With as much ink as is devoted to House Bill 89, it is remarkable that there is often a deficit of fact and reality. HB 89 contains language that would allow more than 300,000 Georgians who have undergone background checks and satisfied other requirements to obtain concealed handgun licenses the ability to defend themselves in restaurants.

Ron Wolf of the Georgia Restaurant Association decries this proposal ("Take guns off the menu," @issue April 29). We think that is unreasonable. Even the finest restaurants cannot guarantee patrons sanctuary from criminal attack and life-threatening violence. In fact, some of the most horrific crimes in this country have occurred at restaurants. Furthermore, these restaurants welcome with open arms their celebrity and other VIP clientele with their armed security in tow. So, why does the GRA have a double standard with "regular people"? The GRA must think somehow "regular people" are less valuable. Well, the National Rifle Association disagrees.

Thirty-four states in this country already allow restaurant carry. This means 34 states have worked with restaurant owners and restaurant associations to figure out a mutually feasible program. The GRA makes cataclysmic predictions of increased violence in restaurants. However, research by pro-gun and anti-gun groups has not detected a single, isolated incident of a license holder committing an act of violence with a firearm in these establishments. In reality, hard empirical evidence from 34 states reveal that no such predictions have come true. This is an extraordinary record of law-abiding, responsible conduct in light of the fact that millions of licensed citizens carry firearms into these establishments literally tens of millions of times each year. Consequently, there have been no attempts to amend or repeal any restaurant carry laws.

Additionally, GRA concerns about HB 89 increasing economic and labor challenges to the restaurant industry are void of merit. Restaurants throughout the rest of the country have found that allowing restaurant carry has had zero negative impact on their bottom line. Why should Georgia be any different?

HB 89 specifies that licensees may not consume alcohol while carrying firearms in these establishments and that owners of these properties may post a notice prohibiting firearms possession in the same manner as all other property owners. Any permit holder who violates this will lose his or her permit.

The truth is that while legitimate concerns that folks such as Wolf or groups such as the GRA have raised are addressed in HB 89, the reality is that nothing but a veto will satisfy their zeal. About a year ago, this became less a debate over good public policy and more a debate over ego. The media drew a line in the sand and declared this a heavyweight battle —- by political standards, of course —- between gun owners and Big Business in Georgia. The ensuing melee has made for good theater, but at the expense of Georgia citizens and good public policy. One would be correct in describing it as an understatement to say that the NRA and Georgia gun owners are committed to seeing HB 89 become law in Georgia. It is a good bill that will make good public policy, and we urge Gov. Sonny Perdue to sign it.

> Chris W. Cox is chief lobbyist with the National Rifle Association.