[VR4]

I didn't know where to put this so if it dosen't go here then I apologies.

Here is the scenario. You decide to go with a buddy to a party and your CCing your gun. As time goes by you decide you want to drink so you go to your buddy's car and lock up your gun. When it's time to leave you have had more then enough and want to leave, so your buddy drive's you home (he is the DD) but on the way you guy's get pulled over. My question is do you still get in trouble of having a gun under the influence of alcohol even if it's locked up? Can it be in a glove box? Would it be better to lock it in the trunk? Laws may very from state to state but what is your knowledge of this scenario. Keep in mind you weren't planning on drinking but you changed your mind.

 

[RoadRunner71]

VR4,

1. If you do not plan on drinking, then don't. Make a decision and stick to it.

2. As you say, securing your gun appropriately depends on the jurisdiction. Check your local laws.

3. If you are too intoxicated to drive, isn't your situational awareness GONE? Do you really want to put yourself in such a position?

Good luck.

 

[gimpy]

CC'ing and drinking alcohol? One word: DON'T

 

[7mm Gumbo]

The decision to go to a party were alchohol is served while carrying a sidearm is a poor one. Do not make things worse by drinking.

 

[RETSUPT99]

Learn to refrain, or plan ahead...others have already given you the correct answer..."Don't do it!":yup:

 

[fotomaker57]

CC'ing and drinking alcohol? One word: DON'T

What he said

 

[DaveH]

CC'ing and drinking alcohol? One word: DON'T

I'm probably in a minority here, but what the hey.

IMHO, there is drinking alcohol and there is drinking alcohol.

I would not carry and drink at a party, as the OP's question described -- as there is a good change of getting impaired w/o being aware of how impaired you are.

OTOH, a glass of wine or a beer w/ a meal while carrying works for me. As always YMMV.

 

[dstressman]

No i would not do it , no need to put yourself our anyone else ( DD,wife & freinds ) at risk , a leo having a bad day , rookie or just doesn't no the laws real well could ruin the whole night.
i have been ccw for 18 years went to many party's , i always made myself the DD , and of course no ONE new i ccw, if a person is responsable enough to carry/own a firearm, then they can also avoid temptation / peer presure. :boese51:

 

[dogrunner]

Depends SOLEY on the State you are in.

Florida's statuatory take on the subject is that an individual under the influence is not allowed to have the firearm IN HIS HAND. (read 790) Not at all a good idea, but at least in Florida the scenario you describe would not jeopardize either you or the driver.

 

[rljohns]

I'm probably in a minority here, but what the hey.

OMHO, there is drinking alcohol and there is drinking alcohol.

I would not carry and drink at a party, as the OP's question described -- as there is a good change of getting impaired w/o being aware of how impaired you are.

OTOH, a glass of wine or a beer w/ a meal while carrying works for me. As always YMMV.

+1 for me!!

 

[Dakota97]

Add this to your scenario. On the way home after securing your firearm and having some drinks, you get into an "road rage" altercation with another driver and it becomes life threatening so you retrieve your firearm and use it for self defense. How does your drinking influence a jury in a civil or criminal court? My thought is that if we can't control ourselves and not drink, then we should leave the firearm at home.

 

[farronwolf]

Minority opinion here, but if you go to a party and decide to drink, then properly store your gun in the auto, your fine. If there is a trunk, put it there. If there isn't a trunk put it out of reach, possibly unload it if you feel the need when you decide to have beer and take it off.

If your responsible enough to carry a firearm, then your responsible enough to know if you can have a beer or drink or whatever and not be a threat to anyone else.

This stuff gets hashed over several times a year on DC. There are the tea totalers that say never be near alcohol with any firearm near, and you have the folks that understand it is a responsibility thing. That there are folks that don't get stupid and go shooting up the place because they have a beer or two. Put me in the latter group. If your not an idiot before the beer, you won't be an idiot after the beer. If you are an idiot, well the beer just makes you a bigger one.

Always obey your state laws.

