Drinking While Carrying

[NguyenVanDon]

for some people 1 drink is the equivalent of 1 line of coke in terms of physical/emotional/psychological impairement....

if it's ok to have 1 drink I guess it should also be OK to have 1 line of coke too..

Hope your not really serious about this, are you?

[govnor]

I don't drink and carry, same as I don't drink and drive.

Isn't that redundant? I mean if you don't drink and drive, then obviously you wouldn't be drinking and carrying. Unless you're walking to the bar, which no one does.

The truth is that lots of people drink and drive with the blessing of the TABC that makes tons of tax money off of drinkers. If there was a serious effort to stop drinking and driving then the police would wait out in front of bars to make arrests. It doesn't happen. For good reason too...they don't want the tax money coming in to stop.

[frankie_the_yankee]

I'm a heavy drinker. That means that I drink at least five drinks at one sitting once a week or drink every day. In my situation, it means that I get off work and drink a six pack sometimes (tall boys). On the weekends I might drink a half of a bottle of Jack. Yeah, in one night.

I carry my gun on my hip locked and loaded at all times at the house. I've done this for years without incident. I don't get in the car and drive anywhere (usually). You never know, I might be out of smokes.

If you drink a sixpack or a half bottle of Jack, you shouldn't be driving or carrying. I think drinking that amount easily puts you over the legal limit for driving, which is 0.08%.

According to my CHL instructor, there is no set limit for drinking while carrying. That said, I'm assuming that you are not supposed to be carrying while over the legal limit. For me, that's probably about four beers in an hour or two.

It's correct that there's no set limit for drinking while carrying. But whatever the limit is, I think that you are way over it. Just my opinion. And certainly way over 0.08%.

The smartest thing to do is to never carry if you're drinking. If you do, then you are taking a definite risk. Hopefully you won't be pulled over. If you are then hope you don't get Barney Fife. If you are an older dude driving a normal car and you have one glass of wine with dinner...you're safe.

I think it's all in how much you drink. I do not agree that "the smartest thing" is to never carry if drinking. As an older dude that might have one glass of wine, I do not believe I am taking any risk at all. I'm not intoxicated at that point. I do not believe that anyone could ever honestly prove that I was intoxicated. I'm also quite sure that my judgement as to what is "reasonable" is not affected to any measureable extent after one drink, and that if I ever had to use a gun defensively in that situation I am sure my actions will meet the reasonable person test.

But after 4 or 5 drinks, a sixpack, or a half bottle of Jack, I would say it's a completely different story.

Personally I drive a white pickup truck that the police just ignore for the most part. I wonder if the camo seat covers help?

Once my CHL goes through, I will do what my other heavy drinking friends with CHL's do...don't carry your gun with you when you go to the bar. That means leave it at home. ...

If I drank as much as you say you do, I would leave my gun at home all the time. And I'd get someone to drive me around.

And "...other heavy drinking friends with CHL's..."?????????? Holy Smoke! That doesn't sound like a crowd I would want to run with.

[frankie_the_yankee]

I don't drink and carry, same as I don't drink and drive.

Well, as I said I would do earlier to those who announce that they are in this catagory, "Congratulations".

Now tell us, do you ever drink before voting?

[John]

I'm a heavy drinker. That means that I drink at least five drinks at one sitting once a week or drink every day. In my situation, it means that I get off work and drink a six pack sometimes (tall boys). On the weekends I might drink a half of a bottle of Jack. Yeah, in one night.

Note to self. Scratch govnor off the list of liver donors. Add to recipient list.

[matchstick]

I think CHL courses advising that you shouldn't drink at all if you're carrying is like them advising that you should always show your CHL to a LEO, whether you're carrying or not.

Technically you only are required to show your CHL if you are currently carrying. But they advise to do it regardless just because the LEO is going to see it on the computer anyway, and it's better to have a consistent way of doing things so you always do it the same way.

It's sound advice to say, "If you don't drink ANY alcohol while carrying, then you will NEVER be over the arbitrary limit." And my instructor (Mike at the Bullet Trap, he was great BTW), was pretty clear in stating that the "limit" is up to the LEO in question. If that LEO thinks you're impaired, then regardless of your Blood Alcohol Content, you're in violation. At least that is how it was taught to me. And he definitely made us understand that you can drink, but legally there is no clearly defined limit. So if you really want to be safe, don't carry when you drink. But he never said that you'd be definitely breaking the law if you did.

For the record, I find the entire topic irrelevant since I don't drink. Now where's my congratulations? ;)

[NguyenVanDon]

I don't drink and carry, same as I don't drink and drive.

