Guns In Bars Approved By Arizona Lawmakers

PHOENIX — The Arizona Senate has given final approval to a bill that would allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry a gun into a business that serves alcohol.

The 19-8 vote completes legislative action on the bill and sends it to Republican Gov. Jan Brewer. She has not said whether she will sign it, but she has long been a supporter of gun rights.

The measure has pitted powerful groups representing gun and bar owners against each other, sparking a debate about whether guns and alcohol can coexist without bloodshed.

Critics of the measure say guns and alcohol are a dangerous combination.

"We don't let people drink and drive, why should we let them drink and carry guns?" said Sen. Paula Aboud, D-Tucson, who voted against the bill.

Supporters say they should be able to protect themselves and their families even if they happen to be inside a business serving alcohol.

"It's very important that criminals are now afraid rather than law abiding citizens," said Sen. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, the bill's sponsor.

The measure would ban drinking while packing and allow restaurants to deny entry to gun-toting citizens by posting a sign next to their liquor license.

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The bill initially required that a bar serving alcohol also serve food, but that provision was removed at the request of bar owners who worried about uncertainty over which bars have kitchens.

Forty other states have approved similar measures, according to the National Rifle Association.

In Tennessee, restaurant owners and others filed a lawsuit Wednesday over a similar law that goes into effect July 14, saying it "encourages breaches of peace and unlawful vigilantism."

Randy Rayburn, owner of several Nashville restaurants and a plaintiff, said the measure is an "antibusiness law" that not only jeopardizes public safety, but increases employer liability and hurts tourism and hospitality businesses.

"The Legislature did not understand the unintended consequences of their actions," Rayburn said.

Former Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, vetoed a similar bill earlier this decade that would not have required people to have concealed weapons permits in order to carry guns in bars.

More than 127,000 Arizonans have concealed weapons permits, which require a gun safety course and background check, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

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Associated Press Writer Lucas L. Johnson II from Nashville, Tenn., contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Arizona Legislature: http://www.azleg.gov

National Rifle Association: http://www.nra.com

Comments

[markytex]

basically, they are deputized to protect me from mean drunks or robbers. i think that's cool. now i can drink safer than ever before.

[HisXLNC]

""We don't let people drink and drive, why should we let them drink and carry guns?""

But we do let people bring their cars to bars. Considering cars kill people at a rate of 4x that of guns, i'm more concerned about the cars. If you can't trust them to bring a gun to a bar, then you can't trust them to bring their car to a bar.

[ThinkCreeps]

But you do have to leave your car outside.

[HisXLNC]

Even if the car is outside, they still have access to it.

The point being, if you can't trust someone to carry a gun into a bar, you can't trust them to operate a vehicle upon leaving. If they're going to get so drunk/angry in a bar that they'll shoot someone, they'll be drunk/angry enough to kill someone in a car accident.

[Y2KCockroach]

Um, other than simply making the argument that cars and drinking don't "mix", how on earth does your argument support the idea of taking guns into bars? The bottom line is that alcohol is a dangerous factor when "mixed" with many other activities (driving, operating other machinery, playing sports, etc.), and that only an idiot (or, apparently, an Arizona legislator) could miss the point. Remember that the NRA is not about protecting lives or building safer communities; it is ALL about limiting gun-control laws. Their only answer to gun-related deaths is to issue more guns. Now excuse me, but I need a drink...

[HisXLNC]

"The bottom line is that alcohol is a dangerous factor when "mixed" with many other activities (driving, operating other machinery, playing sports, etc.).."

So if we're going to ban guns from bars, it makes perfect sense to ban people from driving to and from bars.

[BlackJAC]

By that logic, I should be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, as they've only killed 150,000 people to date and therefore are safer than any gun.

[Thirdpower]

Because a nuclear weapon is equivalent to a handgun.

[Mark0]

"I should be allowed to possess nuclear weapons"
"safer than any gun" -- Blackjac

How bizarre.

[ezbreezer]

How about permitting guns in the Arizona senate.
Sure would make for livelier debates.

[constitutional 1]

measure would ban drinking while packing and allow restaurants to deny entry to gun-toting citizens by posting a sign next to their liquor license.
whats bad about that? Dont want guns in your business, just say so. Anyone caught drinking and carrying will go ot jail.

[BlackJAC]

NRA already freaks out about people who won't allow guns onto their property as it is, to the point of filing frivolous lawsuits in the matter. Please start taking human nature and past behavior patterns into account for once.

[Ohio9]

The law clearly permits property holders to ban CCW if they want to do so. The NRA has never complained about that portion.