 

[Harryball]

Minority opinion here, but if you go to a party and decide to drink, then properly store your gun in the auto, your fine. If there is a trunk, put it there. If there isn't a trunk put it out of reach, possibly unload it if you feel the need when you decide to have beer and take it off.

If your responsible enough to carry a firearm, then your responsible enough to know if you can have a beer or drink or whatever and not be a threat to anyone else.

This stuff gets hashed over several times a year on DC. There are the tea totalers that say never be near alcohol with any firearm near, and you have the folks that understand it is a responsibility thing. That there are folks that don't get stupid and go shooting up the place because they have a beer or two. Put me in the latter group. If your not an idiot before the beer, you won't be an idiot after the beer. If you are an idiot, well the beer just makes you a bigger one.

Always obey your state laws.

Very good point. In my state, you must dis arm put the gun in the trunk or lock box, and the ammo in the glove box and your fine. That is in my state, so learn your laws. Drinking while carrying is not smart, but if your in a situation where your going to have some beers, lock it up.

 

[ccw9mm]

Here is the scenario. You decide to go with a buddy to a party and your CCing your gun. As time goes by you decide you want to drink so ...

At THAT moment, one has to take responsibility for the situation and what might well occur. Having a drink of something is one thing. Going to a party to drink is something else entirely.

With ability come responsibility. 'Nuff said, really.

My choice: I don't go to drinking parties, as such. Parties, sure, but there's a difference. And I don't mind a rare drink that has alcohol when going out to a restaurant or other entertainment, though my preference is for non-alcoholic beverages. If I know I'm going to make the choice to drink a bit, then I'm going to make other arrangements for (a) a ride home and (b) my defensive sidearm. In short, if I'm going to be drinking up a storm (which doesn't happen anymore), I'd first disarm (which is one of the reasons to avoid such situations in the first place).

 

[SIXTO]

I really don't even know why this is a topic at all. When you carry your pistol, you are held to a higher standard. Like it or not, you are. That means keeping your head straight, and available to make clear and rational split second decisions.

It takes only a split second and a stupid action to do a lot of damage for all of our rights. If you cannot control your drinking, or do not think you are impaired after a drink or two, please, do us all a favor and stop carrying. You are doing nobody any good.

If you want a beer, thats fine. I like to have a beer now and then too. Do it at home or leave your gun in your sock drawer.

 

[MinisterMalice]

Danger Will Robinson! Danger!

It would seem that situations like the one you describe are excellent reasons to plan ahead and then stick to the plan. In a similar situation I would offer to my friend to be the DD and leave it at that. When someone asks me why I am refraining, the DD badge gets me off the hook without a fuss. I also like the line, "I am enough fun sober."

If you did decide to drink, then lock the sidearm up without ammo in the vicinity (i.e. gun in the trunk ammo in the glove box or some such). The worst scenario is to be careless and encounter a rookie LEO or one who has had a bad day or a fight with their spouse before work, and end up in shiny bracelets on a technicality or something similarly dumb.

Be safe!

 

[coriantan]

As previously stated, if you weren't planning on drinking, DON'T DRINK!!!

Going to the party, armed, at all is only mildly questionable in my mind. But if YOU are armed, WHY would the other guy be the designated driver?

 

[redbird]

You put the entire Carry Community at risk of futher demonisation, if you carry don't drink period exclamitation point.

 

[skot]

My personaly opinion is don't drink and carry.

However, my reply to the question asked is that you really need to understand the laws of your state. Where I'm at you get a DUI at .08, but you can CC up until .10.

So technically you could get yourself a DUI, but still be in no trouble for the gun if you were able to blow a .09. :bier:

I'm not advocating that. I'm just saying, laws can often be confusing and not work the way you might expect.

 

[Supertac45]

Unloaded and locked in the trunk is acceptable I believe for Washington. Ammo out of the mags also. I'm not sure if it is also required to be cased in the trunk. As long as you put it in the trunk prior to drinking, your not carrying it, so I don't see a problem. Your also not driving which is good.