Anti-gunners' mischarachterization of lawful gun carry in restaurants (courtesy of Oleg Volk)
In the famous Agatha Cristie novel And Then There Were None a group of people on an island mysteriously begins to die off due to accident or foul play. This plot is playing out in real life today with state bans on carrying handgun for lawful purposes in alcohol serving restaurants - these bans are rapidly dying off.
Last year Georgia repealed its ban on gun carry in restaurants, and after a historic veto override by the Tennessee legislature, Tennessee's ban died on July 14, 2009. And today, September 30, 2009, Arizona's ban on concealed carry in alcohol serving restaurants is no more.
That means that there are only 8 states left banning handgun carry in alcohol serving restaurants.
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Virginia is widely expected to repeal its "restaurant ban" on concealed carry in 2010 - the Old Dominion's legislature has passed such legislation twice in the past 2 years only to be vetoed by Governor Tim Kaine (D). But both the Republican and Democratic party Gubernatorial nominees in Virginia, Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds, support repeal of the ban on concealed carry in alcohol serving restaurants, and are expected to sign the bill when it passes in 2010.
Rumors are also aflyin' that serious efforts will soon be made in Ohio, New Mexico, and the Carolinas to repeal those states' bans on gun carry in alcohol serving restaurants. But unlike the world of novels, onerous restrictions on gun rights don't just mysteriously disappear. Gun control laws tend to have great inertia and it takes a lot of work to repeal them.
Action Items: If your state bans concealed carry in restaurants, don't count on the ban to just go away without your help. Contact your state legislators today and tell them you want your state's ban on gun carry in alcohol restaurants repealed. And if you live in Virginia, sign the online petition to repeal the Virginia ban on concealed carry in alcohol serving restaurants too.
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Comments
Georgia is still RED on your map
You should color yellow those states where you're allowed to carry but not drink.
Mike, on a sidebar, SCOTUS has agreed to take up the question of Second Amendment incorporation against states and municipalities, in the case known as McDonald v. Chicago, (or NRA v. Chicago). A ruling is expected in June 2010 (perhaps earlier).
May we live in interesting times.
Wisconsin does ban handguns in bars but long arms are legal. I imagine that you would get some odd looks walking in to a bar with a slung AR but it is legal.
Not really fair to include the two states that you cant carry at all in the 8.
Wisconsin does ban handguns in bars but long arms are legal. I imagine that you would get some odd looks walking in to a bar with a slung AR but it is legal.
Florida requires concealed carry with a permit. Open carry is prohibited.
Texas also requires a CHL (equivalent to CCW permint) to carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol.
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