Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Don't shoot the piano player.

Apparently my old home state of Georgia is toying with the idea of allowing patrons to tote in restaurants that serve alcohol bars. Further, the way the bill is written, it would not prohibit you from tipping back a wet one whilst armed. This has caused a loss of bladder control in the predictable places.

But in case you’re worried that someone who’s just downed six margaritas will take permanent issue with the fact that you’ve dipped your chip in the wrong salsa bowl, Fain adds this:

There is, though, a blanket prohibition against firing a gun while drinking in Georgia.

Whew.


It may surprise Mr. Galloway to learn that here in Indiana it has been legal to carry your heater in a watering hole for decades, even while imbibing, and we haven't had any noticeable problem with saloons getting shot up by inebriated toters, probably because people generally have the good sense to leave the iron at home if they're going out to get stinkoed or, alternately, limit themselves to a beer or a glass of wine if they're strapped.
Hoosiers may carry in their car,
Hoosiers may carry in a bar.
Hoosiers may carry on a boat,
Hoosiers may carry... uh... with a goat?
Anyhow, I know that trusting people to make good decisions is foreign to a lot of folks. I mean, who knows where it might lead if we tried it more often?


(H/T to ARCCA.)

36 comments:

Vinnie said...

and if they are going to drink and shoot at me I hope they drink LOTS and LOTS. (unless of course its Kid Shaleen)

aczarnowski said...

So I can visit a bar and somehow make reasonable decisions about a 2000 lb projectile (my car) but I can't possibly make reasonable decisions about 147 grain projectiles. Got it. I think.

Drang said...

Here in Washington AC we can carry in a restaurant that serves booze, but not in a bar.
Just south of here, in Orygun, you can even pack in the bar.
South of there, in Commiefornia... Well, never mind, for all practical purposes, you can't pack.
In WA and Or, at least, we have far fewer problems with things like homeless guys getting shanked and ignored while they bleed out on the sidewalk than certain other areas that think they're the center of the universe...

Tam said...

aczarnowski,

"So I can visit a bar and somehow make reasonable decisions about a 2000 lb projectile (my car) but I can't possibly make reasonable decisions about 147 grain projectiles."

19,600,000 grains at 80.666 fps = a Power Factor of... a little over 1.5 million. That'll make major...

aczarnowski said...

That'll make major...

Heh. Some gamer will eventually show up with the interior stripped so they just make the cut.

Anonymous said...

I Get Weary, and Sick O' tryin
I'm tired of....etc.

TC

'ote said...

"Hoosiers may carry on a boat,"

In the pocket of their coat.

In their NPR-issued tote.

While writing a note, or reciting a quote, memorized by rote.

Rocking the vote.

In a boat that is afloat in the mote.

Hunsdon said...

Vinnie:

I'm not authorized to hand out "wins the internets" but the Kid Shaleen comment, if I was, well, you'd be taking home some internets.

Britt said...

The funny thing is the person sneering at the law that makes it illegal to fire a gun while drinking thinks the law that makes it illegal to carry a gun while drinking is vital policy which is very effective at stopping said behavior.

Laws only work on people who are law abiding.

Anonymous said...

Hey Tam, we Georgians can already tote in restaurants that serve alcohol, but they cannot derive more than 50% of their earnings from alcohol. Apparently at that point it becomes a "bar." This has been the case since July 1, 2008, when HB89 passed.

Just thought I'd give you a heads-up. The current bill, SB308, changes it to allow us to carry in "bars" and other places that derive their earnings more from alcohol than food.

Tam said...

Pikey187,

Thanks! I'll correct that.

Tam said...

PS: Did that change since 2000? I seem to recollect that places that served alcohol were a no-go, but it was ten years ago, after all.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, before HB89, which went into law July 1, 2008, carrying in any restaurant that served alcohol was a no-go. I remember celebrating on July 1 with some friends by open carrying into our favorite local Mexican restaurant in Hiram, Georgia.

By the way, love the site. I've been reading here and the Arms Room for about three years now. I originally got linked by Kim du Toit.

-Justin in GA, a proud www.GeorgiaCarry.Org member.

rickn8or said...

For a brief, shining instant we had restaurant carry here in Tennessee. Then a restaurant owner that didn't want the patrons packing but didn't want to put up the "No Packing" sign managed to convince a judge that Tennesseans are too dumb to tell the difference between a restaurant and a bar.

Ha! You can usually smoke in a bar, and there's none of this food claptrap or even an attempt at atmosphere.

And the legislature is proving once again that what the last session can cluster-coitus, this session can OUT-cluster coitus. Let's not use the example of what works for decades set by the Hoosiers or anything.

Revolver Rob said...

I've felt this is one thing Texas has gotten wrong for years. No concealed carry in a bar (read any place that makes 51% or more of its profits from the sale of alcohol for on sight consumption). I've had to pass on some genuinely good bar food (some of it is darn good), because of this law. I think the alternate point of the law, where you cannot carry while intoxicated makes more sense. Of course, I don't like the fact that "intoxication" is left to the discretion of the arresting office...

