Bars and Restaurants New Concealed Carry Venue

During the Ohio General Assembly in January, 2018 the Republicans made good their promise to broaden concealed carry permit venues.

The new legislation—dubbed the Applebee’s bill—allows those who have concealed carry permits to bring handguns into restaurants and bars. This is merely a broadening of Ohio concealed carry state law. In 2004, Ohio made it legal to bring a weapon into any eating establishment that did not serve alcohol. Pro-gun activists argued there was no reason to limit their right to self-defense merely because an eatery had a liquor license.

They also pointed out that, if those with concealed carry permits had to lock their weapons in their vehicles to enter a business that sold alcohol, it was an open invitation to thieves. Their other reason was that a gun locked in a car did not give them accessibility to it to protect themselves and their families inside and entering and exiting the restaurant or bar.

The Ohio law has limits to safeguard gun owners and other clientele. While carrying a concealed weapon, the gun owner is not allowed consume alcohol. Moreover, the owners of the restaurant or bar reserve the right to ask those carrying loaded guns to leave.

The Applebee’s bill is aimed at protecting those in the restaurant or bar. One state representative who co-sponsored of the bill, pointed out that before the law was passed every gun toting bad guy knew that those with legitimate concealed carry weapons were unarmed, giving the assailant a clear advantage.

Critics of the Applebee’s bill claimed it was just inviting trouble as some of the bars now permitting concealed carry weapons were seedy places where fights frequently erupted.

Ohio restaurant and bartender associations are also opposed the Applebee’s bill. They were joined by Ohio state law enforcement groups.

Some members of the general public doubt the wisdom of this legislation. They see this law as putting law-abiding citizens in a potentially dangerous situations. Many of them feel formerly kid-friendly eating establishments are now no longer safe places to take their kids.

Even bar owners have stated that they don’t need or want the added trouble.

The Buckeye Firearms Association took their stance a step farther. They stated that legislators who opposed the Applebee’s bill would be voted out at the next election. One state senator called the action of the Buckeye Firearms Association  outright intimidation. He urged his colleagues not to bow to this pressure.

Ohio gun-rights activists feel they have every right to speak out in support of this law. Concealed carry has been a long time coming. Ohio gun lobby groups have worked for over a decade to get this legislation enacted.

In 1981, most American states prevented private citizens from carrying concealed weapons. If permits were allowed local and state police departments had  wide discretion when it came to deciding who would be allowed to apply for a concealed carry permit.

In 2018 in all but one state most applicants qualify with minimum criteria for concealed carry permits. In Illinois prohibition still occurs.

Pro-gun groups could not always agree on what they wanted to see. Some lobbied for a system without no permit requirements. Others were focused on curbing urban violence. Others saw the rights of rural gun owners as being overlooked.