Virginia:Concealed Firearms Bill Clears Virginia House Subcommittee

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Concealed Firearms Bill Clears Virginia House SubcommitteeBy Jim BurnsCNSNews.com Senior Staff WriterJanuary 24, 2002(CNSNews.com) - In Virginia, a bill that would repeal a statewide ban on carrying concealed firearms in many restaurants has cleared a state house subcommittee, by a four-to-one vote. The bill's sponsor expects the General Assembly to approve it this year.Republican Delegate Lee Ware's bill would repeal a 1995 law that prohibits people with a concealed weapons permit from carrying a firearm in establishments that serve alcohol.But Ware's bill stipulates that firearms holders may not actually consume alcohol while carrying a gun in a restaurant. "I received requests from a number of constituents who were concerned about it and wanted to be able to continue their self-defense, both in a restaurant and to and from a restaurant," Ware said in an interview with CNSNews.com .Ware predicts the entire Virginia General Assembly will approve the bill this year."I think it has a real good shot. It obviously has generated discussion and there is opposition to it. Last year, a similar bill was not successful. But I really have a lot of hope about this one this year," Ware said.The Gun Owners of America is among those who support the bill."Because of the ban, thousands of Virginians have been rendered defenseless while eating a meal or going to and from their car," GOA said in a letter to its members urging support of Ware's bill."Delegate Ware's bill will restore a crucial element of safety to our restaurants," GOA concluded.But the Restaurant Association of Virginia is against the bill and is actively fighting it, according to a spokesman.\sb100\sa100"We support the continuation of the current law. We're against Mr. Ware's initiatives. We don't want firearms in establishments that serve alcohol. It's a bad mix. Places that serve alcohol and allow weapons just don't make for a good mix in our opinion," according to an association spokesman who did not want his name used. http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\200201\CUL20020124b.html