PHOENIX - The governor vetoed a bill yesterday that would allow people to carry their guns into bars unless the bar owners objected.
Gov. Janet Napolitano said one of the reasons she did not want to allow people to have their guns in bars was because law enforcement and bar owners, those who would be most affected by the bill, did not support it.
In her veto message explaining why she did not sign the bill, she said she respected the Second Amendment right to bear arms but was concerned about safety.
"When it comes to common sense safety issues, however, I am particularly interested in the views of the law enforcement community," Napolitano wrote in her veto message. "Arizona's law enforcement organizations have consistently opposed this legislation."
Napolitano said bar owners' opinions need to be included for a bill like this to work.
"I am also sympathetic to the concerns of property owners, including the owners of bars and restaurants that would be adversely affected by this bill," Napolitano wrote. "The property owners' concerns must be addressed in any future efforts to legislate in this area."
The bill passed both the Arizona House of Representatives and Senate, but Napolitano waited until her last chance and vetoed it yesterday.
She has five days to sign or veto a bill after the legislature sends it to her for consideration. If she takes no action, the bill automatically becomes law after the fifth day without a signature or veto.
"Good governor, I think it was very wise (to veto the bill)," said Bill Nugent, owner of The Shanty Cafe, 401 N. Ninth St. "Why would you put your customers at risk with someone carrying a gun, who might (be) psycho or taking medication, then throw in alcohol?"
Bar owners and groups like the Arizona Restaurant and Hospitality Association and the Arizona Tourism Alliance were against the bill from the beginning, saying it was a bad idea to mix guns and alcohol.
"They don't mix, guns and alcohol," said Tom Partridge, owner of Bison Witches Bar and Deli, 326 N. Fourth Ave.
The bill contained a provision that would have required those with guns in bars to refrain from drinking, but many said that would be hard to enforce.
Nugent said Napolitano made a good choice, but the fact the bill was ever a possibility was not a surprise to him.
"It proves as we all know there are a lot of people in the State House who are morons," Nugent said.