Anniversary of Restaurant Carry

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of being able to carry our weapons into restaurants that serve alcohol. HB 937 became law effective 1 October 2013, which law also permitted carrying at funerals and parades, venues that charge admission, and on school property when you are picking up your child.  Ammoland has published the story here. Of course, you still can not carry in a restaurant serving alcohol if you are drinking, but if not, then you are permitted.  I have often noted that most of the people eating in typical establishments that serve alcohol are in fact drinking the National Drink of North Carolina, sweetened iced tea.  Mrs. Polykahr and I went out last night to a casual dining facility, where Mrs. Polykahr had our National Drink, and I had water with a twist of lemon.  I was armed.

Readers may remember the editorials excoriating legislators for even considering this expansion of concealed carry, claiming alcohol and bars just don't mix.  To the argument that the law did not permit a person to be standing at the bar ordering drinks while armed, some made the ridiculous claim that even so, some drunken fool would just grab your gun and start shooting up the place.  That claim was easily shown to be specious.  After all, your weapon is concealed, right?  But, nonetheless we were treated to editorials claiming blood would be running in the aisle of North Carolina restaurants.  Ohio, Virginia, and Tennessee had all passed similar laws previously, and there was no uptick in crime as a result.

So, after a year, how many incidence of concealed carriers committing crimes in bars and restaurants have occurred?  According to Grass Roots North Carolina, the number is: zero, zilch, nada.  Just as we all predicted.