New concealed weapon law is misunderstood


Published on Sunday, October 18, 2009 10:21 AM MST

Dear Editor:

We have a few new laws that are going into effect at the end of this month. One law is misunderstood.

It is the one allowing firearms into establishments that serve alcoholic beverages. This allows concealed carry permit holders only to bring a weapon into a business that serves food and alcohol. The person legally carrying the weapon is not allowed to drink an alcoholic beverage.

I do not drink alcohol. Nevertheless, I do like to eat at places such as Denny's and sports bars that do serve alcohol, to watch athletic games and events. What is wrong with my bringing my concealed handgun into a place that serves alcohol?

It is the person who does not have the training to handle a firearm and does not have a permit to carry a weapon who is a problem. These folks who are carrying weapons of all sorts into these places and do not obey rules, regulations or laws are the people you have to worry about, not me. I am the one who is going to stop the crazed gunman who walks into a public place with a semiautomatic rifle or handgun and for some unknown, insane reason starts killing and maiming innocent folks. It has happened in schools, churches, restaurants and other diverse places.

I hope, if I am in a public place and a lunatic starts shooting folks, that there are others like me who will jump up and stop the killing. Please do not fear my fellow C.C.W. permit holders or me. Many of us have been in the military service or in city, county or state government, where we have had to carry and use weapons.

Thomas L. Hart Jr.

Safford

Comments

17 comment(s)

    hey bwana wrote on Nov 2, 2009 7:59 PM:

    " you know bwana if your getting frustrated at the personal attacks then maybe you should resend your throne I see you as nothing more than a insecure female "

    bwana wrote on Nov 1, 2009 3:33 PM:

    " Yeehaw Stevo!
    Git yer gun son....Them dammed county liberals is stealing from Lorren Behmlander! Y'all circle the wagons and to heck with the lawyers! "

    stevo wrote on Oct 30, 2009 11:18 AM:

    " if guns are outlawed then only outlaws will have them. I dont remember which country it is but they made every person take shooting courses and every body has access to guns and there crime rate is very low. If an outlaw has a gun and the guns are outlawed I am not waiting for the cops to shoot back. the courts be dammed "

    DMiller wrote on Oct 28, 2009 2:33 AM:

    " For those who think like Alex, here... Perhaps the shoe should be on the other foot. Let's have all gun control zealots wear an armband or some sort of visible identification. That way if they are being robbed, raped, stabbed or shot at those CCW holders won't offend their sensibilities by trying to save them. Sounds reasonable to me... "

    Russ wrote on Oct 22, 2009 4:09 PM:

    " By posting your "alleged" abilities online for all to see, you do indeed sound like that which you rail against. Be that as it may, concealed weapons are brought into bars, restaurants, churchs, schools, Freeport and just about anywhere else on a daily basis as it is. Lets just hope those that are good with their knives and their hands realize that they may find themselves facing someone who is better with the gun. Let cooler heads prevail. "

    Russ wrote on Oct 22, 2009 1:20 PM:

    " LOL "

    bwana wrote on Oct 22, 2009 10:50 AM:

    " Oldschool...
    Don't take my word for it, read one of the personal self defense books written by Massad Ayoob if you don't believe me.

    Don't be a hero on my account, I can handle myself and anyone else that gets violent towards me or my family. Guns, knives, bare hands, I have trained in all that...Just because I don't talk about it like a macho poser, doesn't mean that I'm soft. "

    OldSchool wrote on Oct 21, 2009 11:43 PM:

    " Bwana, seriously. Relax. You're gonna die of an aneurism before your time.

    There's plenty of humor to be found in the world around you. Even with those darn right-wing nut jobs like me that enjoy guns and appreciate the ability to shoot back when a crack head decides to bust a cap. Hopefully some crazy redneck with a concealed weapons permit can keep you from being a statistic someday. "

    eneaz wrote on Oct 21, 2009 2:48 PM:

    " Old School is right. Everybody should be required to take firearms safety courses. And it should be paid for with taxpayers dollars. At least that money would be well spent. Armed robbery would practically cease to exist. "

    bwana wrote on Oct 21, 2009 8:43 AM:

    " If you carry a gun and are prepared to use it, be sure you have enough money in the bank to defend yourself in a court of law. "

    OldSchool wrote on Oct 21, 2009 2:53 AM:

    " I wouldn't be so sure, Bwana. The way rules and legislation are misconstrued these days, if you found yourself the right lawyer of the Johnny Cochran (if the gun's legit, you must acquit!) type, you could probably figure out a way to get your heroic act of saving a room full of people by carrying a concealed weapon to fall under the same coverage as the Good Samaritan law.

    I.e., that law maintains that if you injure someone while performing CPR, the state will protect you from prosecution.

    CPR...protecting unarmed citizens... where's the difference? "

    bwana wrote on Oct 20, 2009 4:24 PM:

    " Forget the heroics Tommy. They way things are now, anyone you save will probably sue you for putting them in danger. If you do shoot some person, you can expect to be charged with murder and then you'll have to come up with tons of money for legal defense. Why do you think the NRA has a legal defense fund for it's members? Even if you did save the day, you're not going to be hailed as a hero, you'll be crucified as a wannabe Rambo type. "

    owlafaye wrote on Oct 19, 2009 7:13 PM:

    " Well, SilenceDoGood...thank goodness you and your ilk are a very small part of our population. Never having read much about duels or concealed carry doesn't qualify you to comment....but you did and we are aware of the whack heads out there...thanks for the heads up. "

    AKA Dora wrote on Oct 19, 2009 12:16 PM:

    " It's about the numbers. Less than 1 out of a 100 shootings are carried out by a registered individual. As long as that number is less than 50/50, I'l take my chances with letting them carry! "

    Alex wrote on Oct 19, 2009 7:03 AM:

    " Do concealed handgun license holders have to declare they are carrying a weapon when they enter a place that serves alcohol? Are all patrons going to be searched for concealed weapons? Will people carrying concealed weapons be required to wear a wrist band or badge so the bartender or wait staff know not to serve them alcohol? The answer to all these questions should be yes.

    I hope smoking is not allowed because that would be dangerous. "

    OldSchool wrote on Oct 19, 2009 3:40 AM:

    " Can we just require all registered voters to take a firearms safety class with an option of obtaining a ccw license? If the populus is trained to be responsible and efficient gun handlers, the number of attempted bank robberies, random shootings, and other crimes will go down.

    Criminals prefer unarmed victims.

    If a burglar suspects you might have a gun and intend to shoot back, he'll probably think twice. Robbing people isn't as fun when you're getting shot at. "

    Silence Dogood wrote on Oct 18, 2009 2:11 PM:

    " What a crazy world. We have here an individual who appears to be dreaming of the opportunity to save someone's life, play policeman, come to the rescue and shoot the bad guys, in a bar, full of people drinking. I can't think of a crazier scenario for some well minded yo yo to pull out a gun and start firing at someone in a crowded room. Mr. Hart's plea for acceptance of concealed firearms in a bar almost makes me yearn for the old days, 200 years ago, when gentlemen settled their quarrels with a duel, controlled for public safety. "

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