Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said today he would veto legislation passed by the General Assembly yesterday that would allow holders of concealed weapons permits to bring their hidden guns into establishments that serve alcohol. “I’m very nervous about the public safety impact of that bill,“ the governor said on his monthly call-in radio show on WRVA in Richmond.
Article here. As Sailorcurt predicted in a comment on this post, Gov. Kaine would veto the bill. As least he's term-limited. Hopefully, the legislature will be able to override the Governor's veto.
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What's interesting is that, there is also another restaurant carry bill before him.
The bill he's vowed to veto would allow CHP holders to carry concealed in places that serve alcohol, but would preclude them from drinking.
The second bill would allow retired Law Enforcement Officers from anywhere in the US to carry concealed in those same establishments, but does NOT preclude them from drinking.
If he signs the second bill, he's basically saying that guns and alcohol DO in fact mix...as long as you are or used to be an agent of the government.
A similar situation occurred last year when he signed a bill that expanded unlimited, unlicensed concealed carry to Commonwealth's Attorneys. That bill also did not preclude drinking while carrying concealed; however, because that bill was a general concealed carry bill and did not specifically address the restaurant aspect, Governor Tim equivocated by saying that his advisers told him the bill didn't allow for concealed carry in restaurants. He was demonstrably wrong (or lying) but it was his story and he stuck with it.
This year, the second bill clearly involves restaurant carry so he won't be able to claim ignorance. It will be interesting to see how he goes with it.
Here's my prediction: He will signe the LEO bill and veto the CHP holder bill. His rationalization will be that LEO's, even retired ones, are better trained and more responsible than we lowly citizens.
He also won't care about political backlash because he's not up for re-election to this office and he's confident that the issue will be ignored and brushed under the rug by the media when he (inevitably) runs for national office.
I loved the way Phillip characterized it in one of the recent VCDL Alerts:
"signing a bill this year to make it clear that vacationing, retired game wardens from Hawaii can carry concealed in all Virginia restaurants and drink, while denying a Virginia CHP holder concealed carry in the same restaurants, even if the CHP holder doesn't drink, would be indefensible"
I can't imagine why a retired game warden from Hawaii would vacation in Virginia, but the characterization was priceless.
Anyway, here's hoping we can muster the votes to overturn the veto this year.
Oh...and here's hoping that the Republicans can field a viable candidate and run a half-way competent campaign this year.
I'm not holding out much hope...the "stupid party" appellation is entirely too apropos here in Virginia.
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