Drinking and Carrying - something you should consider before you do!

[IOC]

What if you do have to shoot someone while carrying and you have been drinking?
Two of the primary purposes in OC'ing are: protecting life; and, promoting OC, so we don't lose it to the anti-gun left (that is usually their first and easiest target and victim).
If you are under the influence when you are driving a car and someone runs into you, in all probability, you will take the fall criminally and civilly.
If you are under the influence and you are required to protect your life or someone else’s, the first consideration of the investigating officers and city or county prosecuting attorney will be; would you have shot the person if you were not under the influence. Whether or not alcohol did influence the shooting, you will still be defending yourself for being under the influence when discharging your weapon, either in criminal or civil court or both. Even one beer can be used against you.
I spent 40 years as a process server and private investigator serving people civil summons for traffic accidents that they were involved in; and they were being held responsible for the accident because they were under the influence. Right or wrong, your insurance company will not fight the lawsuit in court; it is easier to settle out of court and raise your premiums.
You WILL be sued and or prosecuted if you shoot someone while you are under the influence, whether you are right or wrong. It is better to not drink if you are carrying and have nothing impeding your decision to use your gun if it is necessary. And similarly, your homeowner's insurance will not defend you; they will pay out to the person suing you and raise your premiums.
Better to be safe than sorry!
Tony@IdahoOpenCarry.org

[Deserteagle]

Even if it is not against your state's law, consuming alcohol while possessing a firearm is a plain stupid idea.

Alcohol turns off your brain, starting with your higher level thinking abilities, and working its way down to your motor controls. There is not one good thing alcohol will accomplish for you when carrying or using a weapon.

A few people will argue that it is not a big deal because its just a tool on their belt and they dont plan on shooting it anyway. But they fail to comprehend that it is a big deal. When they are drunk and stumbling out of the bar are they going to realize that it would be irresponsible to use their weapon when a person tries to rob them? What is their plan going to be when a person tries to forcefully take their gun from their belt while their motor skills are impaired and their reaction times have been slowed down? Or what are they going to tell the judge when they shot the responding cop instead of the criminal because their reaction time was so slow that by the time they aimed at the bad guy, he had already moved and now a cop was standing there? Or how about while at a bar, a fellow gun friendly person wants to see their gun, and the 2 individuals having no high level cognitive abilities because of the alcohol decide to start playing with it... The list goes on and on.

Do not drink and carry a firearm.

[Axeanda45]

What I see here is 2 people who do not trust themselves to have a drink or two, so they are projecting their own fears onto everyone else....
If you dont think you should have any drink at all while armed, good for you, take your own advice and disarm whenever you think you may want to drink... Bravo for you and your (lack of in my eyes) self-control...

BUT.... Dont EVEN attempt (too late, you both already have) to try and tell me how I will behave or handle myself if I decide to have a drink or two while armed...... Frikking liberal thinking like this crap is one of the MAIN things wrong in this country...

Humans dont lose the right to defend themselves with whatever tool they chose to just because someone else cant trust himself in the same situation......

People have been drinking for a century (more like 1-1/2 centuries) while armed with firearms, and there hasnt been any epidemic of drunks shooting everyone... well, there have been a lot of drunk cops shooting people, but that is for another discussion....

[NavyLCDR]

Amen, Axeanda45, amen!

Here we go again... round and round this Mulberry bush.... again.



I don't mind beating a long dead horse, though... I need the exercise.

[Firefighterchen]

Remember guys, arguing two opposite ends of the spectrum doesn't usually work. Are we talking about a beer or two? Or are we talking about being so drunk we can't stand?

[NavyLCDR]

Don't mix alcohol with guns. It makes your drink taste like Hoppes.

[walt629]

What I see here is 2 people who do not trust themselves to have a drink or two, so they are projecting their own fears onto everyone else....
If you dont think you should have any drink at all while armed, good for you, take your own advice and disarm whenever you think you may want to drink... Bravo for you and your (lack of in my eyes) self-control...

BUT.... Dont EVEN attempt (too late, you both already have) to try and tell me how I will behave or handle myself if I decide to have a drink or two while armed...... Frikking liberal thinking like this crap is one of the MAIN things wrong in this country...

Humans dont lose the right to defend themselves with whatever tool they chose to just because someone else cant trust himself in the same situation......

People have been drinking for a century (more like 1-1/2 centuries) while armed with firearms, and there hasnt been any epidemic of drunks shooting everyone... well, there have been a lot of drunk cops shooting people, but that is for another discussion....

Whoa There Axe. I think the reasoning to not carry and drink is the same sound reasoning the goes with not drinking and driving. If you think it's fine to have the 2 beers and drive, so be it but if you're ass-ended by some teenybopper on a cell phone and the police respond, you're the one going to jail if the police run a BA test on you because they have suspicion.

Same hold true if, God forbid, you're in a defensive shooting incident and you're have a detectable BA above the legal limit. Your righteous shoot now goes down in the manslaughter column. That may be okay in your book but some think it is better to err on the side of safety in scenarios like that.

No one could EVER tell you what you want to do, You're the only one making that decision. And as far as self control, knowing that you have possibly put yourself into a compromised condition and making a conscious decision to NOT carry under that circumstance shows more self control that getting drunk and diddy-boping around with a firearm while you're not completely in control.

But... to each their own.

[NavyLCDR]

Whoa There Axe. I think the reasoning to not carry and drink is the same sound reasoning the goes with not drinking and driving.

Ummm...no. You are comparing apples to oranges. If we were going to compare apples to apples it would be, "I think the reasoning to not carry and drink is the same sound reasoning that goes with not drinking and having car keys in your pocket."

[Axeanda45]

Think for yourself there walt, I do not need nor want your (or anyone elses) thoughts on how I chose to live MY own life.......

(although I in no way condone getting DRUNK at all, ever, as God considers that a sin, and I adhere to HIS laws, not man's)


Those who want to control every damn thing everyone else does with their life have none of their own.... Some on here really need to take stock of what they actually are condoning, as their true colors are showing more and more... and it aint pretty...

Stay the heck out of my (our) personal decisions UNTIL SUCH A TIME AS THEY ACTUALLY AFFECT YOU! not when they MIGHT do so... Or man up and come to my house yourself (dont try to send your cops to do it for you) and try to make me (us) stop what YOU disapprove of...

[Mojo57]

Absolutely frightening mentality. I think those with rational minds will know who i speak of.