New Mexico Senate OKs concealed handguns in some restaurants

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

New Mexico Senate OKs concealed handguns in some restaurants
Posted: Feb 12, 2010 07:31 PM CST
Updated: Feb 12, 2010 07:31 PM CST

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - People licensed for concealed handguns could take their weapons into restaurants serving beer and wine under legislation approved by the Senate.

Under the legislation, it will remain illegal for individuals to take their concealed weapons into a bar or a restaurant with a full liquor license.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. George Munoz, a Gallup Democrat, said the proposed change in law could help reduce crime because people have handguns stolen when they leave them in a vehicle to go into a restaurant.

Opponents said it's bad policy to allow concealed handguns in places serving alcohol.




Read more: http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=11979773&nav=AbC0

[gateley]

1. " in some restaurants" Just the ones with really crappy food? nt

[Chipper Chat]

2. So I won't be surprised when a KFC server is shot dead

because she gave a customer stale chicken from the steamtable instead of the fresh batch that just came out of the grease.

[MrModerate]

3. Apparently, that would already be "legal" because KFC doesn't . . .

serve alcohol at all. (Unless they do in New Mexico. I was there a few weeks ago but didn't actually go into a KFC.)

[Guilded Lilly]

4. There is NO earthly reason

to be able to carry concealed weapons into restaurants, any kind of drink, bad food, bad service or not! (semi snork)

Seriously, though, NONE.
NONE.

[naaman fletcher]

8. The same reason that there is to carry one anywhere.. personal protection. /nt

[aquart]

19. Are you frequently attacked while dining?

On average, how often would you say it happens?

[cowman]

23. Thats

probably what the people at Lubys in tx thought. How well did that work out for them. I have gone through all the procedures to carry concealed so the only danger my gun is to the criminals. Despite all the shrillness from the anti-2nd amend crowd, there haven't been shootouts in the streets because of concealed carry laws

[Aristus]

27. In the streets? No. Why hold deadly shoot-outs in the street when you can have them

in universities, high schools, post offices, places of employment, military bases, coffee shops and restaurants?... :eyes:

Gee, Ah'm so glad we gots alla these here guns all 'round! They make me feel so perteckted!... :mad::grr::mad::grr::mad:

[cowman]

28. It's a good

thing you live in a country where you can freely express your opinion. I am happy that I live in a country where I can legally own and carry a gun.

[Aristus]

29. Unfortunately, we live in a country where the two get conflated, and people feel free

to express themselves with their guns. Or perhaps they are simply unable to express themselves in any other way.

Free speech and press are hallmarks of a civilized society. Ubiquitous firearms are symbols of a country resigned to living in fear...

[Abq_Sarah]

36. yeah, I hate it when concealed carry owners go on a rampage

And shoot up their universities and post offices.

Oh wait.... that's never happened.

[michreject]

44. You listed all gun free zones LOL

Thanks for playing.

[pipoman]

47. Every example you just gave are "gun free zones",

every one, this is your idea of safe? None of the shooters were concealed carry permit holders, but carry on with your feigned anger and erroneous ass-ertions .

[naaman fletcher]

26. I would say its as likely as anywhere else. /nt

[Judi Lynn]

30. I'd think most people would want to stay AWAY from restaurants where people might be carrying guns.

You wouldn't look for the food to be worth the effort of leaving home if the restaurants appeal to paranoid, wild-eyed, weapon-carrying, socially confused backwoods people.

http://bludomain.typepad.com.nyud.net:8090/photos/uncategorized/squat_n_gobble.jpg

http://www.fart-sounds.net.nyud.net:8090/Fart_Scene_Blazing_Saddles.jpg

[pipoman]

48. Well then, you better

lock yourself in your basement, because, "where people might be carrying guns", that pretty much covers EVERY FUCKING SQUARE INCH of the US. Unless of coarse, you only fear people legally carrying firearms, well then you do have 2 states where you may find cover..but then again, talk about paranoid..

[hack89]

59. James Huberty and George Hennard would disagree with you. nt

[Yavapai]

9. Don't need a fire extinguisher near a swim club, but it's nice

to have if there ever is a fire nearby...

Same with a gun, hope I never, ever need to have one, but
when seconds count, police are only minutes away.

[aquart]

20. I think swim clubs have fire extinguishers like every other place of business.

How many people have been killed by fire extinguishers?

[pipoman]

49. You can't be that dense?

The question would be, 'how many people have been killed by fire, in the absence of a fire extinguisher?'.

[Airman Dan]

39. But a reason isn't required.

Thing is, whether there's a reason or not, an argument we'll avoid at this time, the notion of a free society means that the government must have a reason to prohibit, rather than a reason to permit.

[beevul]

62. Yes there is.

Concealed carry firearms are much lighter to carry around than the average police officer.

