Unless you're a hunter, lose your handgun

The Keystone ^ | 10/31/2003 | Dan Sanders

[stevio]

Dang this is close to home. I lived in Kutztown for 4yrs. after I first got married.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

He does have a point though: alcohol + firearms = high likelihood of an errant round being loosed.

It's illegal for a CCW-holder to drink and carry a gun in every single state with a CCW law.

[Dixie Pirate]

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms...

Where are the chips!!??!!??

[jdege]

I disagree.

The issue isn't drinking while carrying, but going into a bar while carrying.

Which is an entirely different thing.

[CygnusXI]

He speaks of "mini cannons", likes the idea of being frisked, and brings up his "Sword of doom".....

.... I think we all know where this is going....

[Dubh_Ghlase]

From Florida:

Q: Are There Any Places Where Concealed Weapons/ Firearms Cannot Be Carried By Licensee?
Yes. Florida law specifies a number of places where carrying any concealed weapon or firearm is prohibited. A complete listing of these places can be found at Section 790.06(12), Florida Statutes. Some of the places appearing on this list are police, sheriff and Highway Patrol stations, courtrooms, elementary and secondary school facilities, school administration buildings, bars, the sterile areas of airports, etc.

It just makes sense...

[Dubh_Ghlase]

Oh, one more:

Q: Carrying A Concealed Weapon or Firearm in a Restaurant that serves Alcoholic Beverages -

Florida law prohibits carrying a concealed weapon or firearm into any portion of a business establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. This usually means bars or taverns. However, many restaurants today carry such beverages. These establishments are not "primarily devoted" to the sale of alcoholic beverages. Licensees may carry a weapon or firearm into such a restaurant as long as they do not enter the lounge area, if the restaurant does have a separate space so designated.

http://www.fisacademy.com/licenseinfo.htm#Carrying%20A%20Concealed%20Weapon%20or%20Firearm%20in%20a%20Restaurant%20that%20serves%20Alcoholic%20Beverages

[Delmarksman]

What the Author doesn't mention is that he probably drove himself home after his night of self stated "Binge Drinking".

As do 90+% of Bar Goers.

Far more people are killed by "Drunk Drivers" than are from a person carrying a legally owned firearm.

Now if someone has been drinking and has to(while protecting him/herself) or negligently discharges his firearm his/her judgement will be questioned if/when it comes up in court. And they will have to live with the consequences of their actions.

[joesnuffy]

Maybe he ought to read the crime reports from his own city sometime...

[Double Tap]

Only a bozo would think that this article was only targeting guns at bars.

[jdege]

Yep.

Minnesota's new law states that anyone with a permit who gets caught carrying with a BAC over .04 has his permit suspended for 60 days. Over .10 has it revoked, and cannot reapply for one year. And I'll guarantee that if your permit is revoked for carrying drunk the sheriff is going to find that grounds for a discretionary denial - and the judge will back him up if you appeal.

But it's perfectly legal to carry into a bar, and not drink.

If you're a woman with an abusive ex hanging around, and your friends decide to stop in at a bar for a quick one after work, there's no reason why you shouldn't go in with them, and no reason why you should have to render yourself defenseless on the way from the bar to the car.

Carrying while under the influence is criminal behavior, and should be criminal behavior. And I'll fully support whatever level of penalty works best to deter it.

But carrying while walking through a door is perfectly benign behavior. Even if it's the door to a bar.

As for the author, he seems to think that public drunkeness is perfectly ordinary behavior, but that permit holders are paranoid, ignorant, and violent.

[TroutStalker]

What is the current law in Pennsylvania regarding prohibitions on concealed carry? I used to have a concealed carry permit in Centre County fifteen years ago when the state had may issue permits, and carried into taverns regularly, but I would frequent them mainly as a place to have a couple of beers with a meal, usually after fishing.

This was never even an issue then. On one occasion, and I didn't even think it remarkable at the time, I had dinner at the Spruce Creek Tavern during the Green Drake Hatch, and former President Carter was in there with his SS detail and his wife, sitting at the table across from us.

It is hysterics like this writer who have created a problem where none previously existed.

[jdege]

No it doesn't make sense.

There's no reason to ban carry in bars, other than to establish legal minefields to make life more difficult for permit holders.

[Double Tap]

Yeah, but don't bother pointing out the facts. It just hurts their heads to have to think.

[Centurion2000]

While there's no reason to carry a gun in the first place, there's even less of a reason to take one with you when you're drinking.

He's right .... just leave it in the car.

[joesnuffy]

Actually he makes a good case for ..'only deranged idiots looking to hurt someone for a deranged reason would be carrying a weapon'.....

and if thats true ...I cant think of a better reason to own one...being all those deranged idiots looking to hurt someone out there....

specially when they may be looking to hurt someone I care about...

[Centurion2000]

Designated drivers on the other hand .... should be armed to the teeth.

[Archangelsk]

It's illegal for a CCW-holder to drink and carry a gun in every single state with a CCW law.

Yer right, it's illegal, but when has that ever stopped anyone?

[Eagle Eye]

He'd have to have balls in order to get kicked in them.

[Snuffington]

It is kind of funny how modern liberals think about guns the same way 5 year olds think about cooties, and with just about as much sophistication of thought.