Concealed Carry Advocates at a Restaurant Near You

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Gun rights advocates continue to pursue the right to concealed carry by extending the right to restaurants. Four states, Tennessee, Arizona, Georgia, and Virginia recently joined with eighteen other states to allow concealed gun permit holders to carry them in bars. The decision comes after the Supreme Court ruled that citizens have the right to keep a loaded handgun on their person.
    Some states restrict the right of a person carrying a concealed handgun to enter bars and restaurants, but not to drink alcohol. Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico signed a restaurant carry law earlier this year that allows permit holders in restaurants. During the signing ceremony he asked that the legislature further enhance the law to not allow those armed patrons to consume alcohol, a change which is yet to be made.
    In Tennessee legislators overrode a veto by Governor Bredesen to enact the latest reform of the gun carry laws. Ohio recently implemented similar legislation. The Republican controlled legislature passed the legislation and sent it to Governor John Kasich’s desk. The bull went into effect September 30th and people can carry their firearms into more than 17,000 facilities where alcohol is consumed as long as they don’t drink. So far, law enforcement personnel say the new law has not resulted in any problems. Concealed carry permit holders in Ohio must take a 12 hour firearms training course, pass a final exam, fill out an extensive application, be fingerprinted, and pass an FBI background check. According the County Sheriff Capt. Jim Drozdowski “ Most of the people we found that get the license are not the ones we have to worry about”.
    In Virginia, the law is even more broad allowing permit holders to openly carry handguns. It is only one of two states along with Montana that extends that right to patrons.
    With more and more concealed carry permits the 20 or so remaining states that have no statute on the books whatsoever regarding carry laws in restaurants are hotly debating the topic. The lack of any specific legislation means that permit holders can carry their weapons into restaurants and bars without any regulations.