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!

[TLAM Strike]

How can you enforce such a law? The weapon is concealed so how does the bartender know the person is carrying a firearm and not to serve them alcohol?

Seems to me that the enforcement of the law is in the hands of the person who could be breaking it.


"Oh I don't need to leave my 9mm at home, I'm going to just have one drink and no one will know."

[AVGWarhawk]

Why would you want to carry a weapon in a restaurant? Shoot the waiter for poor service? Take out the cook if the food sucks?

[FIREWALL]

I didn't know Virginians ate in restaurants.

[Oberon]

At least if the food isn't quite dead then it can be fixed by the customer rather than the waiting staff.

[Skybird]

Over the past couple of years, under impression of threads here, and criminological developements in Germany, I must admit that I have very drastically changed my former opinion on these matters, and gave up my opposition to the idea of citizens being allowed to carry handguns. I now favour the concept, and I regret that Germany is getting more and more hysteric about increasing gun prohibition every time there was a new school incident. I see no need for private citizens to carry concealed weapons or to be allowed to own assault guns and semiautomatic MP and military stuff like that, but in principle I support the American basic idea of private handguns being allowed to citizens.

Yes, this is the same Skybird speaking.

[AVGWarhawk]

I thought guns were to protect life and property....not to be carried into Cracker Barrell....

[Platapus]

[QUOTE=AVGWarhawk;1433703]Why would you want to carry a weapon in a restaurant? /QUOTE]

For the same reason a citizen may decide to carry in other locations.

[AVGWarhawk]

[QUOTE=Platapus;1433742]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Why would you want to carry a weapon in a restaurant? /QUOTE]

For the same reason a citizen may decide to carry in other locations.

Ok...lets head on in to Chuckie Cheese with my "9" just in case you know...someone else is packing...... Does this make sense to you?

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Yes, this is the same Skybird speaking.

I thought you'd prefer a crossbow?

[MH]

Caring a gun i restaurant is such a pain in a ass

[ivank]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Yes, this is the same Skybird speaking.

[SteamWake]

Maybe go back to the wild west days when you wore your gun on your hip and checked them at the door

[Platapus]

[QUOTE=AVGWarhawk;1433747]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Ok...lets head on in to Chuckie Cheese with my "9" just in case you know...someone else is packing...... Does this make sense to you?

Actually it does. Last time I checked, the International Association of Bad Guys have not prohibited n'er-do-wells and brigands from commuting crimes in restaurants.

How about this for a deal. As soon a criminals agree not to commit crimes in restaurants, I will agree that law-abiding citizens interested in self-defense won't need to carry in restaurants.

How's that for a deal? That sound fair?

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Maybe go back to the wild west days when you wore your gun on your hip and checked them at the door

Holstered is probably the best option. It's visible, if the pigging tong is clipped over then it's not going to get nicked, and it's within reach if needed.