When the law is wrong...

By Breda of The Breda Fallacy

In Ohio, you cannot carry (openly or concealed) in an establishment that has a class D liquor license. Originally intended to stop people from having firearms in bars, the law also extends to most restaurants.

For instance, when Mike and I visit our favorite Thai restaurant, we cannot carry even though we only ever have tea with our pad kee mao and noodles curry. Apparently the state of Ohio believes that just being in the same room where alcohol is served will turn us into bloodthirsty, trigger-happy monsters.

Some might think, "You're just going out to eat - it's a nice little restaurant, what could possibly happen?"

What, indeed.

Shortly after midnight on May 25th, three masked gunmen robbed a restaurant in the affluent, upper middle class suburb of Solon, Ohio. Suddenly a "safe" place became a place of violence and fear - and very few options for those who were forced to disarm.

As it stands now, you could go to a restaurant or bar, drink a few beers, get in your car and take that risky drive home. If caught by the police, you would be charged with a misdemeanor. But if I get caught carrying my pistol while eating (and remaining completely sober) in my favorite restaurant, I would be charged with a felony. It makes no sense.

In the effort to make people "feel safe" the state of Ohio has created gun free zones...which sometimes, sadly, make unarmed victims out of the law-abiding and felons out of those who wish to protect themselves from real criminals.

Breda is a reference librarian and artist who writes at The Breda Fallacy.