Local Resident Fires On New Gun Ban

On Oct. 10, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a measure banning the open carrying of handguns in California.

The law, Assembly Bill 144 (Portantino, D-Pasadena), makes it a misdemeanor to carry an exposed and unloaded gun in a public place.

The law takes effect Jan. 1.

The National Rifle Association had called on the governor to veto the bill on the grounds that “the open carrying of firearms by law-abiding citizens is caused by California’s unfair concealed carry laws, which allow citizens from one county to apply for and receive a permit while neighbors in the next county are denied that basic right in an arbitrary manner.”

The measure’s proponents have argued the bill makes residents safer. In a Oct. 10 press release, Dr. Dallas Stout, president of the California Brady Campaign Chapters said, “By prohibiting the open carry of guns, we can now take our families to the park or out to eat without the worry of getting shot by some untrained, unscreened, self-appointed vigilante.”

Patch has received a handful of angry emails about the ban. None have shown support for the new law.

Below are comments forwarded by one Lake Elsinore resident who argues AB 144 makes California residents less safe:

I am 37. I am a Patriot. I have the Bill of Rights laser-etched on my handgun to remind the ignorant.

I have been around guns all my life, and so have my kids. We reload our own rounds, and my dad and my wife’s dad were both range officers at the Lake Elsinore Gun Range before it was closed.

I remember my dad loaning the scared neighbors some guns when Richard Ramirez, the "Night Stalker," was around.

And I have been personally affected by violent crime. While in Buena Park, I was robbed at gunpoint. Fortunately, a truck pulled into the parking lot I was in and spooked the gun-wielding robbers.

I can’t say pissing my pants felt good, but it was a lot better than dying.

If I was carrying, I would have been in a different situation.  

We know what happens if we rely on the police to show up. It took them over 10 minutes to arrive after I was robbed – and the incident happened across the street from the Buena Park Police Department!

Also, after a string of residential break-ins in my neighborhood, my trucks were burglarized at 2 a.m. early one morning. I went outside with my 9mm and caught all three robbers in three different vehicles they were robbing. If I was not armed, I would have been easily overtaken.

With the new law, I would be arrested for taking my gun out in public!

An extreme example is the Oslo massacre that occurred earlier this year -- police arrived too late to aid most campers.

My point being, whose life is worth the wait?

I strongly object to the way our 2nd Amendment is not being upheld. "Shall not be infringed" seems to not ring a bell with our politicians. It’s a sad day we live in when you can’t buy a handgun to protect yourself.

I must have an actual death threat to get a concealed permit, which has a bunch of hoops and fees. It’s basically impossible unless you are a cop or a celebrity. The hothead Sean Penn got a permit after aggressively attacking Madonna's paparazzi!

So, to take away open carry as well takes away my ability to protect myself.

Signed, Anonymous

Editor’s Note:

In addition to AB 144, on Oct. 10 the governor also signed into law the following legislation pertaining to firearms:

Senate Bill 819 allows the Department of Justice to use the Dealer Record of Sales funds to help pay for enforcement of California firearm possession laws in the Armed & Prohibited Persons Systems program.

Assembly Bill 809 requires the registration of any newly purchased long guns. 

Senate Bill 610 standardizes the application process for a permit to carry a concealed handgun. 

On Oct. 10 the governor also vetoed Senate Bill 427, which would have granted authority to law enforcement to collect sales records from ammunition retailers, and require ammunition vendors to notify local law enforcement of their intention to engage in the business of selling ammunition.