Drinking While Carrying

[TIN BENDER]

I guess so pb&j.
Thanks.

[DSARGE]

Tin Bender,
No problem! I didn't want you to get the wrong impression--which obviously you didn't. I guess I am too quick to form an opinion sometimes. Thanks for the follow up. That Otis Campbell award it hillarious--I know a few I would like to nominate. On a different note aligned with this post--I just returned from South America, and the guys I was with would start drinking around noon, and would be hammered by bedtime. They all carried at least two guns a piece. Kinda funny, but I stayed way behind them. Different mentality down there. Take care, and love the Sgt Slaughter pic, but that more fits MTICop!

[DSARGE]

Don't worry, I won't invite you guys out to our drunken parties in the country. We drink beer, we shoot guns, then we fish and drink some more beer and then eat fried fish. It's fun! Yes, we put the guns away when the bottle of Jack comes out. No one drives home after that. Well, then there's always the fireworks late at night (and more beer).

I need to meet you

[govnor]

dsarge wrote:

I need to meet you

Hehe, maybe we can arrange that. I wish I had my country place, but it's going to be a few years. As of now we go out to a buddy of mine's place in Quinlan. He's got some tanks stocked with catfish and a place to crash.

[codecowboy]

Its a decision I made when I applied for my CHL. If I have even the hint of alcohol on my breath, I absolutely will not carry. Not even if I only have a beer.

They way I view it...if you get pulled over, its entirely up to the discrection of the officer. And his discretion might suck. So if I'm drinking, the gun gets locked in my Center-Of-Mass.

[frankie_the_yankee]

Its a decision I made when I applied for my CHL. If I have even the hint of alcohol on my breath, I absolutely will not carry. Not even if I only have a beer.

They way I view it...if you get pulled over, its entirely up to the discrection of the officer. And his discretion might suck. So if I'm drinking, the gun gets locked in my Center-Of-Mass.

Congratulations. I hope you never get robbed or carjacked while you have a "hint of alcohol" on your breath. I hope your wife or children don't get attacked while you have a hint of alcohol on your breath.

But at least you can be sure you won't get arrested for carrying while intoxicated by some idiot booze-obsessed cop whose discretion sucks. (I say this because a well-trained competent cop would never arrest someone who was acting normally but merely had a hint of alcohol on their breath.)

Good to know you have your priorities in order.

[govnor]

Congratulations. I hope you never get robbed or carjacked while you have a "hint of alcohol" on your breath. I hope your wife or children don't get attacked while you have a hint of alcohol on your breath.

Well...I have to say that I agree with this. I think Frankie might have been a bit blunt, but I have to admit the truth. I have carried without a CHL... a shotgun and two pistols for years and drove drunk with them in the car. I have also been pulled over with this ridiculously illegal combination when I was drunk, and when I was sober and to no consequence. Cops just don't search me because I'm always calm and collected no matter what. In fact I like cops and I think they can sense that. I'm also a very nice person.

That being said...it's still a bad idea to carry if you're drinking, but I'm going to keep doing it. My idea on the matter is that if I have to kill someone, I'd rather be alive and facing that problem than dead. If I had to go to prison then I'd still be alive and get out in a few years. Jail just doesn't scare me that much.

I totally understand the NO CARRY policy when drinking though. I don't think you can be hard on someone for having that philosophy. I have friends that carry all the time unless they're going out to a bar to drink. Unfortunately that's when you might end up in the most trouble. I just don't care. I'll carry no matter what. If a guy decides to not carry when he's having a beer then that's his decision and I can respect that. I'm sure he's at least carrying a knife though and is probably going to a bar where he feels safe. That's what I do anyway.

[codecowboy]

Well...I have to say that I agree with this. I think Frankie might have been a bit blunt, but I have to admit the truth. I have carried without a CHL... a shotgun and two pistols for years and drove drunk with them in the car. I have also been pulled over with this ridiculously illegal combination when I was drunk, and when I was sober and to no consequence. Cops just don't search me because I'm always calm and collected no matter what. In fact I like cops and I think they can sense that. I'm also a very nice person.

That being said...it's still a bad idea to carry if you're drinking, but I'm going to keep doing it. My idea on the matter is that if I have to kill someone, I'd rather be alive and facing that problem than dead. If I had to go to prison then I'd still be alive and get out in a few years. Jail just doesn't scare me that much.

I totally understand the NO CARRY policy when drinking though. I don't think you can be hard on someone for having that philosophy. I have friends that carry all the time unless they're going out to a bar to drink. Unfortunately that's when you might end up in the most trouble. I just don't care. I'll carry no matter what. If a guy decides to not carry when he's having a beer then that's his decision and I can respect that. I'm sure he's at least carrying a knife though and is probably going to a bar where he feels safe. That's what I do anyway.

