Virginia gun lobby pushes for right to drink alcohol while carrying a gun in public.

[kpete]

Virginia gun lobby pushes for right to drink alcohol while carrying a gun in public.

guns-in-barEarlier this month, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) signed legislation allowing “concealed carry permit holders to bring loaded handguns” into establishments that serve alcohol. The law allows permit holders to carry guns in restaurants, “as long as the holders do not consume alcohol.” A leading Virginia gun lobby is now arguing that the law unfairly stigmatizes gun carriers as second-class citizens because there is an exception that “allows law-enforcement officers and commonwealth’s attorneys to carry concealed weapons and consume alcohol.” Philip Van Cleave, leader of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, complained, “We’re not allowed to drink, but they (law enforcement officials) can. … That’s two classes of citizens.” But Van Cleave has a solution:

*****Van Cleave said one proposed bill would allow no one but an on-duty officer doing undercover work to drink alcohol while carrying a concealed weapon. The other bill will say that anyone can carry a concealed gun and drink if they wish, “as long as they are not drunk.”

“Whatever the General Assembly assumes will apply to everyone,” he said. “Police officers and permit holders are all in the same tent; so I say: General Assembly, you choose. But whatever it is, we’re equal.”

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/GUNS26_20100425-225601/340095/
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/04/27/va-guns-drunk/

[Forkboy]

1. What could possibly go wrong?

[lamp_shade]

7. LOL !!

[Euromutt]

16. Yeah, look at Washington state!

The law here in WA prohibits carrying in any establishment declared by the Liquor Control Board to be off-limits to anyone under 21 (i.e. bars, "lounges" and bar areas within restaurants); it does not prohibit carrying a firearm in an establishment that serves alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises as a non-primary source of revenue. It also doesn't prohibit a customer in such an establishment from consuming alcoholic beverages while carrying (though it does prohibit being in possession of a firearm while being legally "under the influence").

If there has been a spate of shootings in and around restaurants serving alcohol, I haven't heard of it. Though if you have evidence to the contrary, I'd love to see it.

[Abq_Sarah]

2. The more logical solution

Would be to prohibit cops from drinking while carrying.

[damntexdem]

10. And attorneys.

[Travis Coates]

14. Plus 1000 NNTO

[HALO141]

15. +1 n/t

[Euromutt]

17. Which is exactly what the other bill does; Van Cleave is giving the legislature a choice

Though I note that OP tried to gloss over that little fact.

[Mother Smuckers]

3. This is similar to the push to outlaw divorce in states that prohibit same-sex marriage.

It isn't meant to actually be passed, it's to clearly point out a completely unreasonable and insane double standard.

[mikelgb]

4. I think they should make it mandatory

[meegbear]

5. Can this be used to allow gay marraige?

The law unfairly stigmatizes same sex couples as second-class citizens because there is an exception that “allows heterosexual couples to marry.”

"Same sex couples are not allowed to wed, but others can. ...That's two classes of citizens."

Do you have a solution for that Mr. Van Cleave?

[Glassunion]

6. You can drink in public in VA? Suwheet! (n/t)

[madinmaryland]

8. I think you have to have a gun before you can drink in public!

[Glassunion]

12. Well crap!

I don't carry when I drink and I don't drink when I carry.

[damntexdem]

9. They should be required to marinate the gun in the alcohol for 30 minutes ...

prior to drinking it.

Hey, how's that for a compromise? ;-)

[-..__...]

11. I agree with Van Cleaves reasoning...

""We're not allowed to drink, but they can," Van Cleave said. "That's two classes of citizens."

"Police officers and permit holders are all in the same tent; so I say: General Assembly, you choose. But whatever it is, we're equal"

I have no problem with CCW holders being able to patronize establishments that serve alcohol while carrying.

Drinking/being under the influence of alcohol while carrying should be illegal for all.

[X_Digger]

13. +1 n/t