Guns in bars? Ariz. legislators say yes
Published: July 1, 2009
PHOENIX -- The Arizona Senate has approved a bill to allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry a gun into a business that serves alcohol.
The 19-8 vote completes legislative action on the bill and sends it to Gov. Jan Brewer.
The measure has pitted powerful groups representing gun and bar owners against each other.
It would require bar and restaurant owners who want to ban weapons to post a sign next to their liquor license. Drinking while carrying a weapon would be illegal.
Opponents have said mixing guns and alcohol could cause violence, but supporters argue that people should be able to protect themselves at businesses that serve alcohol.
-- The Associated Press
Reader Reactions
Fred you’re (you are) a tad mixed up about my position on the matter. In this case, as with most gun control laws, nothing or nobody is trying to infringe upon anyones right to purchase or own a weapon. You’re welcome to own one, I support your decision to own a gun, but that doesn’t mean you get to take it with you everywhere you go like you’re billy the kid. In the second amendment, the idea was to create a well armed populace that could defend itself against a government that becomes tyranical. I support that 100% and if the government ever tried to take away all guns, I would be right with you throwing batteries at lawmakers coming out of the statehouse.
I can assure you that the founding fathers (who barely lived to see a muzzle loader) were not concerned about preserving the right of mentally handicapped ex-convicts to purchase fully automatic weapons with hollow tipped bullets and then carry them out to a bar to get wasted.
FanTastic….Your kinda mixed up here so lets clear up the nonsence. The 2nd amendment clearly gives the individual the right to keep and bear arms, but like the 1st amendment, there are some basic rules like not yelling FIRE in a crowded theater when there isn’t one. You actually can carry firearms on airplanes (including bazookas) as long as they are “Properly packed and declared”. I don’t pretend with firearms, but the ability of law abiding citizens to purchase guns should not be infringed! Children sould be under adult supervision when shooting or handling firearms, that’s the responsibility of adults. The issue is that The RIGHT to KEEP and BEAR ARMS should be as minimally infringed upon as possible, and any law that makes it more difficult to exercise the 2nd amendement rights should be carefully scrutinized. Look to Vermonts laws for the correct application of gun laws.
Fred,
Does the Second Ammendment give me the right to carry a bazooka onto an airplane? I have a right to bear arms, the airline said no bazookas, so they are infringing upon my rights? Are nerve gasses “arms” in the constitutional sense? Should I be allowed to stockpile nerve gas? Should a six year old be allowed to buy a gun?
Of course not. So obviously there are some limitations on the second ammendment.
Do you have a daughter? Let’s pretend for a minute that your daughter came home with a busted lip that her psycho boyfriend put on her. You find out he has a history of mental illness and decide to take our a restraining order against him. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, he could go out and buy a handgun the very next day if he does it at a gun show, from a private seller. Do you think that is a good thing?
I’m all for having guns, but lets be smart. If we aren’t smart about it and idiots keep shooting up classrooms, we are setting ourselves up for people to say “we tried to control guns, it failed, now we have to take them away.“
That said, I really dont see the concern. The US doesn’t have the ability to account for, or reclaim the billion plus guns in this nation.
Fan Tastic…Your only partially right on the “keep guns out of the hands of nuts” commment, who decides who is nuts? Statistics overwhelmingly show that conceal carry laws deter crime, Fan, are you for more crime? also, don’t forget about the 2nd amendment, unless you don’t respect the constitution.
This works for places that serve alcohol and meals. In the Commonwealth, if you open carry a weapon, you can enter into a restaurant, eat, and leave. Someone MAY say something, but it can sometimes draw attention.
If you allow that same person, who would carry ANYWAY, concealed, it makes those who might be uncomfortable less likely to be aware a firearm is even present.
Keep in mind that statistically, according to the FBI crime logs, people with Concealed Handgun Permits commit less crime…than police officers. Even that number is negliable.
People will carry firearms. Legally. You will see them. You may not. It does not matter what your political opinion is on the subject, it will happen. So borrowing a phrase from a certain community.
“We’re armed! We’re here! Get used to it!“ People ask for tolerance of ideas that they support, have tolerance of ideas that you do not.
Sure people should be able to protect themselves at places that serve alcohol. I think people should be able to protect themselves in all dangerous situations. Think of all the school shootings that have happened recently, I think we should let high schoolers pack a heater in the hallways. And why would I want to go to church unarmed? You never know what might happen. People die in hospitals all the time, so I feel like I should be able to bring my shotgun with me when I go visit my doctor.
What fantasy/wild west world are these people living in? If you are honestly so afraid to walk out of your door that you need to bring a gun with you, prehaps you should stay home. If you’re still scared, get a dog. Furthermore, going throught the hassle of carrying a gun implies that you consider the threat of violence to be real and relatively likely. If that’s the case, is your best solution to the situation to prepare yourself for a gunbattle? That’s your solution? Shoot it out like the OK Corral?
When gun nuts have this “dont give ‘em an inch” mentality, they really shoot themselvse in the foot. Why wouldn’t responsible gun owners do everything they can to limit incidents like bar/school shootings by nutjobs. Every time something like that happens, liberals call for tighter gun control.
Limit the number of gun murders and you limit the calls for gun control. Keep guns out of the hands of nuts (the mentally ill, convicts, people with restraining orders), its that simple.
AND NO, WE DONT DO THAT IN VA.
No gun in a bar ever shot anyone. Good politicians do what they promise when they take the oath of office…support the constitution of the united states, which includes the right to keep and bear arms.
Wise man say don’t start drunken bar fight without concealed pistol.
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