Now I'm about as avid a gun-owner's advocate as anyone, and I am and always have been a steadfast supporter of the Second Amendment, but I find this latest bill out of Tennessee very troubling. It grants gun-owners the right to carry guns inside restaurants and-yep, BARS!
Fine, I agree that most bar patrons that would opt to carry a gun in a bar are probably responsible enough to not abuse the right, but what about the few who are not. What about the others who would never dream of taking a gun to a bar without this law, who suddenly find themselves very pissed off-and drunk.
And yeah, I know this sort of person would probably abuse his rights as a gun-owner with or without this legislation, but why add to the probability of disaster? Why make it easy on him. At least if he has to go home to get his gun, he is constrained by the time limits which might afford a cooling off period, and in most cases calm down enough to realize he doesn't want to go there. With this law, its right there in arms reach. There's no chance to think things over rationally, to cool off. It only takes a split second to do something stupid. Acting rational involves a more deliberative process, especially when alcohol is involved.
The worse thing about this bill, is that if it does lead to a disaster, and to a number of deaths and injuries, do you really think the gun-control advocates will stop at reforming this law alone? Of course not. They will take this as an opportunity to further reform the law to where all gun ownership in general will become ever more restrictive. And if they get the opportunity, and the public attitude and outcry against a sudden spurt of gun violence is intense enough, they will strike while the iron is hot, and quickly, out of a perceived feeling of public support.
It was a Democrat who sponsored this bill, which makes me wonder. They know of course, or should, that there are certain bars, a minority of them, which the average person should not patronize, with or without a gun. There is more than a fair chance that, while most people that go to these dives now don't carry guns, or even knives, the percentage of them that do will certainly rise. The problem is, there is no codicil in this law, at least none that I am aware, that does or legally can single out certain establishments for exclusion to this new law, which passed over the veto of the governor of Tennessee. As a result, the various town councils had better be on their toes and look toward the very real necessity that some of these places should be closed down and their liquor license suspended. Otherwise, I see nothing but trouble. While most bars will remain relatively trouble free, it is these few-call them what you will, gun and knife clubs, buckets of blood, etc.-where the violence might and probably will rise exponentially as a result of this new law.
Oh well, at least bar owners can opt to ban guns from their places of businesses if they see fit, which they certainly-and in the case of bars, damn sure understandably-have the right to do.
6 comments:
Can the bar have a no concealed weapon or no gun law, as an establishment rule?
According to the article, yes, the bar owner can adopt that as a policy, so I'm not sure what the purpose of this bill is to begin with, other than political maneuvering. If the state had an overall concealed-carry gun law or open-carry gun law (like they used to have in Arizona, and still might) then unless they specified bars for exclusion, that would negate the need for this.
I think its just more political posturing. In any large urban area, there will be a number of bars that should have their licenses revoked and shut down, regardless of the status of gun laws.
There's also places where I think I would prefer to see the gun owner take his gun into the bar with him where he can keep an eye on it instead of leaving it unattended in the parking lot.
Excellent point, Quim. I'd prefer to stay away from such places all together, gun or no gun. Mind you, that's a general rule I've been known to bend on occasion, precisely for the reasons that might well get me shot.
just like the Concealed Weapon Law in Minnesota, it seems to be posturing to rightist voters. You're probably right, that it's more political than necessary.
Oh, I'm fine with concealed carry laws, in fact I'm all for them. I just think there are some places, and some situations, where their presence is undesirable and should be discouraged. Bars in particular, especially seedy, run-down dives with a known history of trouble.
I am almost amazed that Minnesota has a concealed carry law.
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