Uncle has a little article up about some restaurant owner up in arms about the possibility of arms in a restaurant that happens to serve alcohol.
It’ll be worse than the Wild West – back then, they wore their guns on their hips where you could see them. Wyatt Earp made them take off their guns when they went into bars. This is ridiculous. Crazy. There are a million scenarios where this could be a disaster – jealous boyfriends, jealous girlfriends, jealous spouses. It’s a bad, bad idea, and whoever is pushing it is absolutely irresponsible. I am always going to oppose anything that will endanger my customers and employees.
Before I get too far, I'd like to offer something to Mike Chase
Wear that piece of flair proudly, Mike. You've earned it!
Now, back to the fisking so rightfully deserved. As I commented over at Uncle's, here in the Gunshine state, there is no law barring you from consuming an adult beverage and having your gun on your person. Being inebriated and packing heat is the same as driving a car. Drinking an operating heavy machinery is a bad idea, just like drinking and operating a firearm. If I know I'm going to be consuming more than a single alcoholic beverage, the firearm stays someplace besides my hip.
Mr. Chase opposes anything that endangers his customers and employees. I wonder, then, if he's going to stop serving alcohol since the CDC reported that there were over 14,000 DUI related deaths (many, many more injuries) in 2006. Will he ban cars in his parking lot? If not, why?
It's simple. The vast majority of people can be considered responsible enough to have the opportunity to drink and still drive their cars as most will make the right decision. The same goes for firearms.
I'd challenge Mr. Chase to provide statistics showing this mythical Wild Wild West gun shootouts that are supposed to happen here in Florida. Because we allow it and as of yet, I've not seen dozens of stories a week (hell, or even a year) about bar shootouts much less gun fights over the last bacon bits at the Ruby Tuesday's salad bar.
Like Uncle says, Mr. Chase can assure his customers are easy pickings for criminals if he wants, that's his prerogative. Unlike Mike, I would never consider legislation to force him to run a business the way I feel he should.