You know what’s crazy? I’ll tell you what’s crazy!
Bartenders being treated like fire breathing terrorists!
They’re bartenders for goodness sakes, not shoe bombers.
It’s not like Osama Bin Laden is pouring margaritas and lighting pipe bombs.
Bartenders are your friends. They’re easy going guys and gals just trying to make a buck and entertain weary souls in a dusty bar.
DATELINE: MANASSA, Va.
For 13 years, the bartenders at Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern have been dazzling bar patrons with fire breathing feats of splendor. The men and women behind the bar juggled fire sticks and illuminated the darkened bar with sparks of wonder.
According to published reports, the bar owner, Jimmy Cirrito, estimates his bartenders have breathed fire more than 900 times in the past 13 years.
Breathed Fire 900 times! 13 years! No deaths, no mishaps, no baby’s left in the back of the bar.
Sounds like a pretty safe record to me.
But, out of nowhere, the Fairfax Co. Fire Marshals office decides to investigate and lower the boom.
And lower the boom they do as two Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern bartenders are arrested on criminal charges.
According published reports, the two bartenders were charged with manufacturing and using an explosive device.
These are felonies people!
They’re bartenders for goodness sakes. They are working for tips hoping you leave a dollar after they pour you a pale ale.
It’s not like they are setting fire to the vacant warehouse down the street and then getting their rocks off while they watch the fire department arrive on scene.
MANUFACTURING AND USING AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE?
Give me a break.
Sure it’s unconventional to blow burning alcohol into the air in a bar, but apparently this is what they do at Jimmy’s.
They’ve been doing it for years and years and nobody has ever suffered any serious injuries.
If I’m the fire marshal, maybe I give the bartenders a warning. Something like…
“If you suck any more alcohol into your pie holes and spit it over a flame to create a fire breathing dragon effect, you will be charged with crimes that will cause you to be constipated.”
A warning would have gotten my attention. If I’m hustling for tip money to make my rent, I get a notice that says stop the fire breathing tom-foolery and I’m done.
The Washington Examiner said the bartenders could face up to 45 years in prison.
45 years in prison! Like the tax payers of Virginia really want to foot that bill.
Whose prosecuting this abomination, Genghis Khan?
Authorities said the charges came after a fire that caused $200 in damages in the restaurant.
Really?
Jimmy Cirrito told local reporters: “nothing has been damaged other than some fire-resistant ceiling tiles becoming discolored over the years.”
900 times. 13 years.
The ceiling tiles are probably discolored from 10,000,000 cigarettes being lit in this little juke joint.
“They were being treated as if they were terrorists, charged as if they intentionally tried to burn down the tavern,” he told the Washington Examiner.
I get it fire marshals office. Blowing fire out of your face can be dangerous, but really, charging them like they are terrorists? I think this is over kill.
drop the charges, and give the bar tenders back their jobs.
I’ll tell you what, start a wet t shirt contest. Let’s see what the Fire Marshal has to say about that.
and that is crazy.