SheepDog - I don't remember saying that I was the only one in my family with a permit. I have heard and occasionally made the argument that things might have turned out differently if a permit holder had been on the scene during a crime. However, you need to be aware of the potential for collateral damage when a good samaritan decides to save everyone in the room. If the police can empty their magazine at a criminal that is 15 feet away and not seriously injure him (her), what do you think happens when the adrenalin starts pumping in a person that has never been involved in a gunfight? Is it easier to lose a loved one to friendly fire?

It will make people who are maybe a little hesitant to take guns in there and normally wouldn't not think a thing of it any more. And just because certain people are considered law abiding citizens, that doesn't mean some don't have a temper. i know some people who are very nice and normal sober, and the minute they start drinking liquor, something snaps and they have a completely different personality. It's kinda scarry and i wouldn't want that type of person with a gun. And what does serving food have to do with anything? Maybe that would be ok if it was like an applebees or something, but the bars i go to, people go there to drink. Theres no food there. The bartender should know so that if some one is trying to drink and is armed the bar tender can refuse them alcohol. And i'm not saying that people aren't ever going to break the law, but with a law like this, more people than before are going to try to get away with it, where before most people would just leave their guns at home or in the car before goin drinking

CRAP...I also meant "NEITHER of them would be allowed to drink". Man, I need a drink... LOL!

Ooops...typo. misspelled "would" :(

IloveVince; Your point about the bartenders NOT being allowed to drink STILL does not make him any more qualified (necessarily) than a licensed carrier (in terms of who is more qualified to possess a handgun in a bar). BOTH people wold have a gun and NEITHER of them would NOT be allowed to drink, but EITHER ONE of them could potentially break the law and do it anyway. I don't think either one is more qualified than the other. Peace

IloveVince; Also; Why does the bartender need to know?

IloveVice; There is NOTHING (short of metal detectors or frisking as you said) to stop anyone from carrying a gun in the bar (and really one of my points). People (like your dad) are already breaking the law REGARDLESS of this new legislation. I just don't think this particular law is going to make it any worse. What it WILL do is to allow law abiding citizens (who carry) to go into an establishment that serves alcohol and have a bite to eat, be a designated driver, etc. without being criminalized. What we are referring to as "bars" also includes restaurants that serve alcohol. Everyone seems to just assume that because the person enters a bar, they are going to drink. We don't know that. The new law does NOT say the person can be armed and drink. That is STILL illegal. For the people who would break the law and enter an establishment and drink while armed; they would likely have done that BEFORE the new law, so what's the point? What's the difference? There are PLENTY of law abiding citizens who would love to be able to get a bite to eat, meet a friend, etc., without becoming an accidental criminal in the process. Just my opinion. Peace

bartenders aren't typically allowed to drink behind the bar any way. I know a lot of them are. I was at my bar, but I don't think it's a good idea to begin with. It's hard to work when people keep buying the bartender a drink and soon your wasted and trying to do your job at the same time. if the owner had a no tolerance no drinking rule for the bartenders, I think it would be fine

peace2all-how will the bartender know if a customer is carrying or not? like i said before, are they going to frisk every one who walks in, or put up metal detectors at every bar? probably not. My dad has his permit to carry, but it's against the law to carry your gun almost every where, but that doesn't stop him. So,becides the law, whats really going to stop some one from walking into a bar with their gun and drink?

Im all for the right to carry.I have my license.But not if im drinking.Im sure there are very few people who go to bars and not drink.I think this is a bad idea.This will get a whole bar killed.