Fightin' and Dancin' and Drinkin'

I found this article to be of interest as it relates to several topics which have been covered here - guns in bars and other places which provide alcohol being one.  But also the nature of violent impulses and the triggers for those impulse for another.

I would point out that the worst of these instances of social aggression end in violence, often lethal violence, including gun violence, not just swinging fists.

I also would point out the existence of some interesting 'specialty' publications, in this case 'Drug and Alcohol Review'.  All part of our efforts here to inform, educate and entertain our growing readership.

From MSNBC.com

Fight club: Most bar brawls begin on the dance floor

featurepics.com

If you're the dance floor of a crowded bar - watch out for fisticuffs, says a new study.

By Cari Nierenberg
If you shake your booty on the dance floor of a crowded bar, you could be in for a world of hurt. And your lousy dance moves are not to blame.
A recent study shows that the dance floor is the most likely place for fights to break out inside a large drinking establishment. The findings suggest that roughly 20 percent of the most harmful incidents took place on the floor itself; another 13 percent of them occurred near it.
The research, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review, looked at "hotspots" for aggression in bars and clubs.
In the study, researchers made more than 1,300 visits to 118 bars and clubs in Toronto over a two-year period. They went to bars that could hold more than 300 people, and they went on Fridays and Saturdays between midnight and 3 a.m.
Researchers observed the customers for aggressive behaviors, and they rated them on a scale of 1 (minor non-physical harm) to 5 (actions causing pain, including punching and kicking). They even gauged how intoxicated the customers seemed that night.
They found that the dance floor was the top spot for aggressive behavior. "There's a lot of sexual aggression and aggressive horseplay on the dance floor in late night, large-capacity bars and night clubs," says study author Kathryn Graham, a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.

Sometimes it was just sheer numbers -- the dance floor was the most crowded place on the premises and this sparked more incidents. And partly it was because that's where the most rowdiness between dancers and even bystanders took place.
But Graham was a little surprised that the area at or near the serving bar was the second most common location for bad behavior. She figures this was mainly a traffic and congestion issue.
Tempers there could also flare between patrons and staff over drink service. And when hot heads get hammered, it can get ugly.
"I suspect that a lot of the aggression near the serving bar was in the form of male-to-male violence where egos are on the line when people get bumped," says Graham.
Then again, "It may also be that this is a good place to hang around if you're looking for trouble," she adds.
While the dance floor was the #1 hotspot for aggressive behavior and the space near the serving bar was second, the tables came in third. This was followed by the hallways, aisles, and stairs in fourth, the entrance was fifth, and the pool tables were sixth.
Although only 4 percent of incidents took place at pool tables, the area had a high rate of barroom brawls likely brought on by people's competitive juices mixing with alcohol.
So, when you head out for a night on the town, now you'll know the high-risk locations at your favorite watering hole. And feel free to pass along this research to the bar staff so they'll keep things from getting out of hand in these potential trouble spots.
The worst fights? They took place outside the bar, of course.

More Gun Violence, in Georgia

From MSNBC.com, the Augusta Chronicle, and the AP:

Officials: Soldier kills deputy, then self in Ga.

The soldier appeared to be drunk and had been firing at passing cars

updated 10/23/2011 12:18:02 PM ET 2011-10-23T16:18:02

AUGUSTA, Ga. — A National Guardsman who appeared to be drunk and had been firing at passing cars shot and killed a sheriff's deputy, then committed suicide alongside a Georgia road, authorities said Sunday.

Evidence shows Christopher Michael Hodges, 26, fired 35 rounds from his M4 semiautomatic rifle, said Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength. The Augusta Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/pxah3v) that Hodges and 47-year-old Deputy James D. Paugh were found dead on the side of Bobby Jones Expressway after 1 a.m. Sunday.

Hodges was based with the Tennessee National Guard but was on temporary duty at Fort Gordon in eastern Georgia for training, said Buz Yarnell, a spokesman for the military post. Yarnell said he was not aware of any problems with Hodges before the shooting, and he would not say if Hodges had previously been deployed overseas.

Strength said Paugh was off duty and on his way home when he saw a suspicious car on the side of the road. He was shot several times when he stopped to check on the car and apparently fired two shots from his service weapon before he was killed.

"He was just checking that car. He pulled over his motorcycle and didn't even get to put the kickstand down before the suspect began firing on him," the sheriff said.

Authorities said Hodges had been having some sort of dispute with his girlfriend, though it does not appear Paugh knew about that.

Information from: The Augusta Chronicle , http://www.augustachronicle.com

Is there any doubt that alcohol and firearms are a bad combination?  Is there any doubt that while there would still have undeniably been problems and conflict, that not having a firearm would have made this a better situation?

Marko Kloos on Responsible Home Defense

This is becoming quite common, rabid gun owners who claim to be ever-vigilant in the family protecting business, who often share tips on weaponry and tactical advice necessary to ward off that imminent home invasion by a marauding band of ex-con rapists, who share recipes for cool drinks.

I say again, there's no place for drinking gin, or a half-dozen beers for that matter, in the life of the responsible gun owner. Either stop pushing the drinks or stop telling us how responsible you are.  Or keep doing both, it's a free country.

In The Famous 10%, I accounted for this type of behaviour but I'm afraid I was too conservative in my estimates.

Alcoholics and drug addicts. 3%

It is estimated that 8.5% of the population is alcoholic. What percentage do you suppose has problems with other substances, anything from prescription medication to illicit drugs, another 10%?. Let's say 5%. That's 13.5% of our population at large and consequently of the 80 million gun owners. In all fairness, most of them, although I don't personally feel comfortable with their having weapons, won't cause any problems. But what of the worst 3%, say? These are the guys who become anti-social when they drink or party with drugs. You know the type. 3%.

"Problem drinker" might be a more acceptable way to describe these folks. It certainly works better for me since I believe very strongly that guns and alcohol don't mix, and you don't have to be an alcoholic to violate that.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Spokane Police Shoot CCW Permit Holder

The armed man was a former marine with a concealed carry permit.  This one covers several of our favorite themes, don't you think?

Please leave a comment.