Friday, January 30, 2009
On Guns and Restaurants
I must confess that I don't pay political issues much mind—sure, the Virginia restaurant lobby keeps me well apprised of the doings in Richmond, but I give most things political scant notice. I have a restaurant to run and that is two-and-a-half full-time jobs.
Good for you.
But wanted or not, sometimes politics intrude into my life. Just yesterday, the local TV station sent a reporter by to interview me about guns and restaurants. Not wanting to miss any face time on TV, I had to say something.
So you quickly just came up with something to say without really thinking?
The reporter's visit reminded me that our silly season is back. Yes friends, once again, it's time for the annual wrangle in the Commonwealth of Virginia between the legislature and the governor over concealed carry of handguns in establishments licensed by the Virginia ABC, that is, restaurants and bars.
carry of firearms should be permitted in restaurants that serve alcohol--AS LONG AS the individuals who are carrying are NOT CONSUMING alcohol in any form or fashion, regardless of how little they consume--carry should be allowed in both OC and CC fashion--depending on the individual choice.
It is currently illegal to carry a concealed weapon (not just a handgun) in such establishments and last year, the legislature voted to make it legal. The governor shot this down [pun intended] and the legislature didn't have enough muscle to override the veto. This year is looking very
déjà vu.
CC as well as OC should be allowed in restaurants, but not bars or night clubs, as bars are purely for drinking and for fighting.
I own a gun and I admit that I love shooting poor defenseless skeet, not that I am any good at it and not that I get out to shoot more than a couple of times a year. I don't belong to the NRA. I'm not a rabid second amendment type: it is clear to me that a private citizen has no legitimate need to possess an AK, machine gun, etc.
What is clear to me is that you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about--an AK 47 is a semi-automatic rifle capable of accepting a 30rd magazine. What are you afraid of in a 7.62x39 caliber rifle? The AK 47 is the SAME as the Rem. 700 SPS, the Savage 10fp, the Barrett .50, the Tikka T-3 Tactical, and I could go on and on--it is a RIFLE pure and simple, all that I have mentioned with the exception of the AK uses a standard detachable box magazine while the AK uses a curved magazine of somewhat more capacity. The 7.62 is a medium sized round when compared to the power and distance of what we like to call the military calibers. What exactly are you afraid of in the AK? Do you not like it because it is scary? So WHAT, I for one think the AK is a cool looking gun, especially when it is decked out in a tactical format.
So WHAT exactly are you afraid of in an AK? Does it frighten you? Does it frighten you because the government and the media like to slap a label of "assault rifle" on it? FYI ANYTHING can be an "assault rifle"...there is no such animal as an "assault rifle"...it is a figment of the imagination of the media, the gun grabbers, the brady bunch and most of the anti-gunners in the government who want to ban an entire class of semiautomatic rifles simpy because of its LOOKS.....people need to grow UP.
And, if the government does take away your right to possess an AK, it's not the beginning of that mythical slippery slope that sees the government further infringing your second amendment rights.
Again, what is clear to me is you have absolutely NO idea what you are talking about.
That said, I think I stand pretty much where the average American does on this issue.
I doubt it--you are allowing the media and focus groups and the anti-gunners to convince you that if you "just give up your guns, then you will be safer"...it is just a slippery slope and a pretext to more control of guns.
Now back to the brouhaha in Richmond. Open carry is already permitted in Virginia: you can legally openly carry a weapon into restaurants and bars. To my mind, concealed carry is not terribly different from open carry, so the proposed legislation is largely symbolic—yea or nay, it isn't really going to make a huge difference. My understanding of the proposed legislation is that the carrier has to declare the weapon and may not consume alcohol, which makes it absolutely no different from open carry.
The gun control lefties don't want concealed carry in the worst way and the second amendment righties want it in the worst way and the rest of us in the middle are asking, "Don't we have bigger issues that our legislators should be tackling?"
What we need is for a STREGTHENING of our CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, not a weakening of them. STREGTHENING our RIGHTS should be amind the top priorities of any government
Regardless of your position on this legislation, you have to admit that adding guns to an alcohol-fueled environment is not a great idea. In fact, it's a terrible idea.
So crime takes a break in restaurants that serve alcohol--like a criminal is going to care whether a law is passed prohibiting guns in restaurants that serve alcohol...I can see it now--a criminal comes to the door of a restaurant and says **** I can't rob you because guns aren't allowed.....yeah ok, and I have some swamp land deepinaheartoftexas i would like to sell you...CRIMINALS don't CARE...
Individual business owners in Virginia, regardless of the prevailing carry law, are free to permit or prohibit weapons in their establishments. Because mixing alcohol and weapons is a terrible idea, I prohibit all weapons—not just guns—open or concealed, except for those carried by peace officers performing their duties.
And the people are free to not shop in your establishments...business owners need our money more than we need their products. If the people quit buying then business owners will have more important things to worry about than a LAW ABIDING citizen carrying in your establishments. If you don't want our money then that is fine--we can shop where we choose.
Again, as if CRIMINALS are going to honor no gun signs...they are CRIMINALS for a REASON--why is it this one simple concept slips by people so easily?
Bottom line, I leave my gun at home when I come to the restaurant. I expect you to do the same. Regardless of the law, a restaurant is no place for a gun.
Bully for you--if you choose to be a victim that is your right, but don't expect me to make myself a target by shopping in a store where we can't carry simply because YOU are afraid that a LAW ABIDING citizen might carry into your store or restaurant..you might well remember that CRIMINALS won't care about your no gun signs, and that they are called criminals for a reason.
This is my reaction to the reporter showing up at my restaurant yesterday and my explanation of the no weapons policy at my restaurant. Be forewarned: we are not going to debate gun control issues on my restaurant blog. Take it elsewhere.
You spoke without thinking...congratulations.
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From "Ed's Blog" on
http://obwrestaurant.com/