Have A Toast To Not Getting Shot

As of Friday, it became legal for a person in Ohio  with a CCW permit to carry a concealed weapon into an establishment serving  alcohol. This is a direct result of a law rammed through by the, then newly elected, Republican majority and Governor John Kasich. This change in the law was forced through despite police opposition and with very little input from the owners of the establishments in question.

I consider myself pretty lenient when it comes to the issue of firearms. I live in an area where hunting is prevalent, and I spend a lot of time dodging an uncontrolled (at least not naturally controlled) deer population on winding country roads. I support people’s right to own a gun as long as they take proper steps to demonstrate they know how to properly store, maintain, and use one. Much like a person must pass a written and skills test before obtaining a drivers license.

And, like driving, I believe guns clearly have no place around alcohol.

Unfortunately, our legislature seems willfully ignorant of the dangers this will pose to employees and patrons of establishments where alcohol is served. Thankfully, many owners of such establishments have taken it upon themselves to exercise their right to impose their own ban on handguns.

Mark my words, this will end badly. And when it does, I highly doubt that the people who made this situation possible will accept their share of the blame.