Having represented the Virginia Hospitailty and Travel Association-VHTA on this issue and spoken to Virginia House and Senate committees year after year on this subject I would like to clear up a few misconceptions regarding the proposed repeal of concealed weapons ban in places that offer and serve alcohol.
This ban keeps those carrying concealed weapons from entering a restaurant or bar. This is at the request of a majority of restaurant and bar operators, managers and staff and patrons. This is not a 2nd amendment issue. This is about bringing guns into a drinking environment.
The propnents of this year’s bill point to the provision which says that people who carry concealed weapons into places where alcohol is served are not allowed to drink.
But who would know?
I have had multiple incidents where concealed weapons were brought into my establishments and because of the abuse of a controlled substance we have had these weapons displayed, left in rest rooms unintentionally, or removed from patrons who carry and choose to drink. These infractions have included law enforcement officers, even one FBI Agent who consumed 8 pints of beer in less then one hour.
This ban is designed to say : If you have a weapon and you choose to drink, leave it in your car or at home. A dance club is no place for weapon nor is a neighborhood watering hole. Even in the old west you checked your weapon at the door. Del. Lee Ware from Powhatan carried this bill in the House multiple times and each year it has been killed. Its the ban on abusing common sense .
Finally, the fact remains that most operators do not want concealed weapons in their operations and as those liable for what goes on in their ABC establishment then they should continue to be protected by this common sense ban on “drinking and carrying.”
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