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A lot goes on at parties and you\u2019ve got to be careful, especially if you\u2019re carrying a firearm.\u00a0 Parties come in all different sizes where you may just have a small group, which is a little easier to predict when something is wrong, all the way up to a very large crowd, where your spidey senses will just go crazy.\u00a0 Predicting something that may go wrong will be very difficult in such a crowd.\u00a0 Depending on the type of event you go to, there will most likely be drinking, even at a child\u2019s party.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re going to partake in any festivities, the first thing you\u2019re going to have to investigate is if you can legally carry a firearm on those premises.\u00a0 Is it at a house, a business, an establishment that serves alcohol like a bar, a school (like a high school reunion), is it on Federal or State grounds?\u00a0 Houses may be off limits in some states.\u00a0 For example, in Missouri, the resident can post signage showing that it’s a gun-free zone and this can be enforceable by law.<\/p>\n
So what are the laws in your area?\u00a0 If you\u2019re not up to date on the laws, you\u2019ll have to quickly educate yourself before you attend.\u00a0 Give yourself a few days (if possible) to do your research.\u00a0 Will the location you\u2019re going to allow firearms?\u00a0 If you frequent parties, you should be very aware the laws, if not, start getting familiar with them right now.<\/p>\n
Once you determine the laws and if you can legally carry, you\u2019re going to have to be on your very best behavior.\u00a0 You\u2019re going to have to be the most responsible and nicest person there.\u00a0 I have been to plenty of parties where there are drinking and sometimes drugs are involved.\u00a0 Now you\u2019re going to have to be aware of your surroundings (situational awareness) and you’ll have to stay away from the booze, so don\u2019t drink and carry a firearm.\u00a0 And if there are illegal drugs involved, I would suggest that you leave immediately.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 If something happens where the police are involved and you\u2019re armed with illegal drugs within your vicinity, it can turn into a very bad situation.\u00a0 Avoid at all costs.\u00a0 You may end up with felony drug charges with a firearm, even though it\u2019s not your place, you were invited by a friend and have nothing to do with those drugs.\u00a0 Don\u2019t take any chances.<\/p>\n
Since you\u2019re going to be on your very best behavior, that doesn\u2019t mean that others will be mirroring what you\u2019re doing.\u00a0 Some people are there to party and get down.\u00a0 You\u2019re going to see tipsy and drunk people and sometimes these situations can turn upside down.\u00a0 You may have fights and you may have people doing real stupid things.\u00a0 Try to avoid getting involved in stupid things and avoid those who are inebriated.<\/p>\n
Word of advice, never open carry at a party.\u00a0 You\u2019re asking for trouble when you do this.\u00a0 Someone can get stupid and go for your firearm and this can turn into a deadly situation.\u00a0 Keep it hidden and don\u2019t advertise that you\u2019re carrying a pistol.\u00a0 For my protection and my friends, they are unaware that I legally carry a firearm, unless they too carry concealed.\u00a0 It\u2019s nice to know who has your back.\u00a0 I would hate to have someone that I am with that\u2019s intoxicated, they try to start a fight and announce I am carrying a sidearm.\u00a0 Now I could possibly be a target and things can go sideways.<\/p>\n
When I go to a bar or restaurant that serves alcohol, in my state it’s legal to carry concealed and legal to drink while armed, which I never do.\u00a0 If something happens and my firearm is involved in a situation while I was drinking, this won’t look good for my self-defense case.\u00a0 Some states do not allow firearms in bars, and some states have strange laws about what percentage the establishment makes on alcohol sales before you can carry in their place of business.\u00a0 For example, if alcohol sales meet or exceed a certain percentage, carrying a firearm is considered off limits.\u00a0 Here is a snippet from Texas law where carrying a firearm is considered off limits where:\u00a0 \u201c51 percent or more of its income from the sale or service of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption, as determined by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission under Section 104.06\u2026\u201d.\u00a0 So what does “Service of Alcohol” mean anyways and how do you turn that into a percentage?\u00a0 So what they’re saying is that you are not allowed to carry a firearm in that establishment.<\/p>\n
But how do you know if the establishment makes 51 percent on alcohol sales?\u00a0 I am sure they don\u2019t post it.\u00a0 It sounds like a ridiculous law, especially if you’re left in the dark guessing, but the law is enforceable.\u00a0 So maybe you should be allowed to ask the establishment to verify their financial records in case they aren’t meeting that 51% in alcohol sales so you’re allowed to carry legally.\u00a0 You can’t just take their word for it.\u00a0 Can you?<\/p>\n
So when I am in a pub with a group of people, I tell the server that I am a designated driver for my friends and ask if they offer free drinks (coffee, soda or tea) while I keep an eye on my friends while they’re drinking.\u00a0 This enables me to drive them home safely while being sober.\u00a0 Some establishments don\u2019t mind refilling your glass for this special reason.\u00a0 But if your friends start to get a little crazy, then it\u2019s time to start wrapping things up, pay your bill and leave the establishment.<\/p>\n
While I was overseas in the military, we would have our own policing for the safety of our service members and the locals that interact with us.\u00a0 For those veterans or active duty military, you may recognize the names like Military Police, Air Police, Shore Patrol, etc.\u00a0\u00a0 While I was on this detail, at times we would have to deal with drunks and remove them from some of these bars since they were passed out or causing problems.\u00a0 I remember being trained with my partner on how to approach a person who had been drinking and slumped over at a bar.<\/p>\n
We had to approach on opposite sides of this person and get control of their arms before they woke up.\u00a0 The reason for this is that out of a dead sleep sometimes they grab something like a beer bottle and use it as a weapon.\u00a0 People have been seriously hurt, especially with a broken bottle.\u00a0 The point of the story is that you’re not going to know what a person under the influence will do, especially if you try to wake them.<\/p>\n
So while you’re out at any gathering where there are drugs and or alcohol, go with your gut feeling and make wise decisions while carrying a firearm.\u00a0 If it feels like the situation can turn into something harmful, work on getting out of there.\u00a0 You can go through a lot of scenarios in your head with any type of ending, but remember, it never happens the way you expect it.<\/p>\n
Just to recap, be very cautious when you\u2019re out with people that are drinking.\u00a0 Avoid confrontations, make sure you can legally carry at that party, keep your head on a swivel (situational awareness), keep you firearm hidden on your person (don\u2019t off body carry) and if there are drugs involved, get the hell out of there.<\/p>\n
Be safe out there, be the responsible firearm owner and always follow the “Concealed Carry Creed<\/span>“!!!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Throughout the year there will be parties and there\u2019s a good chance that you might be invited to one of these or you may be hosting one.\u00a0 In some cases you will be familiar with these places since you frequent them or it’s your first time visiting.\u00a0 You\u2019re going to meet people that you know…
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