To each their own. However its a moot point because I made it a point to stop drinking while out. Its my choice and I'd rather carry than drink.

[TIN BENDER]

[quote="codecowboy"
Its my choice and I'd rather carry than drink.[/quote]

Me Too.

[Trainman]

In the context of this specific discussion some have expessed their choice to drink while carrying or not to cary or not to drink. There appear to be arguable points for all positions.
In the end we are all judged by the choices we make during our life.
There may be some who will try to ridicule, diminish, or exert influence over our choices, but ultimately the act of choosing is up to the individual - period.
If there are consequences, (just or unjust), as a result of choices made, they will have to be dealt with.

[txinvestigator]

Its a decision I made when I applied for my CHL. If I have even the hint of alcohol on my breath, I absolutely will not carry. Not even if I only have a beer.

They way I view it...if you get pulled over, its entirely up to the discrection of the officer. And his discretion might suck. So if I'm drinking, the gun gets locked in my Center-Of-Mass.

But you would drive?

[frankie_the_yankee]

In the context of this specific discussion some have expessed their choice to drink while carrying or not to cary or not to drink. There appear to be arguable points for all positions.
In the end we are all judged by the choices we make during our life.
There may be some who will try to ridicule, diminish, or exert influence over our choices, but ultimately the act of choosing is up to the individual - period.
If there are consequences, (just or unjust), as a result of choices made, they will have to be dealt with.

The person who started the thread posed some specific questions such as:

"How many of you carry after having a drink or two?" And, "What would be the consequences if you had to use your handgun in self defense after having a drink or two?" (paraphrasing here)

Some people responded to these questions in a relevant manner.

Others raised intelligent legal points in an area that DPS appears to deliberately be leaving "gray".

Others took the opportunity to spew baloney that they might have gotten from their preachy CHL instructors or the boys at the gun shop.

Still others found occassion to somewhat grandly, IMO, announce that they personally either don't drink at all, or never drink while carrying. I guess they were answering the first question in a way, but I detected a certain smugness or self-righteousness in some of these announcements that cause me to offer them all a hearty "Congratulations".

Strangest of all, IMO, is the faction that drinks, but neverwhile carrying, not because they believe their judgement might be compromised, but rather out of some deathly fear of getting "caught" with the tiniest imaginable amount of alcohol in their systems.

My suspicion is that many in this group are heavier drinkers than they might let on. It's not getting caught while carrying after one drink they are worrying about. It's getting caught while carrying after having their usual 5 or 6 drinks.

As for myself, I am much more interested in reading different opinions on the legal aspect of drinking while carrying than I am in reading personal testimonials and announcements.

I already know plenty of people who do not drink for a variety of reasons. Hearing about a few more is simply boring.

BTW, did I ever tell you guys that spaghetti and meatballs is one of my favorite dishes? And yes, I do carry after inhaling a plateful.

[pbandjelly]

good to know some people have no problem getting loaded blowin' up some bottles....

A singular drink is one thing. "Juss a few, Ocifer." is quite another.

I wish there was a standard, just to end the debate.


course, there's no middle ground here, either, huh?

[John]

How many of you have a beer or two while carrying?

Can't say I've never had a single beer while carrying, but in general, I don't do this at all.

What if one had to use his weapon--what kind of defense would he have concerning decision making if you have alchohol in your system--regardless of the amount?

That'd be, I'd like to speak to my attorney before making a statement.

What if you got "made" sitting at a table full of empty beer bottles?

"er.. um.. they're not mine", but then that shouldn't ever happen to me.

What do ya'll think?

See this is the question that opens up the discussion (to the tune of 10 pages so far). It's very open ended and allows for wide response, leading statements and more questions. But since you asked... I choose not to drink when carrying, just as I choose not to drink while driving. I do know some who live out Kevin Fowler's "Beer Bait & Ammo" song, and that's OK as long as they keep it on their property.

[DSARGE]

John and Frankie the Y@#$%% nailed it on the head. I had no idea I'd open up this can of worms. Just came on a situation and wondered other's opinions. I realize now that it was a very open ended question and will perpetuate until this thread is locked. It got down to people making accusations and getting angry at one another. Basically, I have realized it comes down to the personal choices people make and there is no answer. However, it was fun to read! Thanks for the replies to my questions.

Here's another good "drinkin and packin" question:

What if I am sitting in the backyard having a couple of beers and shooting the blue jays off the bird feeder with a pellet pistol (1911 model). One of the BB's ricochets off a knot in the live oak and wounds a hummingbird. The Hummingbird falls and is eaten by a cat. The cat subsequently dies of lead poisining (from the Pellet). Can the Game Warden nail me if he finds an empty beer bottle in the ditch behind the house? Will the EPA enhance the charges because I'm shooting "non-environmental friendly pellets"? ...... Something to think about.