Drinking Alcoholic Beverages While Armed.

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jimmyraythomason said:
All I have to say on this subject is. If you are armed and have been or are drinking alcohol,I don't care how much or how little. STAY AWAY from me,my family,my house or any where on my property.
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Duly noted. I'm not planning to visit Alabama anyway.
 
This is going all over the place...like the guy who chooses to drink and then drive.
5 words for ya....."Guns and alcohol don't mix"
 
Well I'm 53 and I learned a bit about me and alcohol 4 years ago. I bought a 98 corvette several years back. What I learned pertains to guns and fast cars, I think, 1 drink and I'm evil koneville (give up on spell check) if you get nuts with a car That's one thing, a gun, well thats another. THEY JUST DON'T MIX!!!!!!! Don't do it, I would hate to shoot a drunk! Hell, he would not even remember why in the morning....
 
Nonsense propagated by MADD and AA.
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Tell that to my wife. ;)

Regardless...Just because you can do something, it does not necessarily mean its wise to do so. This, of course, pertains to quite a few things in life besides the whole alcohol/gun issue.
 
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Some of you guys should probably stay away from the kitchen butter knives after a pop or two of whiskey if you are that hopeless that a couple drinks will turn you into a drooling vegetable that is likely to shoot yourself. Good grief, some of you sound like the liberals from MADD or PETA.
 
I agree but using the key while intoxicated is against the law and every one is ok with that, but using a gun while intoxicated now some folks devide on that........I still do not understand.
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We're not discussing using a gun while intoxicated. We're discussing carrying a gun while drinking responsibly. IMO, there's a world of difference.
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Exactly, you are very VERY rarely authorized to USE your gun in public, drunk or sober. If you are called upon to USE your gun in a situation where doing so in public is justified, then that need trumps the social and legal strictures against discharging a weapon in public and or in city limits. It also trumps your desire not to have to use your gun while drinking. Neither of those things would be o.k., unless you HAVE to use your gun -- RIGHT NOW!

And to be able to USE your gun (right NOW), you need to HAVE your gun with you.

-Sam
 
Some of you guys should probably stay away from the kitchen butter knives after a pop or two of whiskey if you are that hopeless that a couple drinks will turn you into a drooling vegetable that is likely to shoot yourself. Good grief, some of you sound like the liberals from MADD or PETA.
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Im not an extremest for one side or the other (but I am a staunch supporter of PETA). :) But, I will say that I believe you may be missing the point here.
 
Quote by unloved:
"Nonsense propagated by MADD and AA."


I don't know...I served with a bunch of men in the military over the years that demonstrated a loss of control after anywhere from 1 -? drinks...I also observed over those years that the "need" and intense "longing" for alcohol is
generally driven by deeper seated issues...both in the "casual" drinker, and the "lush"...All of which give greater credence to the fact that these people don't need to be carrying firearms while in public, pursuing this quest of theirs.
 
trbon8r said:
Some of you guys should probably stay away from the kitchen butter knives after a pop or two of whiskey if you are that hopeless that a couple drinks will turn you into a drooling vegetable that is likely to shoot yourself.
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Wonderful!

A question for everyone that's saying "Don't do it!" When you go out for a steak, do you say to your waiter, "No steak knife for me, thanks. I've had a beer and I'm going to have two more. I might kill someone for no reason whatsoever if I have a steak knife within reach."?
 
People build up a tolerance to any drug. I can vouch from personal experience. I was so stupid drunk at a biker bar a number of years ago, the guys I was riding with had haul me out. My total consumption was 3 beers. The reason is I had stopped drinking for 40 years. It didn't take much. OTOH the vast majority of the people I rode with drank all day and most of the night, and did it all the time. Apparently they could handle it.
I stay away from it, but I don't condemn anyone who does. If they're armed and I know it. I walk the other way.
 
Im not an extremest for one side or the other. But, I will say that I believe you may be missing the point here.
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What is the point if we aren't talking about a drink or two potentially turning an otherwise safe and responsible firearms owner into a public menace?
 
If you resolve absolutely not to use your gun while under the influence, it might be considered no different from carrying car keys while under the influence. However, I suspect this is a much more difficult resolution for most of us, as in the back of our minds, we must acknowledge that there are legitimate uses for the gun even under the influence. Carrying a gun almost always carries with it an implied intent to use it, should it be necessary. Otherwise, why are you carrying a gun? Weight training?

If we do not accept this, it is possible that we may be forced to make a decision to use or withhold lethal force suddenly. This is where mistakes may be made.
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I think we're FINALLY on the same page! There are certain legitimate needs for USING a gun, even while under the influence. They all involve the immediate threat of violent death of ourselves or our loved ones. We MUST accept this.

