| Ohio Needs Restaurant Carry |
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| Opinion |
| Written by Daniel White |
| Wednesday, 10 December 2008 01:59 |
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They say gunpowder and alcohol don't mix. Tell that to these robbers: GROVE CITY, Ohio -- Two suspects robbed a local restaurant [Applebee's] at gunpoint and took patrons and employees hostage over the weekend, according to police... Fortunately, nobody was injured this time, and it certainly isn't the first time something like this has happened in Ohio. Police investigating shooting inside Toledo restaurant Popular Dayton Fine Family Dining Restaurant Robbed MORE: State-mandated victim zone robberies Restaurants Not Immune DQ Robbed, Manager Shot It is time for the Ohio legislature to right this wrong and stop denying the rights of Ohio citizens to defend themselves simply because they are dining in an establishment where alcohol is served, even if the armed citizen isn't drinking. If you look around the country, many states have no such ban. According to www.handgunlaw.us, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming all have some provision for allowing you to protect yourself while dining at a restaurant that happens to serve alcohol. Many have conditions such as not in bars or bar areas, not consuming, or open carry only like Virginia. But, at least it isn't a total ban. It is time for Ohio to get with the program. If you are not consuming alcohol, there is absolutely no reason to blanket prohibit law abiding citizens from being able to protect themselves. I'm even willing to compromise... bona-fide "bars" can stay off limits, for now. The legislature removed the ban on "retail establishments" who happened to be holding events like a wine tasting, provided you're not drinking, so let's remove the ban on restaurants. Ohio already has a law against carrying a firearm while legally intoxicated. Then, after we've proven that Ohio citizens are no less responsible than citizens of other states, we can talk further. But, in the meantime, we need to stop forcing restaurants that choose to make alcohol available to their patrons to become criminal protection zones by banning lawfully armed citizens from being able to protect themselves and their families. That is common sense. |