I have always been of the opinion that alcohol and guns don't mix.
O.k. Personally, I feel that drinking to the point of impairment and handling/using any dangerous item is a bad idea. A blanket statement that they "don't mix" is too general. Many, MANY folks have a drink or two in the evenings every day without that changing their behavior or decision making process. Is it "malum in se" (wrong inherantly) for a person to have a drink with dinner and then go for a walk on their own property -- if they choose to have their holstered pistol on their belt while doing so?
If we can agree that it is not, then is it malum in se to for that person to go for a walk in their neighborhood -- all else being equal? Again, most would say, "no."
Is it wrong for a person to have a drink and then go out shooting .22s on his/her own property? Hmmm... probably not.
Is it wrong for that person to have a drink and then take the .45 to a public range? Weeelll...not sure... probably o.k. We're talking about an adult who is below the legal limit and feels/exhibits no intoxication.
Now this spectrum runs all the way up to someone who is drunk and recklessly firing their weapon in a public place. Obviously that is
WRONG.
But somewhere in between is a person who has had a few drinks and is armed, but is causing no trouble, threatening no one, not brandishing, having a good time, minding his/her own business. Why do we say it is o.k. to punish this person who has committed no offense besides that of violating the text of a law?
(Again, some places. Not here in PA.)
I think that guns should not be allowed in the bars. Restaurants however are another issue for me, that I don't have a problem with unless the person drinks one too many.
As decided by whom? You don't really mean that he/she should loose their rights because of the number of beers they'd consumed. You're using the phrase "had one too many" to mean "exhibited dangerous and/or violent behavior." BUT, "exhibiting dangerous or violent behavior" is already a crime. Alcohol might be a cause...so might depression, anger, psychopathy, or a host of other things.
If you let guns into a bar, there's a much higher chance of the situation turning into a stereotypical wild west saloon.
From what I've read of historical accounts, many towns in the western territories had some version of a "no guns" rule in town limits, or prohibitions against concealed carry, or sometimes the bars themselves "held" customers' guns until they were fully liquored up and ready to leave.
I doubt that being unarmed kept many folks alive who chose to enter into violent situations or areas then...just as disarming seems to keep few people alive now.
I don't believe it is neither safe nor appropriate to have guns in bars. If the bartender and bouncers want to carry, I'd be fine with that.
Woah there. The barkeep's life is more valuable than anyone elses? You do realize that barkeepers drink a bit while on the job, don't you? And you think a bouncer -- who is paid to BRAWL with people hand-to-hand several times a night -- should have a gun on him while he rolls around on the floor with an unruly patron, but you think Mr. and Mrs. Nice Guy sitting in their booth enjoying a drink should be disarmed? Now that is odd logic!
The usage or personal restraintment of gun usage is a personal issue heavily regulated by personal choices, thoughts and opinions. Alcohol however is a mind altering substance and I personally believe for the sake of safety it's best to keep the two separate.
Sure. But anger, sleep deficiency, fear, prescription medicines, pain, ecstasy, and lots of other things are too and we aren't fit judges of our fellow man to limit his/her access to self-defense tools while under those influences. Why choose for another person what his/her tolerances to alcohol are or what their responsibility level might be?
Personal responsibility is
personal. CRIME should be punished. Not folks engaged in legal activities.
Just my humble opinion.
-Sam
) and find themselves in a situation where they need to defend themselves, does their inebriation nullify their right to defend themselves?
