RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A bill to prohibit someone from carrying a concealed handgun in restaurants and bars in Virginia that serve alcohol is one step closer to becoming law.
State Senator Saddam Salim (D-Fairfax) said he introduced the bill to prevent incidents like one that recently occurred in his district.
“They had somebody who came into their restaurant, who had a dinner, didn’t drink or anything else, but they left their concealed carry in the bathroom,” Salim told 8News. “They simply forgot about it and a kid walked into the bathroom and saw it.”
Currently in Virginia, those with a valid permit can bring a concealed handgun into a restaurant or bar, provided they don’t drink any alcohol.
Salim’s bill, which has already passed out of the State Senate, was advanced in a House subcommittee along party lines Thursday.
Republican Delegate A.C. Cordoza (Hampton) was one of the lawmakers who voted against the bill, arguing it was unnecessary because Virginia is an open carry state and concealed carry permit holders already have to prove competency to get a permit.
“Living in a state where we have open carry, why would we even think about people who have concealed carry who have been background checked,” Cordoza asked Salim.
Salim says people will still be allowed to open carry at restaurants or bars, provided the business owner allows it. He says people will be able to see if someone has a weapon and act accordingly.
The bill still needs to be approved by the full House of Delegates before heading to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk.
