COLUMBIA, SC --

The South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill Tuesday afternoon that would allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry their guns into bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.

Anyone carrying a concealed weapon would not be allowed to drink, and bars and restaurants would still have the option of posting signs saying concealed weapons are not allowed.

The bill passed by a vote of 15-7, with opponents saying mixing alcohol with guns is a bad idea.

Sen. Sean Bennett, R-Summerville, the main sponsor of the bill, says, "I completely agree. Guns and alcohol do not mix. That's why very specifically in this bill we tailored it that alcohol consumption is not permitted when carrying your concealed weapon."

He says concealed weapons permit holders have asked for the law because now they can't keep their guns with them when they go into restaurants that serve alcohol, even if they're not drinking.

Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said during the committee debate that a CWP holder told of being inside a restaurant that was being robbed, but not being able to do anything about it because he had to leave his gun in his car. And other CWP holders told of being mugged, or feeling threatened, while walking to or from a restaurant and their guns were in their cars.

Sen. Bennett says, "These are the folks that are responsible, and they just want to be able to go out to dinner with their families and protect themselves."

The full House of Representatives passed a similar bill last year by a vote of 90 to 5, but the Senate did not take action. Now that the the Senate Judiciary Committee has passed the bill, it goes to the full Senate for a vote.