Well, as I said I would do earlier to those who announce that they are in this catagory, "Congratulations".

Now tell us, do you ever drink before voting?

LOL, I don't vote. I'm not a big fan when it comes down to the political stuff.

[frankie_the_yankee]

And my instructor (Mike at the Bullet Trap, he was great BTW), was pretty clear in stating that the "limit" is up to the LEO in question. If that LEO thinks you're impaired, then regardless of your Blood Alcohol Content, you're in violation. At least that is how it was taught to me.

Baloney. LEO's are not judges or juries. If an LEO "thinks you're impaired", he may well accuse you of being impaired, but he still has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are legally intoxicated.

He can think you're impaired all he wants. But he can also be mistaken, dishonest, or just plain wrong. That's why we have trials, courts, juries, etc.

And he definitely made us understand that you can drink, but legally there is no clearly defined limit. So if you really want to be safe, don't carry when you drink. But he never said that you'd be definitely breaking the law if you did.

1) If you never drink, it would take a very dishonest cop to hang a carrying while intoxicated charge on you. And you would have to help him out by having a lousy lawyer or none at all.

2) If you drink moderately (i.e. one drink), a dishonest or dull-witted crusader type cop may still try to hang a carrying while intoxicated charge on you - probably just before he goes off duty and gets hammered with a bunch of guys on his shift. But you would still need to help him out a lot with poor legal representation.

3) If you drink a sixpack or half a bottle of Jack, any cop will be able to nail you for carrying while intoxicated, because the overwhelming likelihood is that you would really be intoxicated - and shouldn't be carrying or driving.

For the record, I find the entire topic irrelevant since I don't drink. Now where's my congratulations? ;)

Congratulations. Now be sure to lay off red meat and eggs and eat a lot of oatmeal, tofu and veggies. You want to be sure your wine-starved arteries don't get all clogged up.

[govnor]

I'm with Frankie on this one. When I say the smartest thing to do is never carry when drinking, it's just for the reason that a cop might smell the one glass of wine on your breath and then pin you with carrying while drinking. I doubt that 99% of LEOs would care, but there's always that one...

A group of heavy drinkers with CHLs can actually be a fun group of guys. I'd have to say from reading the responses to this thread, we are in the minority. That, or people are afraid to admit to some things. Don't worry, I won't invite you guys out to our drunken parties in the country. We drink beer, we shoot guns, then we fish and drink some more beer and then eat fried fish. It's fun! Yes, we put the guns away when the bottle of Jack comes out. No one drives home after that. Well, then there's always the fireworks late at night (and more beer).

Don't think I advocate drinking and driving, because I don't. I'm just saying that it does happen...a LOT. And yeah, you can probably take me off of the donor list...even though I ride a liter class sportsbike.

[TIN BENDER]

I have followed this thread from DSARGE for quite a while.
I reread his initial post a couple of times and keep getting
the same image each time to the questions he submits.


OTIS CAMPBELL.

[DSARGE]

I have followed this thread from DSARGE for quite a while.
I reread his initial post a couple of times and keep getting
the same image each time to the questions he submits.


OTIS CAMPBELL.

Tin Bender,
Thank you for your comment. As far as "the questions I submit", this is the only one I have posted concerning drinking. I enjoy reading the topics and debates on this site, and you have to admit with nine pages, this was a pretty popular one. I have learned more about carrying concealed on this site than anywhere else because of people posting any and every question, as well as the educated answers of all the readers. As far as me giving you the image of "Otis Campbell", if you met me in person you would see I am quite the opposite. If you are intersted in my reliability, pm me and you might be quite surprised. However, I just returned from overseas and had three glasses of wine one night. have a nice day.

[pbandjelly]

don't feel bad, man, I don't even know who Otis Campbell is (yes I will look'em up on WikiPedia, but wanted to post this first).

I get more of the Sgt Slaughter in my head. and that's just cause of yer screenname, no offense intended.

[TIN BENDER]

NO SIR !!
No way was that directed at you. I saw an episode of Mayberry once where Otis and a few others were going to be deputies and they were not allowed to carry a gun.
Sometimes around here when someone acts foolish because of having too much we usually nominate that person to win the "Otis Campbell Award".
No way was that directed to you or anyone in particular sir.
I apoligize for the misunderstanding.
I hope this settles that.

[TIN BENDER]

OBTW . DSARGE , no disrespect, but your initial post contained 4 questions.

[pbandjelly]

you were talking about that hypothetical "gun totin' drinker"