Oct. 10, 2011
SACRAMENTO, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Openly carrying handguns in public is banned in California under provisions of a bill signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Brown said he "listened to the California police chiefs" and approved the ban, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
Police chiefs said they were concerned that openly carrying handguns would waste officers' time by forcing them to respond to calls about armed suspects and could lead to potentially violent confrontations.
"This finally puts an end to the dangerous and intimidating practice of carrying openly displayed guns in public," Brian Malte, director of state legislation for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, told the Times. "California families will now be able to take their families to the park or out to eat without the worry of getting shot by some untrained, unscreened, self-appointed vigilante."
Under the law, effective Jan. 1, violations will be a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a possible fine of $1,000. Gun owners may still apply to their local law enforcement agency for a permit to carry a concealed firearm.
Opponents, including OpenCarry.org co-founder Mike Stollenwerk, said the law is an attempt to undermine the Second Amendment right to bear arms, the Times said.
"California already has the most convoluted and confusing gun laws in the country," Stollenwerk said, predicting that the ban "will result in mass confusion by police and the public as to what the law is, and prosecution of well-meaning people."
Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/10/10/Calif-bans-carrying-handguns-openly/UPI-47511318254400/.
SACRAMENTO, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Openly carrying handguns in public is banned in California under provisions of a bill signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Brown said he "listened to the California police chiefs" and approved the ban, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
Police chiefs said they were concerned that openly carrying handguns would waste officers' time by forcing them to respond to calls about armed suspects and could lead to potentially violent confrontations.
"This finally puts an end to the dangerous and intimidating practice of carrying openly displayed guns in public," Brian Malte, director of state legislation for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, told the Times. "California families will now be able to take their families to the park or out to eat without the worry of getting shot by some untrained, unscreened, self-appointed vigilante."
Under the law, effective Jan. 1, violations will be a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a possible fine of $1,000. Gun owners may still apply to their local law enforcement agency for a permit to carry a concealed firearm.
Opponents, including OpenCarry.org co-founder Mike Stollenwerk, said the law is an attempt to undermine the Second Amendment right to bear arms, the Times said.
"California already has the most convoluted and confusing gun laws in the country," Stollenwerk said, predicting that the ban "will result in mass confusion by police and the public as to what the law is, and prosecution of well-meaning people."
Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/10/10/Calif-bans-carrying-handguns-openly/UPI-47511318254400/.
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