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Community Corner

Restaurants with > 50% Alcohol Sales Are Gun Free Zones

It has been two weeks since the Illinois State Police started issuing carry permits and so far the streets aren't running over with blood. The Illinois statute mandates that a bar or a restaurant which has greater than 50% of its sales from alcohol is required to be a gun free zone. [Let me be very clear at this point, my own view is that there should be zero tolerance for drinking and carrying a firearm...the two DO NOT mix]. A bar is easy to identify and there should be no question that it is off limits to concealed carry firearms.

A restaurant is an entirely different matter.....in general, a person ought be able to keep their concealed carry firearm while eating. However, there is no reasonable way that a person can know whether a restaurant have fifty percent or greater sales from alcohol unless a sign is posted. If such is the case and a sign isn't posted, an individual can't be held responsible for knowing that they might be in violation of the statute. Rather, IT IS THE RESTAURANT OPERATORS OBLIGATION TO KNOW THE LAW AND POST THE REQUIRED SIGN. My understanding is that the failure to post a sign where required is a potentially serious violation of the liquor control laws for the restaurant operator. Permit me to strongly encourage restaurant operators to be aware of the requirement and make the posting if required. Further, CCL permit holders should inquire about the issue with operators or restaurant operators that have a substantial bar or liquor component to their business. I have shared a sample of the type of required sign together with a comment that lets the public know how they feel about it.

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