State Rep. John Heaton cited safety as one reason he sponsored a law to allow New Mexicans with concealed-carry permits to bring guns into restaurants that sell beer and wine.

"It creates a zone of defenselessness when you have to leave your gun in the car," the Carlsbad Democrat said, citing testimony from victims of stalkers. Another justification for Heaton's bill, which Gov. Bill Richardson signed into law this week: Preventing the theft of guns from cars.

But some Santa Fe restaurant workers say the new law — which goes into effect July 1 — makes them feel less safe, not more.

"I think it's a horrible idea," said Nora Lopez, who along with her husband, Luis Ortega, owns restaurants in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Española — all called Mariscos La Playa — which serve beer and wine. "I don't think it's safe for us or our employees or our customers."

As a server, Lopez said, she has seen customers' behaviors change after one or two beers. "Sometimes they get very happy," she said, "Sometimes they get very angry."

Heaton pointed out that the law says people carrying concealed weapons aren't supposed to drink alcoholic beverages. In his experience, Heaton said, people who apply for permits to legally carry concealed weapons "police themselves very carefully."

"They cannot drink while they are carrying," Heaton said. "So they don't drink. I've never seen a group of people more respectful of a license."

Heaton said establishments that don't want patrons bringing weapons onto the premises can "simply post signs that guns are not allowed."

But Honey Yohalem, co-owner of Il Piatto restaurant in downtown Santa Fe, called the new law "ridiculous."

"You never know when people are going to go off the deep end," she said, "especially in today's economic climate when people are having a lot of financial issues."

Yohalem said she hasn't decided yet whether to post a sign prohibiting concealed weapons at Il Piatto. She said she doesn't feel her customers are inclined to carry guns, but she's not sure it would make much difference if they did.

"I can't pat them down when they come through the door," Yohalem said, adding that she couldn't imagine someone saying to themselves "Oh, they have a sign, I'll put it back in the car."

Some in the restaurant industry have speculated that more servers, who often carry large amounts of cash from tips, will apply for permits to carry weapons now that they can bring them to work.

"I don't like the idea," Lopez said. "Sometimes people who are fired from their work come back with a gun."

Santa Fe workers at Cafe Castro, Ristra and Real Food Nation also said they opposed the new law.

But not everyone The New Mexican interviewed felt the same way.

"I have no problems with it at all," said Dave Rusanowski, a manager at Saveur restaurant. "The way things are now you don't even know if someone is carrying anyway."

Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com