If you would like to comment on this article, use the e-mail icon on the right. Virginia Addressing Alcohol & Legally Armed Citizens      Currently a law abiding citizen can carry a pistol in a resturant that sells alcohol as long as the pistol is NOT concealed.  This person can also drink alcohol until the establishment cuts them off from consuming any more alcohol.  A notice banning carry in any establishment can also be posted.       A proposal in the Virginia Senate would allow concealed carry in locations where alcohol is served but, under this proposal, the legally armed person may not consume.  A differnt twist has been added to the Virginia proposal in that the legally armed person must inform a designated emplyee he or she is carrying a concealed handgun.  Included in this proposal are penalties if the legally armed person consumes alcohol. A person  could receive a Class 2 misdemeanor if caught drinking or if intoxicated while carrying a handgun, a Class 1 misdemeanor.      This proposal is sponsored by            Sen. Emmett W. Hanger, R-Mount Solon.  His proposal passed the Senate by a 24-15 vote.  It is believed this proposal will become law.

Various states have already passed legislation allowing legally armed people to carry in establishments serving alcohol for consumption.  Kentucky has one of the best laws regarding this issue. Some states like Tennessee, are facing hard opposition.  In Tennessee the Tennessee Restaurant Association is opposing the bill.  As happened in the beginning of the carry laws, the opposition states guns should not be allowed in location selling alcohol because of the potential problems.   Has Kentucky faced these problems?  No, they have not.  Again, these people do not look at statistics or factual data, they just make assumptions.   There are laws all over the place that increase penalties when a crime is committed with a firearm.  Does anyone think the criminals care about these laws?  Allowing law abiding legally armed citizens to carry a 'defenseive' weapon into an establishment that sells alcohol for consumption, is allowing this person some odds they will survive if a nut case, or a criminal elects to make the restaurants revenue and the customers money their own.  To comment on this article, use this e-mail icon.                                                  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common sense says that not being allowed to carry in any location, lowers a persons chance of survival.  Restaurants selling alcohol, schools, churches, public transportaion. It does not matter what the product is or what type of establishment it is, by restricting a legally armed citizen from carrying in ANY location, deminishes the intent of why carry laws were enacted.  The original intent was to allow law abiding citizens to defend themeselves from the criminal element, by the means of self-defense.  Now, the restrictions placed on legally armed people give higher odds to the criminal element and the nut case, to commit their deadly deeds.  This is wrong.  If this does not change, history has shown that these incidents will continue.  This is especially true in a society that seems to 'preserve' deadly deeds on the T.V. for every 'copy-cat' nut job to envey and want to copy.  Gene Kennedy, Tennessee  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I disagree with the proposed law change. I see nothing wrong with with carrying an concealed weapon and consuming alcohol in an establishment that serves alcohol, as long as the person is not intoxicated. It shouldn't be wrong to have "a" beer and to have it be a Class 2 misdemeanor. If a person is intoxicated then a person should should be penalized. Randy Philipps --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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