[RKBA Democrat]

The newspaper fails to note that Sen. Howell's latest attempt to ban the carry of hanguns in restaurants failed in the General Assembly. Miserably.

[RKBA Democrat]

Ping.

[MacDorcha]

'"I've got to be careful with these guys because they've got guns," he said, sitting at a nearby table with his girlfriend'

Begin this statement...

........ is a polite society.

[teenyelliott]

I've got to be careful with these guys because they've got guns

Exactly the attitude we want, especially when it comes to the criminal element. Just never know who might shoot cha.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

So everyone's concerned because no one was killed???

[hophead]

For anyone interested, Virginia issues concealed carry permits to out-of-state residents. The file fee is $100.00. They also have some reciprocal agreements with other states. CHECK YOUR STATE. If you ever travel to or through Virginia you can carry in the state if you feel you need to. Northern Virginia seems to be the part of the state where it would be most required. Gangs are abundant.

[scory]

Just how likely is it that a person openly carrying and who is attracting attention from everyone in sight is going to commit a crime? Isn't one of the big rules of being a criminal to avoid having your activities witnessed by others? I suppose someone could argue that anyone with a firearm could snap and start spraying bullets around but I don't see how this can be prevented by denying the right to carry openly. Every lunatic who shoots up his office or the local K-Mart about whom I have read has sneaked the gun in under a coat or in a bag or box or something. If anything the sight of people openly carrying firearms should give even lunatics reason to pause before they open fire.

[shellshocked]

I bet the idiot didn't notice that no gangbanger tried to rob the place or kill anyone.

[El Gato]

LAST JULY, 13 members of Virginia Citizens Defense League openly carried their handguns at Champps Americana Restaurant in Reston. The manager called in Fairfax County police officers, who incorrectly believed it was illegal to carry firearms in an ABC-licensed establishment.

Why didn't he just ask them to leave? If they would not leave, it would be trespassing, and then he could call the police.

Howell's bill and the proposed lifting of the concealed-weapon restaurant ban both boil down to a balance between the restaurant owner's right to a safe establishment and the gun owners' right to bear arms.

Senator Howell, and other gun grabbers, would take the decision to allow armed patrons in a restaurant away from the owner and give it to the state. Typical liberal methodology. Responsible gun owners will not go where they are not wanted. They'll take their business elsewhere. Of course some restaurateurs would not want armed customers, but would prefer the state force there competition to operate under the same restriction, so that their business would not suffer the results of their hoplophobia.

[TheMightyQuinn]

"I've got to be careful with these guys because they've got guns," he said, sitting at a nearby table with his girlfriend

I guess he would rather NOT know that they're carrying guns?

I guess he also would rather not know that a guy is a martial arts expert before challenging him to a fight?

[King Prout]

Del. Chap Petersen (D-37), one of only two Northern Virginia lawmakers on the committee, said Howell's bill and the proposed lifting of the concealed-weapon restaurant ban both boil down to a balance between the restaurant owner's right to a safe establishment and the gun owners' right to bear arms.

"There needs to be some meeting of the minds between the two groups," he said. "I do believe that restaurant owners should know who on their property has firearms."

what is this guy smoking? a restaurant is private property. If the restaurant owner does not want people to carry firearms on the premesis, all he has to do is post the policy "no guns" - any patrons who disobey can be asked to disarm or leave; if they refuse to do either, they are guilty of criminal trespass and can be jailed and fined for that offense. I see no justification for the state to get involved in legislating this interaction of property rights and arms rights.

when government wankers start chirping the magic word "balance" I begin to see red.

whadda maroon.

[jaydubya2]

"I've had dozens of e-mails..."
Dozens? must be the DUmmies.

[papadoc1945]

My wife and I have concealed carry permits from Oklahoma. I was surprised when we took the course that concealed means CONCEALED. If you show your weapon you are no longer in compliance. In Okla I have carried openly on occasion when going to and from the range or hunting and no one said a word. I'm not sure of the legal status. I would like to be carrying openly. I really believe that an armed populace increases civility.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Rakkasan1]

"gun owners have the right to carry their guns anywhere — including restaurants like Fuddruckers that serve alcohol."

you can do this in MN, including in a bar. (but I wouldn't suggest it. different cultural norms. and it's annoying explaining it to the police every 10 minutes)

[GovernmentShrinker]

the Virginia Citizens Defense League, an organization that believes gun owners have the right to carry their guns anywhere

In his haste to paint the VCDL as some sort of lunatic fringe group, the author conveniently fails to mention that this also the official position of the government of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Restaurants and bars may post signs stating firearms are prohibited, but few establishments have done so.

And apparently also the position of the great majority of restaurant and bar owners (who are probably taking their cue from the majority of citizens, upon whom they rely for income).

[Eagles6]

Can't get a straight answer from the state police re: open carry in PA. Any Freepers are welcome to pass on info.
According to those same state police PA law does not restrict concealed carry with permit in establishments serving alcohol.

[Migraine]

I choose not to pack heat into otherwise friendly, family establishments, because I think it's
1) useless, under the circumstances,
2) frightening to some people,
3) a little bit too "in-your-face" for me,
4) a statement that goes something like: "look at me--chip on shoulder, gun on hip.."

But that's probably just me, as I read other comments on this thread. Weird, too; because I'm as big a gunnie as anybody on here. I just don't take them in among polite company.

[Sloth]

"My constituents don't want to walk into a restaurant that serves alcohol and see people carrying guns," said Sen. Janet Howell (D-32), the bill's sponsor.

And who has been forcing her constituents to enter restaurants against their will?

[Nick The Freeper]

VCDL Ping. I have been busy lately, but hopefully I'll do a better job of keeping an eye on the VA gun related articles.

[dirtboy]

"I've got to be careful with these guys because they've got guns," he said, sitting at a nearby table with his girlfriend. "It's like the old West."

What a fool.