Area gun owner defends bill to carry guns in bars
By Kareem Elgazzar, Staff Writer
For the approximately 250,000 licensed concealed carry gun-holders in Ohio, the pending House Bill 45 provides them with more options of where to spend their money, one proponent of the legislation said.
Joe Eaton, the Southwest Ohio regional chair of the Buckeye Firearms Association, said the main sentiment behind the bill is to allow for more choice.
“Everyone will agree that guns and alcohol don’t mix, but the fact they don’t mix is a nonstarter because the bill does not allow that at all,” Eaton said.
House Bill 45 would allow citizens with concealed carry permits to legally take their guns into bars or restaurants that serve alcohol but they cannot consume it. Current law prohibits a person from possessing a firearm in any room of an establishment that has been issued a D liquor permit, according to the Ohio Legislative Commission Service.
D liquor permits apply to “community entertainment” establishments, such as retail carryouts, bars, restaurants and enclosed shopping malls, according to the legislative commission service.
“There are more than 40 states that have similar laws,” said Eaton, who has had a conceal carry weapon license since 2004. “I don’t know why Ohio citizens are thought to be any different than other citizens in other states.”
Eaton said it’s up to the CCW holder to obey the law, comparing it to how people obey drunken driving laws.
Private businesses still will retain the right to post signs declaring their properties off limits to guns as they do under current law, Eaton said.
But the Ohio Restaurant Association says there is nothing wrong with current law.
“Our board opposed the legislation because the laws that are in place don’t seem to be broken,” said spokesman Jarrod Clabaugh.
Last year was the first year issuance of CCW permits fell in Ohio over a five-year span, according to the state attorney general’s 2010 Concealed Carry Annual Report. In 2010, 47,337 permits were issued compared to 56,691 in 2009.
From a law enforcement perspective, allowing guns into bars and restaurants adds yet another hazardous element police have to be mindful of, said Middletown police Maj. David VanArsdale.
“When you mix weapons and alcohol, that is never a good thing,” VanArsdale said. “When you can possibly face an armed individual in a situation, it’s always alarming.”
http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/area-gun-owner-defends-bill-to-carry-guns-in-bars-1163467.html
Updated 10:03 PM Wednesday, May 18, 2011
For the approximately 250,000 licensed concealed carry gun-holders in Ohio, the pending House Bill 45 provides them with more options of where to spend their money, one proponent of the legislation said.
Joe Eaton, the Southwest Ohio regional chair of the Buckeye Firearms Association, said the main sentiment behind the bill is to allow for more choice.
“Everyone will agree that guns and alcohol don’t mix, but the fact they don’t mix is a nonstarter because the bill does not allow that at all,” Eaton said.
House Bill 45 would allow citizens with concealed carry permits to legally take their guns into bars or restaurants that serve alcohol but they cannot consume it. Current law prohibits a person from possessing a firearm in any room of an establishment that has been issued a D liquor permit, according to the Ohio Legislative Commission Service.
D liquor permits apply to “community entertainment” establishments, such as retail carryouts, bars, restaurants and enclosed shopping malls, according to the legislative commission service.
“There are more than 40 states that have similar laws,” said Eaton, who has had a conceal carry weapon license since 2004. “I don’t know why Ohio citizens are thought to be any different than other citizens in other states.”
Eaton said it’s up to the CCW holder to obey the law, comparing it to how people obey drunken driving laws.
Private businesses still will retain the right to post signs declaring their properties off limits to guns as they do under current law, Eaton said.
But the Ohio Restaurant Association says there is nothing wrong with current law.
“Our board opposed the legislation because the laws that are in place don’t seem to be broken,” said spokesman Jarrod Clabaugh.
Last year was the first year issuance of CCW permits fell in Ohio over a five-year span, according to the state attorney general’s 2010 Concealed Carry Annual Report. In 2010, 47,337 permits were issued compared to 56,691 in 2009.
From a law enforcement perspective, allowing guns into bars and restaurants adds yet another hazardous element police have to be mindful of, said Middletown police Maj. David VanArsdale.
“When you mix weapons and alcohol, that is never a good thing,” VanArsdale said. “When you can possibly face an armed individual in a situation, it’s always alarming.”
http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/area-gun-owner-defends-bill-to-carry-guns-in-bars-1163467.html
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