Quinn Uses Wrigleyville as Example to Keep Guns Out of Restaurants

Gov. Pat Quinn made an appearance in Wrigleyville Friday in an effort to urge lawmakers to accept his proposed changes to Illinois’ concealed carry law, calling the combination of alcohol and guns a “toxic mixture.”

Area restaurant owners and officials stood next to Quinn near the corner of Clark and Addison streets where the governor used Wrigleyville as an example for why guns should be banned from restaurants serving alcohol, the Huffington Post Chicago reports.

“It is an unsettling feeling to stand next to someone doing a couple of shots of tequila or whiskey and having four beers who has a weapon,” Sam Sanchez told the Chicago Sun-Times. He owns Clark Street’s Moe’s Cantina, John Barleycorn and the upcoming Old Crow Smokehouse.

The current legislation bans guns from restaurants where liquor accounts for more than 50 percent of its gross sales, ABC Chicago reports. Quinn’s proposed amendment to the concealed carry measure includes banning guns from any establishment that serves alcohol.

The proposed legislation also bans guns from sporting arenas like Wrigley Field, which has some questioning why they wouldn’t be banned from other businesses serving alcohol. 

"I said guns and alcohol do not mix,” Quinn said, according to DNAinfo Chicago. “That is a toxic mixture."

Quinn vetoed the concealed carry bill last week, submitting a proposal for changes. The General Assembly is scheduled to act by the court-imposed on Tuesday.