Don’t Bring Your Guns to Town

From The New York Times, October 5, 2010:

Handgun permit holders who have recently seen their rights greatly expanded by a new law — one of the nation’s first — that allows them to carry loaded firearms into bars and restaurants that serve alcohol… Tennessee is one of four states, along with Arizona, Georgia and Virginia, that recently enacted laws explicitly allowing loaded guns in bars. Previously, states like Tennessee did not allow its residents to carry concealed weapons unless they had a special permit from the local authorities.

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I was troubled when Arizona recently passed legislation to remove the requirement to obtain a concealed weapons permit to, well, carry a concealed weapon on one’s person.  Carrying a loaded weapon in a bar is much worse. It is a profoundly bad idea. That is a blatant statement of opinion. However, I am a rifle marksmanship enthusiast and dearly miss my wood-stock, .22 Remington bolt-action long rifle that I sold when I went off to attend the Wharton School. I am not biased against the Second Amendment. Yet I do think this law shows a serious breach of common sense.