-Rob

Robb Allen said...

Over the years I've gotten to meet a few gunnies on my home turf here in the Gunshine state.

I always make it a point to take 'em to a restaurant that serves booze and have a beer.

Because I *can*.

Interestingly, Florida doesn't have drunken shootouts on any basis, regular or not.

It's almost like they're lying about the problem!

Anonymous said...

Tam; we COULD allow you to make your own decisions, but can we really afford to take that chance? -- Lyle

Anonymous said...

I'm happy SB308 allows me to actually use the bathroom at the park while carrying. Or a rest area, for that matter.

Now if I can get Taco Mac from being so pants crapping hysterical... at least I have Christo's.

Drang said...

Rickn8or
You can smoke?!

I live tgoo friggin' close to Commiefornia...

Beaumont said...

@ 'ote:

Shouldn't that be "moat"?

You'll wet your coat.

Anonymous said...

In an unusual case of Virginia getting something right, we will be able to conceal carry in bars beginning July 1st, 2010 (open carry was legal before that). Drinking while carrying concealed will be a misdemeanor. It's at least a small step in the right direction.

Ed Foster said...

With a goat? That's kin kier than a drunk with a gun.

monkeyfan said...

SB308

...It's much more far reaching than SB223.

Skip said...

Lessee, here in the golden state we can open carry in Starbucks, for awhile [some dim is floating a bill to kill that] and we have 'may issue' unless you live in Fresno county [Sheriff Mims is a gunnie chick], the gov signs everything anti, the list of can't possess is longer than a roll of TP, Ronnie Barrett won't sell here, manuf's have to screw up guns with switches, need I go on?
Does U-Hual have one way to Texas?

Home on the Range said...

Just think all the restraint we have used over the years to avoid shooting up the Belgium Brew Pub in Broad Ripple. Wow!

I am going to have to show you the last pictures from a visit to the Nanny state, a meeting in London. On the faucets, "Caution HOT water". On an incredibly steeply pitched roof "caution roofs can be dangerous".

rickn8or said...

D.W. Drang--

Yes, one of my friends is a petite redhead with a handgun, an attitude and a law degree. Go ahead. Tell her she can't smoke. Let me know how that works out for ya.

Weer'd Beard said...

Also if I may play a bit of a Devil's advocate. Even if one WERE to get blotto drunk while packing a rod (I neither recommend, and support all laws making packing whilst drunk the same as driving whilst drunk), who's to say there's even a remote risk of a problem?

In drunk driving when the drunk looses focus, passes out, or otherwise becomes impaired nothing stops the car from moving (and killing people).

Meanwhile, Tam has admitted to taking a nap on her holster. No issue. I bet you were REALLY sleepy before you took a nap too. All of these things are dangerous whilst driving, but no issue whilst packing.

Furthermore, most everybody with an elbow to bend has a hand at the end of that appendage. That hand can be made into a fist, or simply use the bottle or glass as a club or improvised blade.

These people certainly exist, and as a general rule they don't pass the background check to get their totter's permit in the first place.

Again not advocating people bring their gun to a bar or party where they're gonna get wrecked. But I really find it hard to think that somebody who doesn't do dangerous or violent things while blotto unarmed, and doesn't do dangerous or violent things while sober and armed, will suddenly turn into Black Bart if he tosses back a 6-er with his 1911 on his hip.

Tombstone Charlie said...

@ Skip
Yep-UHaul does 1-way to TX (Penske is sometimes cheaper). We have no state income tax, sales tax not too bad, fairly gun freindly. CCW only, but shall-issue. Job market in San Antonio pretty good.
Just nail a "GTT" sign on your door and "Y'ALL COME"! :)

Anonymous said...

And in three states you can carry without a note

Tam said...

They must have blood up to the hem of your coat!

Anonymous said...

Peach State update - SB308 passed the Senate, went to the House and has passed the Judiciary Committee.

It should reach a floor vote tomorrow. Strangely, opposition is focused on the airport and rapid-transit CC provisions, not the bar issue.

Siltazay said...

Yep, and SB291 is waiting for the Governor's signature. Good times right now.

Here is the most recent copy of 291 I could find, followed the links from Georgia Carry.

Anonymous said...

In texas they carry in case of coyote

Matthew said...

And in three states you can carry without a note...

They must have blood up to the hem of your coat!

No, not even enough for a duckie to float. =(


WV: exiess - what nothing succieeds like

Anonymous said...

SB306 just passed 118-41.
The Guv can either sign it, ignore it - in which case it becomes law automatically, or veto, and be overridden by a 2/3 vote.

Ooh-Rah, Peach State!

Siltazay said...

Anon @ 3:06:

No celebrating just yet, there were enough changes made to it in the House for it to be passed back to the Senate for a revote. Can't find any information more current than that, including what changes were made...