's a good shoot, it's a good shoot."

I have never, ever seen the arguement of "if it's a good shoot, it's a good shoot' used when it comes to alcohol. For example, here in Nevada the law is very clear that you are legal as long as your blood alcohol is below .10. So if I have to defend myself with a .05 blood alcohol I am within the legal limits for my state.

This is not the first thread by the way where someone has mentioned that a jury might be influenced by the drinking. Yet mention the use of a "publicly questionable gun or accessory" and now what the jury thinks doesn't matter.

Just questioning why there is this big difference in thoughts on this.
 
I don't go out any drink, no matter the deal at the restraunt, it won't be as good as buying beer, drinking it with a home cooked meal and watching Red Dawn.
 
I often have a glass of beer with dinner. I'd be more worried about the guy who is taking medication for chronic pain and carrying.
 
RamItOne said:
I've been seeing threads and posts about 100% carry, never leaves the property without being armed etc etc. I'm assuming its the same in all or most states that you can't carry in a bar, even if not drinking and can't carry if having a drink at a restaurant etc.
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You assume incorrectly. There are 50 (or 57, depending on who is speaking) states, and each state has its own laws.

Carry in bars and restaurants with liquor licenses is not prohibited in my state. Doesn't matter to me -- I don't drink. However, the restaurant part is a concern. A couple or three years ago I visited a friend in North Carolina. We went to a decent restaurant for lunch the last day of my stay. I thought I remembered that carry in restaurants serving alcohol was not legal in NC so I started to unholster and stuff my pistol under the seat of the car. My friend saw what I was doing and said, "You don't have to do that, it's okay."

So I carried. When I got home, though, I pooked it up. I was right -- I had just committed a felony offense in NC. Needless to say, I was not happy that my friend mislead me. If HE wants to take the chance, that's fine, but I don't play games of chance with felony offenses. (I should note that this same friend also carried while in NYC on a band gig!)
 
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Guns and booze don't go together. I would have used the word mix , but that would be alcohol abuse putting guns in booze.
Having a CDL I am held to a .04 no matter what I drive and even though I don't need the CDL it is something that I had to spend money to test for and is expensive to have in the wallet. No need to toss it away for a beer or two.:(
 
I used to have a drink on occasion. But I've been dry since I started carrying. I understand how the body metabolizes alcohol, and I'm a big guy (6'5" 350lbs), but even after a single beer, I can tell a difference in how my body is acting. I've never driven, even after a single beer (just don't feel like risking it) and I'm certainly not going to drink and carry. In AZ, if you have a permit (AZ has constitutional carry, but having a permit provides additional benefits), you can go into establishments that serve alcohol as long as they don't have the official AZ "no guns" sign, you just can't partake. Not a big issue for me, honestly. I've never been a big drinker, and I hate being drunk.

Bottom line. I always have a gun on me or within arms reach. Guns and alcohol don't mix. Therefore, I don't drink.
 
Georgia state code:

O.C.G.A. § 16-11-134
Discharging firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge a firearm while:

(1) Under the influence of alcohol or any drug or any combination of alcohol and any drug to the extent that it is unsafe for the person to discharge such firearm except in the defense of life, health, and property;

(2) The person's alcohol concentration is 0.08 grams or more at any time while discharging such firearm or within three hours after such discharge of such firearm from alcohol consumed before such discharge ended; or

(3) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section, there is any amount of marijuana or a controlled substance, as defined in Code Section 16-13-21, present in the person's blood or urine, or both, including the metabolites and derivatives of each or both without regard to whether or not any alcohol is present in the person's breath or blood.

(b) The fact that any person charged with violating this Code section is or has been legally entitled to use a drug shall not constitute a defense against any charge of violating this Code section; provided, however, that such person shall not be in violation of this Code section unless such person is rendered incapable of possessing or discharging a firearm safely as a result of using a drug other than alcohol which such person is legally entitled to use.

(c) Any person convicted of violating subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.


Rules for hunting and alcohol in Georgia are here
 
Ok, the AA meating is over, time for another drink. Next shot is on me!:rolleyes:

Time for the girls to go home, me and John Wayne are going out back and shoot'em up. :eek:LOL:D
 
Our recommendation (a very strong one) from class is if you're going to carry, drink 0. If there is an incident and they do check for alcohol, any alcohol in your system equals impaired judgement.

Makes sense to me. I'm with Gaerek, even one beer and you can feel your not as sharp.
 
I won't sermonize. Just reporting that it is not illegal to drink while carrying in New York state.
 
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pdgion: said:
If there is an incident and they do check for alcohol, any alcohol in your system equals impaired judgement.
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That'd be my biggest concern even after a glass of wine with dinner then to be involved in an "incident". The decision being made with regard to my sobriety/intoxication/fitness is being made by some who

-may be out to make an example of me
-may have prejudged the legality of my action and is looking for a reason to "trick bag" me
-may have other impure motives that I cannot imagine

I know that most of us can have a glass of wine/beer with dinner and be just fine to be armed, but the risk of some intrusive judgement at the hands of a "less than honest actor" gives me serious pause. (and I am an LEO!)
 
I'm just wondering what kind of person has to go around unloading all of their guns, separating guns/ammo when they start drinking at home. You seriously can't trust yourself like that?

Might be time to get rid of the guns, or stop drinking altogether.

SOUNDS LIKE ALCOHOLICS WHOM HAVE NO SELF CONTROL. .
 
It's why I don't drink. :)

Honestly, I think most alcohol isn't very pleasing to the palate (my opinion, of course, I know there's plenty of people that would disagree). I don't need it to socialize. I don't do the bar thing. I don't need to order a beer, or wine, or something else when I go out to eat, just because it's the thing to do. Honestly, would I be ok with a beer or two with my gun? Yeah, probably. But you can bet you butt if I were involved in a defensive shooting after downing a beer or glass of wine, that would almost certainly be added to evidence in the trial. I don't see myself as losing anything significant by not drinking, and it's one less legal hurdle I can potentially avoid.
 
All in all, it's never a good idea to mix guns & alcohol. Ever.
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Well.. that can be said with anything in combination with alcohol right :p

Alcohol and driving, Alcohol and children, alcohol and working, alcohol and seniors, you get the drift.

But if you are at home or at a friend's residence having a nice time (nothing crazy) drinking a couple of beers/wine that is not illegal.

What must be emphasized is responsible gun handling. You can pretty much injure or kill/get killed if you handle a gun irresponsibly with or without the aid of alcohol

As far as the topic, in my state it is not allowed to CC in a bar or facility that specifically serves alcohol. Sitting at the restaurant portion of a TGI Fridays is ok, but no on the bar itself. Or going into a club/bar downtown is prohibited. So we I go to those places I do not carry.
 
in ohio you can go in a bar/liquor store, unless posted otherwise, as long as you are not consuming.
i don't drink at all, anymore, so i carry all the time.
 
[I'm just wondering what kind of person has to go around unloading all of their guns, separating guns/ammo when they start drinking at home. You seriously can't trust yourself like that?]

I'm wondering why so many cannot enjoy life, and have pleasure/fun and go through the days without alcohol. They just have to have it to relax and enjoy social get togethers.

I would hate to have to be that dependent on alcohol in my life.
Jerry
 
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