Monday, April 26, 2010

If we outlaw drinking with guns, only outlaws will get drunk with guns

Update: The newspaper version of this story.

I am not an expert on Georgia's existing gun laws, but it appears that SB 308, which will allow carrying in bars provided the owner consents, would allow people to get drunk while they're in there.

There is a current prohibition against drinking in restaurants when you're strapped, but that language (including in HB 89 two years ago) deals specifically with restaurants or "other eating establishments." A bar, SB 308 makes it clear, is not an eating establishment because "the serving of food is only incidental" in bars.
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Update: It also appears SB 308 would strip out the no-drinking-in restaurants language, making it legal to carry a licensed concealed weapon in a restaurant and drink.
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State Sen. Mitch Seabaugh was asked about this Thursday in the House Judiciary Committee and he said that, yes, licensed carriers will be able to drink a bar while carrying a gun, if the owner has OK'd carrying in the bar.

He said Georgia doesn't have a blanket prohibition against drinking and carrying and "We've not had issues with that."

Update: I've spoken with Georgia Carry.org and Georgians for Gun Safety, and both say my reading is correct. Also SB 308 will do away with the prohibition against drinking while carrying in restaurants, according to Georgia Carry.

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

"Kind of analogous to carrying your car keys, but you can't drive your car (while drinking)," Georgia Carry attorney John Monroe said.

3 comments:

joe p said...

wonderful

Alpha said...

SB 308 would NOT permit getting drunk while legally carrying a weapon or "behaving dangerously" as your story states. Do your homework before you spread your propaganda.

Angeline said...

I think it's still better not to carry any dangerous weapon like the gun. You might injure other people accidentally and it might cause you a lot of money for hospitalization and possible claims by the victims.

personal injury attorney