By WTKR News 3
Blaine Stewart: The recent gun violence across our area has had News three and our investigative team asking, where can you and can't you take your gun, especially when it comes to going out, or bars and restaurants here in Hampton Roads and across the Commonwealth.
Jessica Larche: These are answers investigators, Zach Dahlheimer got from legal experts and from business owners in downtown Norfolk. Reacting to the recent mass shooting on Granby Street,
Baxter Simmons: We've got a very visible spot with the big old sign out front, just a block off Brambleton
Zach Dahlheimer: Baxter Simmons is the Baxter behind the Well-known Sports Lounge on downtown Norfolk's, Granby Street,
Baxter Simmons: So we're right in the action downtown.
Zach Dahlheimer: The recent mass shooting happening down the street outside other bars and restaurants still fresh on his mind. A local semi-pro football player and a reporter with the Virginian pilot were killed.
Baxter Simmons: That incident was definitely a tragedy. There's only so much that we can control and we make our best effort just like everybody else, and it really is just unfortunate that there's a rise in that, that people are making those snap decisions and choosing the violence over working through issues and things like that.
Zach Dahlheimer: The recent gun violence has led news three to look into Virginia Code on where you can and can't carry a firearm.
Todd Stone: Virginia is an open carry state, and there's some exceptions to that.
Zach Dahlheimer: Todd Stone is a criminal defense attorney based in Richmond.
Todd Stone: There's always firearms cases, and it seems like they're getting to be more and more frequent.
Zach Dahlheimer: We asked in terms of public spaces where you can't carry a firearm,
Todd Stone: Generally speaking, not in church, not in court, not in school, and not in the airport.
Zach Dahlheimer: But what about restaurants and bars?
Todd Stone: You can carry a firearm in a restaurant, but if you are consuming alcohol, no. If someone's under the influence of alcohol and carrying a concealed weapon in a restaurant, they would lose their permit to carry a concealed weapon for five years, and they'd be charged with a Class one misdemeanor, which is punishable up to 12 months in jail.
Zach Dahlheimer: Now, restaurants and bars are typically on private property, which means establishments have their own discretion to ban firearms entirely. Now, if you are carrying a firearm into a private establishment, that bar or restaurant has the right to ask you to leave. If you don't comply with that request, then it's considered trespassing.
Todd Stone: Assuming it's a private entity, which it almost always is, the restaurant owner has the authority to ban someone from coming in with a firearm and to make them leave if they do come in with a firearm.
Zach Dahlheimer: What's your policy here at your place as far as that?
Baxter Simmons: Our policy is, please no weapons of any type, no firearms, no knives. Just because we do serve alcohol and if somebody gets the urge to drink, we don't want their decisions compromised.
Todd Stone: It seems that more and more frequently you see signs on the windows coming into a restaurant or on the doors coming into a restaurant.
Zach Dahlheimer: Stone believes it's best to do your homework before you carry in public open or concealed.
Todd Stone: I think it would be advisable for the government to get the information out to people. Guns seem to be much more prevalent now than they've ever been, but the information about what's legal and what's not legal isn't as prevalent it
Zach Dahlheimer: Seems. Now Stone says there's another rule, an absolute ban on carrying a firearm with more than 20 rounds in these cities right here, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, and Richmond. Now we have a link where you can read more on this rule on wkr.com. Zach Dahlheimer news three.
Credit: WTKR News 3
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