:evilgrin:

[earcandle]

5. munoz has shit for brains? or he is betting on starting that proposed civil war this way? Who knows

[Aristus]

6. "Aristus doesn't okay future visits to New Mexico. Will try someplace else."

That is all...

[pipoman]

50. LOL>>LOL>>LOL

You do realize that Washington state, your state, already has a law almost Exactly like this, no? :rofl: Now what'cha gonna do? Move to Chicago, that bastion of gun free safety? :spray:

[winyanstaz]

7. Every single home in Switzerland HAS to have a gun.

Thats the law.
Every citizen MUST learn the proper use of a gun too.
And guess what? Switzerland has the LOWEST CRIME RATE ON THE PLANET.
I think that says it all.

[depakid]

10. LOL - if you're trying to perpetuate the stereotype of the dumb American

who's never been out of the states- much less to Switzerland, you've succeeded.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Lowest crime rate in the world? More like 3rd.

Every citizen must learn the proper use of a gun? I doubt it.

They do require men between the ages of 21 and 32 to serve. They are given an assault rifle which they are required to keep at home.

Best I could find on ownership of firearms was about 30%. 2 million out of 6 million. That leaves up to 70% without firearms.

[onehandle]

14. Wayne LaPierre? That you? nt

[FailureToCommunicate]

15. We can guess where you get your "facts." Of course domestic violence and suicide

with those same guns is a huge problem there.

[DissedByBush]

16. Most of those are suicides

Looking at Japan, with almost no guns and a sky-high suicide rate, guns obviously do not influence the suicide rate.

Crimes committed with the military weapons are fairly rare. Most gun crimes are committed with illegal weapons.

There are more murders and assaults resulting in injury by blade in Switzerland than by firearm, so let's ban knives!

Yes, I've been outside of America, 12 countries to be exact, for a period of 14 years.

[winyanstaz]

17. That is simply not true...

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Switzerland/Crime-rate-in-Switzerland/221

These rates are so much lower than ours..it isnt funny...

http://www.nationmaster.com/red/country/sz-switzerland/cri-crime&all=1

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1566715.stm

[Warren Stupidity]

32. No that is not the law.

The law is that every active and reserve member of the militia is required to keep his military weapon. Generally that is all males 20-30. After that requirement ends, weapon possession is voluntary, and the military class weapons are reworked to semi-auto if they are kept by the individual.

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

53. you don't really understand the difference between correllation

and causation, do ya, Bunky? Back to community college with you....

[lib_n_proud7650]

11. Bad idea IMO

[Blandocyte]

13. what a maroon

More guns=more gun crimes. Certainly the recent shooting in Utah by the CCW permit holder made people who had a few neurons to rub together think about how safe it is to let the other maroons carry guns around?

[pipoman]

51. You do realize that is simply not true?

More guns=more gun crimes

Let's see your stats...oh wait, you can't 'cause there ain't none..The truth is that violent crime in the US, including gun crime, is at 30 year lows according to the CDC and the FBI crime reports (links available upon request), yet every day there are more guns than the day before...there have NEVER in the history of the US been more guns than there are today, so your entire comment is based on a false premise, huh?

[X_Digger]

57. Except in the US, more guns != more crime..

FBI Uniform Crime Reports:
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm

Annual numbers of NICS background checks usually executed as part of a firearm purchase:
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/nics/nics_checks_total.pdf

[old mark]

18. Good. I have had a license to carry a firearm for over 15 years, and I carry

everywhere.

I'm happy to see that Sen. Munoz is a Democrat. We have to get our party away from this idiotic anti gun policy.


mark

[Libertas1776]

21. Great now every tom, dick, and dirty harry can bring a gun into a restaurant?

I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk? ...Now bring that damn twice baked potato I asked for!

[slackmaster]

34. No

Only people with concealed weapons permits.

http://www.dps.nm.org/lawEnforcement/ccw/index.php

[WindRiverMan]

22. Who Cares!!!!!

I had a concealed carry permit once, because of an area of town I had to live (could not afford otherwise), I have since let it lapse. Let me say this, getting a CCW permit is generally not easy. You have to take a course, get a fairly extensive background check, and then go down to your local sherriff to get the fingerprints. The bottom line is that most of the people who actually go through the process are pretty decent, responsible, people. In all honesty, I am much less concerned about the guy with a CCW carrying a firearm than I am with the criminal who did not get a CCW carrying a sidearm. Responsible and respectful people carrying guns generally do not scare me, druggie addicted thugs carrying guns do. Of course, there can always be an exceptions, but you cannot legistlate us into safety. If someone is hell bet for leather to kill a bunch of people, they are going to find a way, be it a gun or a U-haul full of fertilizer.

[420inTN]

24. TN recently made it legal to carry concealed in bars

under the following restrictions:

1) Said property allows the carrying of concealed weapons (most bars now have the "No Firearms Allowed" signs posted on their doors).
2) Said carrier does not consume any alcohol.

