[Xbonz]

I'm sure this has been covered before, but I need to be positive.

I went to Chili's for dinner last night. The establishment has a bar in the center of the buildng, with glass partitions on three sides. The outsides of those partitions are considered 'dining room'. I was asked if I wanted to sit in the lounge or dining area, since I was carrying I chose dining. Had I chosen otherwise, I would then have been illegally sitting in the 'bar'. (lounge=bar)

Now, based on the design of this restaurant I want to go one step further. If I carry into a sports bar where the whole building is one big room with a center bar, no partitions, and sit at a table far from the bar am I now carrying illegally?

In other words, do 'partitions' define a bar?

 

[MiklColt45]

If the sign says 'sports bar,' I'm not going in.

If it's a grill and bar, and there are separated areas for dining,
I would chance it.

 

[MPDC66]

I believe it is where "food is primarily served" so, without getting into proving percentages (in DC, a restaurant had to prove a certain percentage of its sales were food to keep a liquor license, liquor only bars are not allowed), IF the section you are in has diners, rather than drinkers with pitchers of beer and a basket of potato chips, I think you're OK.

Fla. 790.6 (12)

(12) No license issued pursuant to this section shall authorize any person to carry a concealed weapon or firearm into any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05; any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station; any detention facility, prison, or jail; any courthouse; any courtroom, except that nothing in this section would preclude a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or determining who will carry a concealed weapon in his or her courtroom; any polling place; any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district; any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof; any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms; any school administration building; any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose; any elementary or secondary school facility; any career center; any college or university facility unless the licensee is a registered student, employee, or faculty member of such college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile; inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport, provided that no person shall be prohibited from carrying any legal firearm into the terminal, which firearm is encased for shipment for purposes of checking such firearm as baggage to be lawfully transported on any aircraft; or any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law. Any person who willfully violates any provision of this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

Excerpt: any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose;

 

[fuzzy03cls]

I don't worry about it. If it's a normal restaurant place, that primarily serves food your ok as long as you don't sit at the bar or in the bar area. As I understand it.

There's what's written & then there's real life. No eatery designs the place around people with legal guns so it's a toss up for boundaries. All we have is our interpretation of the law.

I have asked a few lawyers though & they agree with me. In most cases your ok.

 

[daytona]

I believe the law has to do with percentage of food to alcohol sales as to weather it is a ''bar'' or restaurant. I go to Outback and always sit at a table in the dining room, staying away from the booths at the bar section even though i am not drinking and only eating. Even though it is a restaurant you can't be in the ''bar'' section.

 

[T.S.]

My rule of thumb is:

If they serve alcohol ONLY, then I do not carry.

If they serve food I will go in, but if they have an area where alcohol is primarily sold, I will stay out of that area, and remain where they sell primarily food.

Most of these places have some type of divider, either a wall, or a change of flooring ( ie: carpet to tile; tile to wood, etc. ) I stay out of the walled area or out of the area which is floored different than the restaraunt part.

 

[daytona]

Places that are one common room with a bar along the wall or an island and serve food at tables - is that a "bar" ? Although you are not sitting or standing at the bar are you ok? I don't think i would take a chance and leave the gun in the car.

 

[Xbonz]

Places that are one common room with a bar along the wall or an island and serve food at tables - is that a "bar" ? Although you are not sitting or standing at the bar are you ok? I don't think i would take a chance and leave the gun in the car.

Daytona:
Have you been to Daisy Dukes or The AleHouse, or the Ocean Deck? That is why I asked.

 

[T.S.]

Places that are one common room with a bar along the wall or an island and serve food at tables - is that a "bar" ? Although you are not sitting or standing at the bar are you ok? I don't think i would take a chance and leave the gun in the car.

any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose;

The Smokey Bones Restaraunt that I go to is similar to this, and I carry there all the time.

They have a bar area " portion " that is surrounded by a great room restaraunt area " portion ".

The bar area " portion " has a different type of " flooring ", and I just stay out of that flooring area. That way I consider myself to be in the restaraunt portion and not the bar portion.

 

[daytona]

Daytona:
Have you been to Daisy Dukes or The AleHouse, or the Ocean Deck? That is why I asked.

Those are the places i was thinking of as well - Oyster pub, Houligins etc. Don't think i would chance it.

 

[daytona]

Also "portion" could be subjective. :banghead

 

[Xbonz]

The bar area " portion " has a different type of " flooring ", and I just stay out of that flooring area. That way I consider myself to be in the restaraunt portion and not the bar portion.

If the flooring is the same throughout would it be OK if I bring in a piece of carpet?

 

[T.S.]

If the flooring is the same throughout would it be OK if I bring in a piece of carpet?

Oh Heck yeah!

 

[daytona]

Great, now i have to carry a piece of 12x12 carpet with me. :rolf

 

[Rvrctyrngr]

If the flooring is the same throughout would it be OK if I bring in a piece of carpet?

Dave will make you a holster for it.

 

[Hodawg]

"What is a bar?

Any place that sells a good Stout....Guinness, Bare Nuckle, you get the idea! The neon signs have a subliminal message saying "Ken, come in here"!

After reading the many varied responses, I'll pose another question on the subject.

The current law doesn't seem to make much difference between public and private "bars". Does that mean that I can't carry at the FOP, the American Legion, the local VFW, or at my own private Pub located at the back of my house (MacDougall's Pub, you really should see it)?

More food for thought, or in the Government's case, lack of thought.

Beers y'all,
Ken

 

[Xbonz]

Dave will make you a holster for it.

:rolf:rolf:rolf:rolf

Thanks a lot!!! Now it's my turn to clean my monitor..:funny

 

[Hodawg]

Great, now i have to carry a piece of 12x12 carpet with me. :rolf

12x12 feet?
12x12 inches?
12x12 millimeters? This one I can handle.

Beers y'all,
Ken

 

[Rvrctyrngr]

"What is a bar?

Any place that sells a good Stout....Guinness, Bare Nuckle, you get the idea! The neon signs have a subliminal message saying "Ken, come in here"!

After reading the many varied responses, I'll pose another question on the subject.

The current law doesn't seem to make much difference between public and private "bars". Does that mean that I can't carry at the FOP, the American Legion, the local VFW, or at my own private Pub located at the back of my house (MacDougall's Pub, you really should see it)?

More food for thought, or in the Government's case, lack of thought.

Beers y'all,
Ken

Most of those places have some sort of license to dispense alcohol for consumption on premises, Ken...You're right, the law does not make a distinction between public bars and private 'clubs' like the VFW, etc...

I'm guessing McDougall's is probably good to go, though.

 

[Xbonz]

I'm guessing McDougall's is probably good to go, though.

If you feel the need to carry at McDougall's, is it really the kind of place you want to go?