NORTH CAROLINA: Bill To Allow Guns In Bars Advances In House Committee

Yesterday the North Carolina House Judiciary Committee approved a bill that will allow gun owners to bring their weapons into bars.

The bill would allow concealed handgun permit holders to carry their firearms into bars, restaurants and other places where alcohol is served. A similar "restaurant carry" measure passed the House during the 2011 legislative session but hit a roadblock in the state Senate. Gun rights groups have lobbied hard to push this expansion of their carry privileges.  "I do not drink, but I go out to restaurants that serve alcohol," said Josette Chmiel, a member of Grassroots N.C. "Why am I not permitted to carry my weapon concealed?" She said that women, particularly, are potential crime victims when walking from restaurants to their cars. "We are already not permitted to drink while we're carrying," Chmiel said. A representative of the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association said his group was not opposed to the bill.

Representatives from the NRA spoke in support of the bill during its hearing. What could possibly go wrong? (Tipped by JMG reader Mark)