Advocates to Press Point at Eateries in April

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) vetoed the bill, saying it would endanger restaurant employees and customers.

He said he based his decision on recommendations from the law enforcement community. Legislators tried but failed to override Kaine's veto.

"In most urban areas, you walk into a restaurant with a gun on your hip, they're going to tell you to get out," Saslaw said March 5 during a debate to override the veto. "You're not going to get any meal or any drink."

Saslaw said in an interview that he and his wife dine out "all the time" and that they have never seen anyone in a restaurant in his district with a gun. He said he did know of the April events.

"If the owner . . . wants them to get out, then they need to get out," Saslaw said.

Mike Stollenwerk, co-founder of OpenCarry.org, which advocates gun rights, said it is not unusual for people to carry guns into restaurants in Saslaw's district, and they are almost never asked to leave.

"They don't turn away paying customers," Stollenwerk said.

Lisk said, however, that it is not common for customers to openly display firearms in restaurants in the state, and few have policies on what steps to take if customers do. He said that, when faced with the situation, some restaurants owners will ask people to leave.

Del. James M. Scott (D-Fairfax), who unsuccessfully pushed this year for a law that would require gun sellers to conduct background checks on all buyers at gun shows, said he has never seen anyone in a restaurant in Northern Virginia with a gun.

"I would think if restaurants knew, they would not like that at all," he said. "Nobody denies their right to bring a gun in, but it's pretty clear that if it's private property, they can be asked to leave."