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

[SlithyTove]

It follows that it is illogical for Arizona to ban concealed weapons in courts, government buildings, legislative sessions and political events...I wonder what would happen if someone filed an amicus curiae to this effect!

[faretheewell]

I think that the good legislators in Arizona would welcome thier armed citizens to enter their hallowed halls. If its good for the bars it must be good where they work.

[justmeinAz]

It doesn't follow. You've made no argument for treating a courthouse like a restaurant, you've merely made a statement and expect it to stand as self-evident. It is not.

[SlithyTove]

If I am allowed as a private citizen to carry a weapon into a venue where people are getting intoxicated and violent disagreements are common, tell me why I am not allowed to carry said weapon into a building I paid for and where intoxicated persons are shown the door.

[k6007]

Guns in bars and no public health care. I think they're trying to kiII their constituents..

[mychagal]

It's OK to carry a gun, with the intent to use it, in an Arizona bar, but it's not OK for a woman to have an abortion because of a high risk pregnancy, which will likely be fatal to herself and her child, if brought to term.

[CeeCee]

So much for "pro-life", eh.

Excellent point.

[djkrlsn]

Murder, battery and assault with a deadly weapon are still illegal so your point is worthless

[MNTom]

Drinking and guns a good combo.

[OdinsEye]

Not allowed to drink while carrying.

[JessWonderin]

oh yea . . . THAT'LL be enforced . . . . .

[zeotrope]

They are concealed weapons. How would they know?

[Scribe57]

Yeah, that clears it up. A better idea would be to make it illegal to shoot people. No, wait....

[tmc553]

Not "allowed" to shoot people either and we all know what isn't "allowed" never happens.

[smchp]

Thank god, now they can feel safe protect their 'freedom' from all those pesky terrorists hanging out at the local watering hole!

[calgary]

The perfect circular argument. I need a gun to protect myself just in case the drunk guy starts shooting or if I get drunk and start shooting, my fellow Americans will be able to have the right and means to shoot back at me.

[smchp]

What's next, allowing gun stores to sell liquor? Brilliant!

Come to Billy Bob's Guns 'n' Liquor! This months special, buy an assault rifle and get a free case of Jack Daniels!

[OdinsEye]

Assault rifles are strictly controlled by federal laws and the paperwork alone to be able to purchase one takes months to go through.

[SlithyTove]

I know -- isn't it sad it takes as much time to take delivery of an assault rifle as it does your new living room furniture? Not to worry, I'm sure your friendly local gun show salesman can help...

[JessWonderin]

WRONG!!!

only AUTO assault rifles are "controlled" . . . the rest are "hunting and sporting" weapons . . . Keep this up and the NRA won't pay fro these WEAK posts . . . .

[smchp]

Ok whatever then with your technicalities, Make it a handgun. Much easier to get, easier to conceal and probably statistically causes more problems. I'm sure the Jack Daniels doesn't help.

[truthartbeauty]

they need to start putting a special pouch on all bibles to hold the guns. more insanity every day!!!

[apoyo]

Remind me to stay out of Arizona.

They refuse public health care but guns are OK.

Next we'll hear that Wyatt Earp has been defrosted.

[Thucydides Jr.]

Wyatt Earp required folks to turn in guns at the jail while in town. He was certainly a liberal commie.

[OdinsEye]

Required out of towners to do so. At certain times of the year. A rule which did not last long.

[minnelusa]

Ever wonder why they want to conceal them ? Instead of wearing them out in the open like they did in the old west. I would feel a lot safer knowing who was packing heat so that I could cross the street just in case.

[OdinsEye]

" I would feel a lot safer knowing who was packing heat "

So would the criminals. They would know who to avoid and who to attack.

[JessWonderin]

"know" ???

sorta defeats the concept of "CONCEAL"???

[Jimboz22]

That's the ideological basis of the pro-gun movement right there, isn't it? To you folks, the issue at stake here is that a vicious, blood thirty criminal could enter a bar or restaurant and rob you or something worse. You see the world as clearly defined between vicious people on one side and good, god fearing people on the other. The virtuous need to be armed to protect themselves from the vicious. Guns in the arms of the former are violently dangerous, but guns in the arms of the latter are virtuous.

Those of us who don't share your ideological views, however, know that guns can kill people, even in the hands of the well intentioned, and want to take steps to mitigate the risks of that happening. The issue here is clearly not armed robbers entering a bar to terrorize people, or else the business owners would be on your side. These people own bars. They see what can happen when people get drunk and they don't want an accident to happen. Even a well-intentioned, good person, with too much liquor in them and a pistol on their belt, could do a lot of damage.

Why not mandate metal detectors and or pat down searches at bar/ restaurant entrances? Sure, that'd be pretty intrusive, too, but it'd be a better idea than allowing folks to carry weapons inside.

[suec03]

When organizations book conventions, will anyone on the planning committees suggest that, for the safety of people attending the convention, they skip Arizona and book in a state that shows more regard to the safety of restaurant and tavern patrons?

[audadvnc]

Next RNC Convention to be held in Tombstone, AZ!

[Mark0]

Skip AZ and go to one of the other 38 states that have this same law???

I don't know. Have shootouts involving permit-holders at conventions been a problem in any of those states?

[joecoolconservative]

Don't like it, then do not carry a CCW. Your choice. As for me, I carry CCW everywhere I go, including bars, and have had zero problems.

[smchp]

bahahahahaha! Oh yea, your a real patriot!

[Jeff1958]

LOL

[denicci1977]

I'm sure Joecool sleeps nude every night wrapped tightly in his American flag too.

[joecoolconservative]

Yoy're right except forget the flag - I got me a hot momma to wrap myself around.

[faretheewell]

Me, I prefer to hang out in nicer places and have not yet found the lack of a concealed weapon to have been a detriment.

[awaitingmd]

please can someone make a list of all the states that have passed this bill. thank you.

[outofhere]

Tennessee in 2009.

[stylenease]

Actually this is great for the Minutemen. They can all slink inside a bar first, tie one on and then go out to the Border and shoot at some illegals! Sounds like a republican wet dream. Alcohold and Guns, all in one afternoon.

[Mark0]

.....Still can't dring and carry.

[KaLaPa111]

So I can carry a gun into an establishment where liquor is served, but I could still go to jail if I get caught with a small amount of weed in my pocket. Yea, that's definitely fair.