[OdinsEye]

"NRA already freaks out about people who won't allow guns onto their property as it is"

The NRA supports property rights which allow people to decide whether or not to allow firearms.

[Mark0]

The past behavior pattern of American gun owners is that the vast majority of them understand the responsibility that comes with owning guns, and have harmed no one.

The past behavior pattern of cc permit-holders nation-wide has been termed ultra-law-abiding because as a group they are involved in less criminal offenses than nearly any other group, including law enforcement.

The "human nature" of these people is that they don't take their responsibility lightly, as has been illustrated day after day across this nation.

[Disuberence]

Ah. alcohol and guns. A match made in heaven.

[knowwhatimsayin]

I'm in Arizona and this law is basically meaningless. It isn't going to stop criminals from shooting someone in a bar just because there's a chance their intended victim is packin' heat. This is just another way to pander to the NRA crowd including those who think Obama is "gunna take our gunz away." Meanwhile our legislature guts programs like all-day kindergarten. But ya know, you gotta have your priorities.

[djkrlsn]

I guess what you are saying is that you don't give a creepin', crawlin' crup about defending the BOR

[jsgaetano]

You mean the one which talks about having a state militia?

[joecoolconservative]

Sigmund Freud: "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded se*ual and emotional maturity."
("General Introduction to Psychoanalysis," S. Freud)

[BlackJAC]

Sigmund Freud: "All men want to kill their fathers and have sex with their mothers (paraphrased)"
("Interpretation of Dreams," S. Freud)

Suffice to say there's a reason why Jung has supplanted Freud.

[jimbeaux1961]

Well, their Senator DID choose Sarah Palin for VP.

[azriverqueen]

Having been the victim of armed robbery, just seeing someone sidling up to the counter with a gun in his waistband is enough to cause some serious distress! Is he here to hold up the joint or what? Should I press the alarm, run for cover, or ignore it?

[Thirdpower]

If it's in his waistband, obviously he's not causing trouble, now is he?

[BlackJAC]

I'm beginning to understand how 9/11 happened. "Just because bin Laden's people have been paying cash to learn how to fly 747s without learning how to take off or land doesn't mean they seek to cause trouble, now are they?"

[rodeman]

Genius....­..........­......

Get a few drunks kibitzing and you'll have another shootout at the OK Corral.

[joecoolconservative]

Lib fantasy. Will not happen.

[Jeff1958]

Because it's never happened before?

[tm22]

Excuse me, but it has happened and this is not some fantasy scenario made up by a liberal, fool.

A recent incident happened in Phoenix at the "Dirty Drummer" witnessed by the bartender. There was a shouting match over nothing that wouldn't have been an issue if both parties were sober, according to the bartender. A gun was brandish during the shouting match and another client pulled the gun from the patron's hand, then, the bartender and patrons force the fighting out the door...san­s the gun...poli­ce called.

The bartender says silly fights happen all the time and allowing guns will only hurt business and people. Believe he said he was getting out bartending­...

[JesustheLiberal]

Guns and alcohol...­why not!

And while we're at it, how about sporting events, guns and alcohol...­no no..wait..­.guns, drugs alcohol, sports and guacamole!

Yeah! Thats whats missing in bars during drunkem brawls....­legal firearms!

[jsgaetano]

Guns and alcohol. What could possibly go wrong?

[ChumpChicken]

Oh yeah, cause nothing mixes like ALCOHOL & FIREARMS !!!

This is literally the absolute dumbest thing I have ever heard!!

So much for vacationing in AZ......

[OdinsEye]

Or the 40 other states which allow concealed carry in establishments wich serve alcohol?

[azriverqueen]

How do you tell who are the "good" guys from the "bad" guys when everyone is packing?

[BlackJAC]

Easy: the bad guys wear shirts that say "Evildoer" on the front. They also stand up in the middle of the room, announce their evil intentions, and wait motionless for the good guys to take three shots at them before the gunfight can continue.

[constitutional 1]

good guys dont shoot you

[sher2x4]

Easy. Last man standing.

[BlackJAC]

Easy: the bad guys wear T-shirts that say "Evildoer" on them.

[Ohio9]

Well seeing as it's called CONCEALED carry. you won't know who is packing one way or another.

Anyway, the way you tell the difference is that the bad guys will use their guns for crimes, while the good guys' guns will remain holstered except when needed for self defense.

[tmc553]

Personally I'd like to see this passed in a few southern states as well. Get them good ol' boys likkered up with a gun handy and there will be even fewer Republican NRAers on the planet.

[OdinsEye]

Carrying in estblishments which serve alcohol is allowed in roughly 40 states.