Another "brilliant" idea from Governor Nikki Haley (R. SC):
http://www.counton2.com/...
Governor Nikki Haley announced on her Facebook page that she will sign Senate Bill 308 into law Tuesday morning. The bill will allow those who have a concealed weapons permit to bring a gun into a restaurant or bar.
The bill, however, does come with some restrictions.
Individual restaurant and bar owners are given the choice to follow this new law. If they choose not to, the owners are required to put up a sign banning the guns. Also, if someone who brings the gun is drinking, that person is not allowed to have the gun on them.
Gov. Haley said that is an important piece to remember.
"You're not allowing people with guns to drink," she said. "You're allowing people who normally have guns to bring them into the restaurant when they normally wouldn't be able to."
Defense Attorney David Aylor said the biggest question to come out of this bill revolves around who will be in charge of enforcing the bill.
"That will something that's interesting to see exactly what they do," he said. "Will it be a situation where you'll see law enforcement going out into different bars and restaurants trying to determine if people that are carrying weapons are actually drinking or will it be left just to the bartenders, waiters and waitresses?"
Aylor also said he doubts wait staff at a restaurant will be forced to, "pat down," those whom they see drinking and possibly possessing a gun. - News 2, 2/9/14
Here's a little more info:
http://www.thestate.com/...
The bill also made some changes to the state’s concealed-weapons law, doing away with a requirement that training must take at least eight hours to complete. Under the rule change, military and law enforcement veterans who show proof of training and get their permits faster.
Supporters of the bill say it simply expands gun rights for responsible, well-trained gun owners, allowing them to eat dinner in a restaurant without leaving an unsupervised gun in their vehicle.
Many Columbia bar and restaurant owners said that they will put up signs prohibiting concealed weapons. - The State, 2/8/14
It's not surprising at all that Haley would support this:
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/...
Asked during a media availability in Charleston what side Haley would be on if she owned a bar or restaurant she said this:
This law says if you’re a CWP holder — and me being a CWP holder — you can’t have alcohol and carry. That is the overall rule of this state. So, I don’t have a problem with people carrying anywhere. And so if I had a restaurant or a bar, you’re not allowing people with guns to drink, you’re allowing people who normally have their guns to bring them into the restaurant.
Asked to clarify that she’d allow guns in her booze hall, Haley said “Absolutely.”
Around Charleston, progressive activists have been dropping off yellow flyers that alert hospitality workers to the likely change in gun laws. In media accounts, bar owners have been split on the issue. That’s representative of the S.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association, which hasn’t taken a position on the bill because its members are split. Association director John Durst says they started talking about the issue with their members when it was first introduced. “The ability of an establishment to 'opt out' has been important to our association,” he says. - Charleston City paper, 2/4/14
Ok, we may all disagree on how to handle gun control but can't we all just agree that a bar is the one place you can't bring a gun? I don't know what's going on in Haley and the SC legislators' heads but this is a bad call. If you want to get involved with Haley's opponent, State Senator Vincent Sheheen's (D. SC) campaign, you can do so here:
http://vincentsheheen.com/