Virginians can carry in restaurants now

[Platapus]

What a nice Independence Day “gift”

Effective 1 July 2010

HB 505 Concealed handguns; prohibits person carrying onto premises of restaurants from consuming alcohol.

Concealed handguns; restaurants; penalty. Allows a person with a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed handgun onto the premises of a restaurant or club and prohibits such person from consuming alcoholic beverages while on the premises. A person who consumes alcohol in violation of the provisions of the bill is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. This bill is identical to SB 334.

Link to the law. Paragraph J3 applies

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...1+ful+CHAP0709

About time. This is the way to handle it. Prohibit people from drinking alcohol while carrying, but do not penalize those who wish to carry without drinking.

I knew there was something good about living in Virginia.

For those non-Virginians, Virginia had a open carry law that allowed pretty much every citizen to carry a handgun openly in a restaurant. However, those citizens who have been issued a concealed weapon permit could not carry concealed in a restaurant. This is what happens when two separate laws may be in conflict with each other.

Anyway, this seems to be fixed now. People can either open carry or, if they have the permit, conceal carry in a restaurant. They just can't consume alcohol.

Which is a pretty good compromise.

Well done General Assembly!