As RS14 says, we may be forced to use or withhold lethal force suddenly. In instances where such uses are justified, if we HAVE our guns, we must make a choice to use or withhold lethal force.

If the law has said we may not HAVE our guns, we're probably going to die.

Chilling.

-Sam
 
Having an unloaded firearm in your possession while intoxicated is a misdemeanor.

Having an loaded firearm in your possession while intoxicated is a felony.

Don't do it.
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Note to self...don't visit MO... ;)


If the law says that where you live, work to change it. It is a "malum prohibidum" law (i.e.: against the law only because the law says so) which seeks to brand you a felon when you've neither threatened nor committed harm to anyone.

-Sam
 
A question for everyone that's saying "Don't do it!" When you go out for a steak, do you say to your waiter, "No steak knife for me, thanks. I've had a beer and I'm going to have two more. I might kill someone for no reason whatsoever if I have a steak knife within reach."?
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Again...missing the point. Its not that alcohol + guns will result in certain injury or death. Rather its about trying to do whatever is necessary to maintain top focus while armed. Besides, it just looks bad.

Regardless, if maintaining "top focus" involves having a few beers, then good for you guys. Go for it.

Keep in mind, I love alcohol as much as anyone posting tonight...TRUST ME. In fact, Im enjoying a brew right now. Still, certain things I choose not to mix.

BTW- Im fairly certain that a loaded weapon is far more complex than a knife, bat or any household item (well, maybe not a VCR ;)).

Just because you (or anyone else) can't do something, it does not necessarily mean it's unwise for me to do so.
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Well, outside of the legalities, its not that I CANT do it (and get away with it), its that I simply WONT....because I consider it unwise.

Let me ask you this. What possible wisdom is demonstrated by drinking while being armed? What possible good can come from it? If you cannot cite one reason/example, well, any legal/governmental issues aside for a moment, why bother arguing your point?

Regardless, enjoy your beer, wine, whiskey (or whatever) and enjoy your guns. This debate has grown tiresome.
 
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This is going all over the place...
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Not really. This discussion has been very focused. I've seen few that stayed on topic so well.

5 words for ya....."Guns and alcohol don't mix"
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If your philosophy on an issue can be boiled down to fit on a bumpersticker, it's probably indicative of an incomplete grasp of the subject.

IMHO.

-Sam
 
All of which give greater credence to the fact that these people don't need to be carrying firearms while in public, pursuing this quest of theirs.
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Perhaps they don't. Everyone has their own demons.

But, if you pass a law to keep some guys from carrying while drinking because of what you're afraid they might do (see rbernie's comment on prior restraint), your law now places an unreasonable restriction on MY ability to defend my life while I'm creating a risk for no one.

Why should that be acceptable to me (or you)?

-Sam
 
in real life if you have to make a decision involving firearms there are no do overs. you get to make a decision in a fraction of a second that has real consequences. even stone sober its easy enough to get it wrong. now some folk are so high speed low drag they can give up a lil edge and still get it right. i'm not as slick as them. i need every edge i can
 
I don't see any problems with a couple drinks (assuming that you can handle it), but how does one enforce such a law. Do we post a officer with a breath analyzer at the exit of every bar (and make it the legal driving limit), or go by behavior and harass all of the patrons (field sobriety test), or what? It seems to me to be a logistical nightmare.

:)
 
Again...missing the point. Its not that alcohol + guns will result in certain maiming or death. Rather its about trying to do whatever is necessary to maintain top focus while armed.
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I can't say that it helps (or hurts) me to maintain "TOP FOCUS" but life, in general, doesn't allow you to maintain a 100% edge at all times. Having a drink while relaxing is part of my life (well, sometimes). I do not accept that I am only authorized to defend my life while I'm operating at 100%. That's an unreasonable requirement for anyone.

Besides, it just looks bad.
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How does my usually concealed weapon LOOK bad? If I don't have to use it, it is NOT for public view. If I DO have to use it, I don't care two poots HOW my decision to carry "looks" as long as it's justified.

Summation, if I DON'T have to shoot, this is a non-issue. If I DO have to shoot, I'll be DARNED glad I had it, looks be d@mned!

Still, certain things I choose not to mix.
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And that's GREAT! In fact, if I was in a secure place and wanted to really unwind by getting RIPPED (hey, it has happened a couple of times) I'd put my guns away, too. As a personal choice it's a stellar idea. As legislation, not so!

-Sam
 
Telling me that I'm likely to be a danger because I have a drink is like telling me that I'm likely to shoot up a kindergarten because I have a gun. We, of all folk, should be above that sort of logical fallacy.
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Can you describe for me the physiological process whereby possession of a firearm impairs motor function, judgment, cognition, etc. in a fashion similar to drugs and and alcohol?
 
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