Guns In Bars Have Little Impact On Crime

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The number of gun crimes at Virginia bars and restaurants declined slightly during the first year of a new state law that allows people with permits to carry concealed firearms into establishments that serve alcohol, a newspaper reported Sunday.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch ( http://bit.ly/qq6Keh), 145 such incidents were reported in fiscal 2010-11, compared to 153 the previous year _ a 5.2 percent decrease.

Virginia State Police compiled the statistics at the newspaper's request.

The newspaper's analysis found that most of the incidents were relatively minor, and few appeared to involve people with concealed-carry permits.

Phillip Van Cleave, president of the pro-gun Virginia Citizens Defense League, said the results aren't surprising.

"The numbers basically just confirm what we've said would happen if the General Assembly changed the law," said Van Cleave, whose group strongly lobbied for the law's change that made Virginia one of 43 states to allow concealed guns in restaurants that serve alcohol.

"Keep in mind what the other side was saying _ that this was going to be a blood bath, that restaurants will be dangerous and people will stop going. But there was nothing to base the fear-mongering on," Van Cleave said.

More