The new state "guns in restaurants" law goes into effect this week, but some owners of Santa Fe eateries want no part of it.

The law, passed by the Legislature this year, will allow people with concealed-carry licenses to take their guns into restaurants with beer-and-wine licenses. However, restaurant owners have the right to keep guns out of their establishments. All they have to do is post a sign.

"I've spent time on the Internet looking for signs to download," Katharine Kagel, owner of Pasqual's, a downtown restaurant, said Monday. "I shouldn't have to do this to protect my customers and staff."

The new law, which goes into effect Thursday, has caused concerns in restaurants on the south side of Santa Fe as well. Louie Romero Jr., whose family owns the Horseman's Haven on Cerrillos Road, said his restaurant probably will be posting a sign as well. "We're definitely thinking about it," he told a reporter.

Romero said he's not worried that much about guns. "But some of our customers are uncomfortable with it," he said.

But a Clovis firearms instructor who lobbied the Legislature to pass the bill said restaurants have nothing to fear. It's still illegal for people carrying guns to consume alcohol in a restaurant, Steve Aikens said. Aikens said in the 41 states with concealed-carry laws, no license holder has ever been convicted of an alcohol-related incident in restaurant.

The new law will affect as many as 96 restaurants in Santa Fe. That's the number of eating establishments with beer-and-wine licenses to which the city sent renewal forms, City Clerk Yolanda Vigil said. (Only 52 have responded so far, Vigil said, but more are expected in coming days.) There are about 650 businesses with beer-and-wine licenses statewide, The Associated Press reported.

But the new law has caused concern for owners of some restaurants that aren't even affected by the new law.

Al Lucero of Maria's New Mexican Kitchen said there's confusion in the public about the law and some people might think they can legally bring guns into restaurants, like Maria's, with full-service liquor licenses.

"I'm thinking of putting up a 'No Guns' sign," he said.

Aikens said he respects restaurant-owners' rights not to allow guns. But he said in other parts of the state, resistance to the new law isn't as strong as it is in Santa Fe.

Many people without concealed-gun licenses already are bringing guns into restaurants, he said. Some restaurant owners feel safer knowing properly licensed gun holders will be allowed into their businesses.

State Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup, who sponsored the bill, told the Legislature the bill was necessary because concealed-carry license holders were being forced to leave their guns in their cars, which increased the chance of the guns being stolen. Munoz said that happened to one of his family members.

The state has issued about 17,300 concealed-handgun licenses since 2004, The Associated Press reported. New Mexico also honors concealed-carry permits issued to nonresidents by most other states.

The license is available to New Mexico residents age 21 and over who complete firearms training courses and pass criminal background checks.

It has always been legal for those with a license to take their handguns into restaurants that do not serve alcohol.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.