It is still illegal to consume alcohol while carrying concealed.

[michreject]

46. It was over turned by a Judge

It's on appeal.

[420inTN]

55. Wow. Totally missed that over the holidays..

Thanks for the info.

[Pavulon]

25. Seems reasonable to me.

have no reason to believe this would be a problem.

[Warren Stupidity]

31. What about the property rights of restaurant owners?

Concealed Carry laws are just stupid, in my opinion, but if the Land of the Stupid really wants to allow people to walk around in public with concealed weapons, in a personal arms race that ends up with everyone armed to the teeth and with all confrontations tending toward lethal, so be it. But if I own a restaurant and I choose to have a NO FUCKING GUNS IN MY RESTAURANT policy, then why is that a violation of anyone's rights?

[slackmaster]

33. No

You would be perfectly within your rights as a restaurant owner to not allow concealed firearms in your restaurant.

[Abq_Sarah]

37. Private property owners

And that includes all businesses have every right to prohibit firearms. Just post a sign near the door and CCW holders who are carrying won't enter.

[pipoman]

52. ...but actual criminals who do intend to commit crimes will be

undeterred...in fact they may even be emboldened, knowing nobody will be legally carrying.

[Abq_Sarah]

56. That's a risk the owner is going to have to take

[pipoman]

58. I agree, we have the same restriction here and it is as it should be..

[nightrain]

35. dumb. guns+ alcohol = increased harm

[Airman Dan]

40. Sure, if you're drinking with a gun. That's already illegal.

If, on the other hand, you want to enjoy a meal and a soft drink at an establishment that is serving others alcohol, that's fine and is unlikely to result in drunken shootouts.

[nightrain]

60. no thanks. concealed weapons and alcohol are a terrible combo.

[Alias Dictus Tyrant]

38. Meh, no big deal.

I've lived in states that allowed pretty much unrestricted concealed carry in places with alcohol and most anywhere else. Nothing every happened as a result even though there were definitely guns about.

Most people that can pass the background check for concealed carry are also responsible adults.

[Vinca]

41. Nothing like an inebriated, pissed off patron with a concealed weapon.

This country is fucking gun crazy.

[activa8tr]

43. Agreed. F*in gun crazy! n/t

[michreject]

42. Outstanding news

Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina need to follow suit.

[Gecko6400]

45. Are New Mexicans

more stupid and dangerous than the citizens of 33 other states that allow this?

Some folks here may want to check their own state's law. They may be in for a rude awakening.

[Tim01]

54. There is no rational reason to keep people from carrying their guns in restaurants.

The numbers show that there is not an increase in violence when law abiding people carry guns.

And making them leave their gun at home could be bad for the person who wants to carry.


People are afraid of guns, and the people who carry them, for no good reason.

Anybody who drives a car can kill people on accident or on purpose, at any time. A person driving car has the power to kill people.

[No Elephants]

64. That's a matter of opinion. A different opinion is that there is no rational reason to carry a gun.

Yes, someone driving a car can kill people. But that so seldom happens in the restuarants I frequent.

Not saying I can't be persuaded. Just saying you have given no good reaon why I should want to multiply the ways I can be killed while dining out.

[X_Digger]

61. Meh.. happens here in Texas..

In establishments that make less than 51% of their sales of alcohol for on-site consumption (read restaurants, not bars), I can and do carry my concealed weapon. I don't drink when carrying.

Since most CHL licensees are extremely law-abiding as a group (check http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/chl/convrates.htm for TX stats), this is no big deal to me. No 'blood in the streets' chicken little'ing seems to have come to pass in states that allow concealed carry licensees into restaurants that happen to serve alcohol.

[No Elephants]

63. With all due respect, who cares where you carry your concealed weapon have to do with anything?

If you were Albert Einstein, I might give your concealed weapon habits a presumption of rationality. But the habits of a an anonymous gun-toting poster who I don't even see around this forum all that often? Sorry, not so much.

Not saying your habits are rational or that your habits are rational. Just saying that stating what an anonymous poster's practices with aq deadly weapon are is not going to impress or persuade anyone of anything, one way or the other.

Conviction rates don't prove who is law abiding, either.

[X_Digger]

65. In the 33 states that allow 'restaurant carry'..

(though the criteria vary slightly among the states what constitutes 'restaurants') the crime stats for CHL holders don't significantly change. If there were a sudden upswing in drunken CHL holders committing crimes, don't you think the Brady Campaign would be trumpeting it from the rooftops?

No press reports of drunken CHL holders 'going off', no reports from the groups most likely to highlight such an occurrence, and no court records of arrests or convictions.

Seems straightforward to me. You can come up with all kinds of hypotheticals about why something is a bad idea, but when reality doesn't match the hypothetical, you can either throw it out, or not trust "my lying eyes."