I love the Political Insider's captions. Such as: "Note to waiters & waitresses: Smile when you hand out the menus, & no arguing over 5 percent tips."
The 01-03-05 ajc's PI informs us that lobbyists for the National Rifle Association are quietly buttonholing the state's GOP leaders, pinning down support for legislation that would allow concealed weapons to be carried into many Georgia restaurants and food-serving bars — though not nightclubs.
Gun advocates refer to it as "Luby's Law," named after the 1991 incident in which an unemployed merchant seaman drove his pickup truck into a Luby's cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, leaped out and opened fire. He killed 23 people and wounded more than 20 before killing himself.
At least one restaurant customer had a handgun in a car, and a carrying permit. But Texas law barred concealed weapons in restaurants and other places that serve alcohol.
According to Baxter & Galloway, as contemplated in Georgia, the ban on weaponry at public gatherings, such as political rallies, would continue (I was getting a tad nervous there).
Could such become law? Sure. The PI also reports that Katie Grove, chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Bill Stephens, left her job last week. She's been hired as a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association. She'll handle gun issues in Georgia and several other states.
One thing for sure. I bet Gov. Perdue sure is proud of Ms. Grove. He loves to see friends and family do well, especially in government related positions where he has influence.
When the dust settles on this Luby's Law thing, it could end up being another urban vs. rural divide issue. For you see, we in the Other Georgia pack heat wherever we go, church, Friday night football games, soda fountains, you name it, everywhere but to school (on the latter, we are God-fearing and law abiding people, you know).
And of course they're in our vehicles. You remember (October 2003):
''I want to be the candidate for the guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks. We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross-section of Democrats.''
And the speaker was just being gracious in not adding guns in the same breathe with Confederate flags. We don't hide 'em. We display 'em on the rear window. They are part of our Southern heritage.
Gun advocates refer to it as "Luby's Law," named after the 1991 incident in which an unemployed merchant seaman drove his pickup truck into a Luby's cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, leaped out and opened fire. He killed 23 people and wounded more than 20 before killing himself.
At least one restaurant customer had a handgun in a car, and a carrying permit. But Texas law barred concealed weapons in restaurants and other places that serve alcohol.
According to Baxter & Galloway, as contemplated in Georgia, the ban on weaponry at public gatherings, such as political rallies, would continue (I was getting a tad nervous there).
Could such become law? Sure. The PI also reports that Katie Grove, chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Bill Stephens, left her job last week. She's been hired as a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association. She'll handle gun issues in Georgia and several other states.
One thing for sure. I bet Gov. Perdue sure is proud of Ms. Grove. He loves to see friends and family do well, especially in government related positions where he has influence.
When the dust settles on this Luby's Law thing, it could end up being another urban vs. rural divide issue. For you see, we in the Other Georgia pack heat wherever we go, church, Friday night football games, soda fountains, you name it, everywhere but to school (on the latter, we are God-fearing and law abiding people, you know).
And of course they're in our vehicles. You remember (October 2003):
''I want to be the candidate for the guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks. We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross-section of Democrats.''
And the speaker was just being gracious in not adding guns in the same breathe with Confederate flags. We don't hide 'em. We display 'em on the rear window. They are part of our Southern heritage.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 10:33 PM
2 Comments:
I'd be curious to see a few statistics:
1. Number of shooting deaths and injuries in Georgia restaurants per year when compared to the state population.
2. The same information for a state that has instituted Lubby's law.
I'd be curious to see if shooting deaths rise when more guns are introduced into the situation. Either way, I maintain an open mind. I'm not a huge gun control supporter, but I do have doubts that allowing concealed weapons in restaurants is something that will make me a whole lot safer.
See prior 8-09-04 post entitled: "This isn't your father and grandfather's NRA anymore -- Advice to Demo's: 'Shut the hell up.'" [The post read:
I recently had a post on the pending death of the assault weapons ban. Read this in the Washington Post and you understand why.
"When it comes to elections, the NRA tends to get its way."
In My Life, Clinton writes that the 1994 vote to ban assault weapons came at a high political price, costing many House Democrats their seats in Congress. (The Hill)."
Also see prior 8-08-04 post entitled: "What we have here, is a failure to communicate; what we need here are a few good men. 2 will do," that read in part:
All right W and JFK, it is time to step up to the plate. The 10-year ban on assault weapons that resulted from passage of the so-called Brady Bill under President Clinton, will expire Sept. 13.
BOTTOM LINE: In the second post I chided JFK and Bush for saying they were working to keep Brady Bill alive, but practically doing nothing; Congress did not want to keep going.
In the first e-mail, I relayed the advice of Pres. Clinton after our wipeout in 1994. We can't beat the NRA.
This bill: dumb as it can be. And as you note my friend, who is going to be comfortable in a restaurant when we go to hearing a dentist arguing with his wife. He, the guy may be packing heat. OK guys, the lady may be packing heat also. Me and my family, at least my family, is out of there, and if I think the lady is safe, I am out of there. I don't like -- shouldn't say this because never have watched one -- the Jim Carrey movies, but this is dumb and dumber.
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