Gun laws go too far
Opinions — By Megan Evans on October 15, 2010 6:00 AMSomeone has taken action to ensure that our bars and restaurants can be “safer.” In Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia and Arizona people can now “protect themselves” by carrying a gun while hanging out at establishments that serve alcohol. Ain’t that America?
The law states that anyone carrying a gun is not allowed to drink alcohol, but that did not stop a man in Virginia from enjoying a beer before he accidentally shot himself in the leg with his concealed weapon.
Legalizing guns in restaurants makes it so that there is no punishment for concealed weapons. I am a lot more relaxed when I know that a guy reaching into his coat pocket is going for his wallet, not his gun.
There are endless downsides to this legislation. A gun has potential to kill, no matter who holds it.
What about service staff? People who stand on their feet all day for minimum wage do not need the added stress of wondering who has a gun on them.
One anonymous waiter filed a complaint stating that guns in taverns create an unsafe work environment. His complaint was rejected by his state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, and there have been no further attempts as of yet.
Hypothetically, one guy decides to buy a gun, “just in case.” He brings a gun into a bar. The person on the bar stool next to him notices, feels unsafe and thinks he ought to have a gun too, just to defend himself against this stranger.
America is dealing with a civilian-level arms race, and it is not getting any safer. We need to stop this legislation before guns become legal in even more public spaces.
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14 Comments
This is one of the most poorly written editorials I’ve ever read in this paper, and that’s saying something.
That may be the case, but you must admit the picture is pure genius…handsome but mysterious man coddling a porter while wearing fingerless knit gloves and a black hoodie to match.
I do believe that the writer of this fails to realize that every day millions of people conceal carry, And everyday, not a single one of them shoots another person except in self defense. Concealed weapons permit holders have a fraction of a percent that commit felonies.
the picture is as bad as the article
Is this what passes for journalism these days?
You do realize that there has been a “civilian arms race” since America gained a constitutional structure, right? A law allowing people to carry handguns in restaurants is NOT going to make people buy guns… That is incredibly ignorant of you to assume. There are essentially 2 types of people in this situation- People who ALREADY own guns, and people who don’t like guns and would never buy one. Laws don’t make people buy guns.
THE **** IS THIS?
someone needs some irish sunglasses
you do of course realize that over 85% of all gun crimes are committed with unlicensed/illegal firearms? that statistic tends to go up the more one regulates them. and legal open carry of firearms has proven overwhelmingly to be a deterrent to crime, people are less likely to start shit in an area where they think that anyone might be able to step in and shoot them back
You have got to be kidding me! Megan you need some time in college to hone your skills as a writer. Secondly, how are you even saying there should be a punishment for people carrying weapons? So you are telling me that makes the millions of people who carry daily including myself criminals for wanting to protect ourselves from criminals? First off you said yourself the law states they cannot drink while they’re in the bar. You hear one instance some idiot decides to give it a go and has a huge mistake (which by the way I am not in any way advocating or condoning this mans actions, the idiot should not have drank and should have obeyed the law) and automatically every person who conceals is a raging alcoholic who wants nothing more than to be drunk shooting things?
This is terribly one sided. Do you think anyone who carries is just looking for a fight and wants nothing more than to have blood on their hands because they somehow feel oh so powerful? This is a ridiculous accusation. Like most people I carry to remain safe. I am perfectly courteous and kind to anyone around me and anyone who knows me will tell you I would do no harm. And this is true, I have no intention of killing anyone nor would I want to. But if I go somewhere with friends, family, or my girlfriend I can, will, and do carry. I look for no trouble and keep my eyes low, but I will be damned if I’m going to let someone hurt or kill me or anyone I love. My gun is NOT for killing. My gun is insurance allowing me to know that by the end of the night my friends family and I will come home alive safe and in one piece from anywhere.
****ing hipsters.
Seriously ? who wrote this crap ? On Wednesday, October 16, 1991, Hupp and her parents were having lunch at the Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen. She had left her gun in her car to comply with Texas state law at the time, which forbade carrying a concealed weapon. When George Hennard drove his truck into the cafeteria and opened fire on the patrons, Hupp instinctively reached into her purse for her weapon, but it was in her vehicle. Her father, Al Gratia, tried to rush Hennard and was shot in the chest. As the gunman reloaded, Hupp escaped through a broken window and believed that her mother, Ursula Gratia, was behind her. Hennard put a gun to her mother’s head as she cradled her mortally wounded husband. Hupp’s mother and father were killed along with twenty-one other persons. Hennard also wounded some twenty others. As a survivor of the Luby’s massacre, Hupp testified across the country in support of concealed-handgun laws. She said that had there been a second chance to prevent the slaughter, she would have violated the Texas law and carried the handgun inside her purse into the restaurant[2]. … This is the true story of a texas house rep … i dont think too much more needs to be said
I have a hand gun permit in the state i live in. I am planning to vacation out of state this summer and was wondering if the permit would stand legal in the states i am traveling through and to? How would i find out?
The picture is ****ing bad-ass. First of all, the porter the handsome man is drinking is delicious. A picture with a good beer cannot be a bad picture. That being said, I’m a photographer and I can understand if you have some stylistic objections to the photo. However, your primary complaint is that the picture depicts a ****ing hipster. Given that the intent of the photographer was to portray just such a figure, your complaint fails to recognize the perfection that the photographer achieved. Lets I forget, the handsome man in the photo will eat your soul once he’s done with the porter.
Are you an idiot? They can carry in places that serve alcohol, but they can’t drink. You don’t even know what you’re talking about. Do you know why this is allowed? Because a few years ago, in Texas, a man crashed his truck into a restaurant and got out to start shooting people. A lot of people were killed that day, even though a few of the restaurant’s patron had valid concealed carry permits. Too bad they had to keep their guns in their cars, because at the time, state law did not allow for individuals to carry into places that serve alcohol. Go jump off a bridge.