Sunday on Beale it was fun in the sun. Where the drinks flow and the where the food comes either dry or wet.
But this weekend visitors are noticing new signs on this famous street. Tourist Joe Bazan says, "It should be up to the business owner to decide which way they wana run with that."
On Beale, the signs say it all: “Firearms are Prohibited.”
This weekend was the first weekend security and regulations were in place to enforce a new mandate banning guns on Beale. Executive Director of the Beale Street Merchants Association Onzie Horne says the security checks were in place and each night went off without a hitch, "The crowds that came to the street were happy that we instituted these measures and they were patient with us as we learn the process."
Not everyone agrees with this.
Larry Tanner says, "I think if you have a permit to conceal carry that shouldn't be allowed I believe in the 2nd amendment the right to bear arms."
Supporting the restaurant carry law they say it should be up to the patron - not the business.
Tanner says, "Were carrying legally you think that's gonna stop folks that don't have a concealed carry anyway from bringing a gun on Beale I don't think so."
What's your opinion? Is there no gun owner honest enough to admit that some people who possess the concealed carry permit get themselves in trouble around alcohol? Is it so difficult to admit that these are the people the Beale Street Merchants are trying to safeguard against? It has nothing to do with the fact that criminals don't obey the law, as Mr. Tanner says. It has everything to do with the fact that some of the law-abiding gun owners are dangerous - "some" not "most" and certainly not "all."
What do you think? The Beale Street Merchants Association is probably made up of life-long business owners who know much more about how people act in bars and restaurants than your average gun owner. Don't you think they should be able to decide?
Please leave a comment.
And MikeB is FOS again:
ReplyDelete"Is there no gun owner honest enough to admit that some people who possess the concealed carry permit get themselves in trouble around alcohol?"
Show me a quote that says NO CCW holder commit crimes.
"Is it so difficult to admit that these are the people the Beale Street Merchants are trying to safeguard against?"
No, they're guarding against fear and paranoia propagated by your favorite type of people, gun banners.
On that note. They have every right to put up Criminal Empowerment Zone signs. They're just ignorant to do so.
It's a standard failing of most hoplophobes.
Again, everyone is ignoring two important facts about this law. First, it does not allow you to carry a concealed weapon in a bar or even the bar area of a restaurant. It simply allows you to carry in restaurants that also serve alcohol. Secondly, concealed license holders that are carrying concealed handguns are not permitted to drink at all while carrying in these restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI bet the bar fights will be more interesting now.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'ld like that PP. It would give you and MikeB more blood to dance in.
ReplyDeleteSure, they've got a right to decide what people bring into their establishment--they could ban clothes if they wanted to. The important thing is that now they have a choice.
ReplyDeleteIt also gives me the ability to avoid those places where I feel unsafe--those where my fellow patrons are unarmed and unable to protect the peace.
Anonymous, Thanks for your several comments. I hope we hear more from you, you seem like a reasonable guy for a gun lover. (You should be smiling now, that's a joke).
ReplyDeleteI liked your phrase, "protect the peace." That's a good one.
@Thirdpower - Honestly, who dances in blood? And what does that even mean?
ReplyDelete