The Los Angeles Times reports
Californians will no longer be able to openly carry rifles and shotguns in cities under legislation signed Friday by Gov. Jerry Brown.
The bill was responding to public demonstrations by gun owners who were showing up at coffee shops and other public places carrying long guns to demonstrate their right to bear arms.What could be simpler than that?
The bill by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada-Flintridge) closes a loophole left when the state last year banned the open carrying of unloaded handguns in public.
"This shows an unequivocal commitment from law enforcement and state government to ensure the public safety of families in our neighborhoods and public places,'' Portantino said, adding it allows law enforcement to "focus on pressing duties free from the threat of an 'open carry' stop spiraling out of control or turning deadly." There are exceptions, including for military employees in parades and people at target ranges.
The new measure, which takes effect Jan. 1, was supported by Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca because of concern that officers responding to citizens' calls might have difficulty telling peaceful demonstrators from armed criminals.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
Another example of Jackbooted thugism.
ReplyDelete...it allows law enforcement to "focus on pressing duties free from the threat of an 'open carry' stop spiraling out of control or turning deadly."
or they could have just switched to shall issue for conceal carry and came to the same conclusion.
Savor a victory for your side, but remember that this happened in the People's Republic of Kalifornyia. You're losing everywhere else, and you'll eventually lose in the control-freak states, too.
ReplyDeleteIn California, all you have to do is follow the law, and some anti-gunner will be sure to put a stop to it.
ReplyDeleteA solution in search of a problem. This law will have no effect on the crime rate in California and will ultimately be rather pointless. I guess if you're in favor of lawmakers wasting their time on useless endeavors, then celebrate away! Personally I think California lawmakers' time would be better spent working on their budget crisis.
ReplyDelete"The bill was responding to public demonstrations by gun owners who were showing up at coffee shops and other public places carrying long guns to demonstrate their right to bear arms."
ReplyDeleteSo criminalizing open carry wasn't about improving safety or reducing crime, it was about stopping people from demonstrating. That sounds like a 1st Amendment (Free Speech) infringement on top of the 2nd Amendment (right to keep and bear arms) infringement.
An example where pro-gun extremists shoot themselves in the foot. If they hadn't been openly protesting, likely the law wouldn't have changed.
ReplyDeleteAnd well it should be. Normal, sane people don't see the value in carrying around rifles and shotguns in public. It's alarmist and completely unnecessary to do so, and invites accidents, theft, and hysteria.
Normal, sane people don't feel the need to control the lives of others.
DeleteBaldr said..."If they hadn't been openly protesting, likely the law wouldn't have changed."
DeleteI guess you feel the same way about those damn blacks riding in the front of the bus, too?