State Senate Passes Bill On Concealed Guns(VA)

wtvr.com ^ | 11 February, 2010 | Catie Bec

[marktwain]

In downtown Richmond restaurants opinions are flowing freely about what will likely become a new Virginia law. It would allow Virginians to carry a concealed weapon in to a restaurant or bar.

"I'm totally opposed to it," said Lulu's owner Steven Jurina.

Jurina thinks mixing guns and alcohol puts their patrons and employees at risk. While the law says permitted and concealed gun carriers can bring the weapons inside, it says they can't drink any alcohol once they are. Owners say it's not enough.

"On a concealed you don't know who is bringing it in, who has a permit, who doesn't have a permit and who is going to get drunk and pull out a gun," said Jurina.

Some patrons also feel their safety could be in jepoardy with the new law.

"Nobody knows if they have a gun because it's concealed so I think there could be some major liabilities," said customer Zac Frederick .

But gun rights advocates say permitted gun carriers aren't usually the ones committing crimes and that Virginians who want to protect themselves should have their second amendment right to do so. They say concealing the weapon is irrelevant to the debate.

"The bartender doesn't know if he's serving someone with car keys whose going to get in the car and go out and slaughter a whole family," said Philip Van Cleave, President of the Citizens Defense League.

Advocates say this is common sense law. And now they have optimism now that a new Governor has pledged his support.

"Definitely I think the general assembly's decided this needs to be put to rest," said Van Cleave.

[marktwain]

There is a video at the link. 42 states allow restaurant carry now, without "blood in the streets".

[marktwain]

Here is a link to a neat map on opencarry.org that shows the state of restaurant carry in the nation.

http://www.opencarry.org/restaurant.html

[CholeraJoe]

I carry concealed most of the time. I also don’t drink at all, but that’s my choice. If someone has a CCW permit, they have passed a background check and should be able to drink responsibly while carrying. If someone is carrying without a permit, odds are they might also drink irresponsibly.

[fortheDeclaration]

As an owner he has a right to demand that no one carry in his place.

But that doesn't mean other business's shouldn't have the right to allow it.

[Wage Slave]

Maryland allowed it before Virginia? Now that there is embarrasing, I don’t care who you are.

[mvpel]

Jurina thinks mixing guns and alcohol puts their patrons and employees at risk.

Emotion, rather than facts, apparently drive his thought process. New Hampshire has never had a legal ban on carry, open or concealed, in bars or restaurants or nearly anywhere else, and continues to have one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.

In fact, a bar bouncer was saved from injury by an armed patron of the bar not long ag.

[TaxRelief]

"On a concealed you don't know who is bringing it in, who has a permit, who doesn't have a permit and who is going to get drunk and pull out a gun," said Jurina.

And since it is concealed you don't know it's there anyway. So what's the problem?

[Tribune7]

People who have licenses to carry are not the ones with guns bar owners have to be concerned about.

A leftist looks at America and see 300 million potential terrorists and criminals.

A conservative looks at America and see 300 million potential deputies.

The conservative way is the right way to look at America.

[Jerrybob]

THERE’LL BE BLOOD IN THE STREETS!!! /s

[driftdiver]

You don’t know if anyone has a concealed weapon in a bar. At least the permit holders are not criminals.

[LearnsFromMistakes]

should be able to drink responsibly while carrying.

My Iowa permit says 'Invalid when using or consuming alcohol or illegal drugs'. But I can carry into a bar/restaurant. I don't drink at all either, so it doesn't concern me much. 'Alcohol, tobacco, firearms' - I didn't put them together, the feds did...

[ILikeBourbon]

“Nobody knows if they have a gun because it’s concealed so I think there could be some major liabilities,” said customer Zac Frederick .

That’s the point, Zac. The coward scumbag criminals don’t know this either, thus making them all think twice about assaulting or robbing someone.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I don’t think that restrictions are the business of the government. It should be solely left up to the business owner.

There is one exception to this, however. If the police determine that a bar is a “disorderly house”, because of brawls and other problems, they can and do directly appeal to the State liquor licensing board to suspend or revoke the liquor license.

This has nothing to do with guns, and everything to do with behavior. And because a liquor license can cost upwards of $50,000, most bar owners are very responsive when it comes to police complaints.

[P8riot]

More good news on Virginia gun legislation (from VCDL):

The full Militia, Police and Public Safety committee met this morning and the following bills passed and are now on their way to the House Floor for a vote next week.  All passed by wide margins:

HB 171, Delegate Pogge, prohibits employers and others from banning firearms left in locked vehicles in parking lots.  Gives employers immunity if such guns are misused.  The bill was amended to add a few exceptions - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 79, Delegate Ware, prohibits Circuit Court Clerks from divulging CHP applicant information to anyone but police in performance of their duties - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 885, Delegate Athey, allows a non-CHP holder to have a loaded gun in an unlocked compartment or container in a personal motor vehicle or boat - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 1070, Delegate Athey, allows CHP holders to carry in an emergency shelter - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 49, Delegate Lingamfelter, repeals one handgun a month - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 870, Delegate Cline, repeals the option for localities to fingerprint first time CHP applicants - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 26, Delegate Wright, clarifies exactly what paperwork is required from a CHP applicant - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 8, Delegate Carrico, clarifies that a CHP holder can renew through the mail - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 108, Delegate Cole, requires localities auction guns purchased in a gun buy-up - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 236, Delegate Janis, allows someone to shoot a gun within 1/2 mile of a subdivision if they do so safely - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 109, Delegate Cole, repeals a state law that allows localities to tax and collect information about handgun sales - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 1191, Delegate Griffith, allows judges to approve Circuit Court Clerks to issue CHPs - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 490, Delegate Lingamfelter, authorizes the State Police to come up with a plan to issue lifetime CHPs - STRONGLY SUPPORT

HB 69, Delegate Carrico, Virginia Firearms Freedom Act (10th Amendment protection for guns made and sold in VA) - SUPPORT

HB 1217, Delegate Lewis, allows school boards to offer firearms safety programs - SUPPORT

HB 1092, Delegate Crockett-Stark, allows retired police officers to be able to carry without a CHP - NEUTRAL

HB 637, Delegate Armstrong, waives CHP fees for boarding officers of the U.S. Coast Guard - NEUTRAL

HB 1379, Delegate Sickles, allows Fairfax and nearby localities to required that firearms in child-care facilities be stored in a state specified fashion - NEUTRAL

[javachip]

"On a concealed you don't know who is bringing it in, who has a permit, who doesn't have a permit and who is going to get drunk and pull out a gun," said Jurina.

Here's a clue for Jurina - the ones getting drunk and pulling out a gun aren't the ones with the permit.