While I can see why they may not want firearms in their stores, a true CHL holder is smart enough to conceal without being noticed. Unless they plan on doing a pat down of everybody going in or putting metal detectors in, good luck keeping that enforced. I think this is mainly targeting those idiots who aren't properly educated in what it means to have the privilege of owning a firearm.
@bp2018: News
Kingwood grandmother accidently shot in restaurant still struggling to recover
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by Courtney Zubowski / KHOU 11 News
khou.com
Posted on May 23, 2011 at 5:58 PM
Updated
Tuesday, May 24 at 10:12 AM
Related:
Family of woman accidentally shot at restaurant files lawsuit against gun ownerWoman shot by man who dropped gun in restaurant released from hospital Family of woman accidentally shot at restaurant wants criminal charges filedMan who accidentally shot woman in restaurant: I’m totally distraught Family: Long recovery ahead for woman accidentally shot in rear at restaurant
HOUSTON -- Since an accidental
shooting in a northeast Houston restaurant earlier this year, a Kingwood
grandmother can walk, but not without a brace or a cane.
It’s been a long recovery for Diana Barker; and nearly five months after
she was shot while eating dinner at Raffa’s, she’s still struggling to
get her life back.
The 71-year-old woman was shot in the rear on Jan. 13 as she dined with
her husband and friends. Police said the man sitting next to her, who
has a concealed-handgun license, had a gun in his jacket. It fell out of
his pocket, onto the floor and fired.
Barker said she thought was she was going to die moments after the gun fired.
“Suddenly there was this almighty bang -- nobody knew what it was and
then suddenly I felt a bullet go in my rear," said Barker. “I shouted,
‘I’ve been shot,’ and I guess I slumped to the floor at that stage, and I
remember Paul screaming, ‘Get the police, get the ambulance.”
Paramedics rushed Barker to Ben Taub Hospital.
“I thought I was going to die, I really didn’t think at that stage, I
really wasn’t sure where I was, or what was going on, and I really
didn’t know anything for the next four days,” said Barker.
Barker woman spent two weeks at Ben Taub Hospital and was later transferred to TIRR, where she spent the next four weeks.
“One cannot believe how your life can change from a happy occasion,
sitting having dinner and suddenly, you don’t go home again for six
weeks and it’s a life-and-death situation,” said Barker.
She’s already had three surgeries and will need a least one more.
“It perforated all of my intestines, so I do have a colostomy, which
hopefully will be reversed in due course, lots of pain, lots of
suffering,” she said.
Barker’s medical bills already come to more than $300,000. She has filed a civil lawsuit against the gun owner.
The Harris County District’ Attorney’s office is investigating the case,
but at this time, the gun owner, who also lives in Kingwood, is not
facing criminal charges. The Barkers said they would like criminal
charges brought against the gun owner, but she doesn’t feel that he
deserves jail time.
In a previous interview with KHOU 11 News, the gun owner said he didn’t
realize he had a loaded gun in his jacket because he hadn’t worn that
jacket in at least a year.
“He’s changed our lives, not just mine, the whole family,” said Barker.
“I don’t know the man, I’ve never heard from him, so I don’t know what
type of man he is, but I just hope he everyday thinks about the pain
that I’ve suffered.”
Her husband said gun safety has become a passion in their house.
“I think it has to be brought home to people that this can lead to huge
consequences, either loss of life, or considerable expense as far as
medical bills are concerned, or spoiling people’s lives or having the
potential of ruling people’s lives,” said Paul Barker.
Portions of Barker’s left leg and foot are paralyzed. She said she hopes
to one day regain the feeling in her leg and foot and walk again
without assistance.
“I have great faith and hope that things will work out like that,” she
said. “It has not been easy, it has been a long haul and a struggle, but
thanks to a wonderful husband and family and friends, I’ve made it.”
On Thursday, Barker and others will be honored at the Harris County Hospital District’s Trauma Survivors Celebration.
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