(California) Assembly passes crackdown on carrying unloaded handguns in public

[jpak]

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/17/3631817/assembly-passes-crackdown-on-carrying.html

Saying you don't need a gun to order a cheeseburger, a California lawmaker Monday pushed through the Assembly a crackdown on carrying unloaded handguns in public places.

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino's legislation takes aim at a movement that encourages people to show up at public places with unloaded handguns strapped to their side.

"Our families deserve to feel safe in our parks and coffee shops," said Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge.

"You don't need a handgun to order a cheeseburger," he said. "You don't need a handgun to order a cup of coffee."

<more>

:bounce:

This does not bode well for the GOP/NRA - California has historically been a belleweather state for national social issues.

GOP/NRA over-reach meets reality

yup

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. What's the point of wearing an unloaded gun anyway?

Oh, I think I know........

[jpak]

2. You are entirely correct

yup

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[eqfan592]

7. Seriously, what is it with the anti gun folks and penis metaphors???

You guys seem practically obsessed with turning firearms into phallic metaphors. It just befuddles me.

[X_Digger]

4. Yes, please.. go ahead and ban it. It'll then be the next SCOTUS case

Heller and McDonald were all about 'keep'. We've been needing a good case to take to the SCOTUS re 'bear'.

Somehow the story of b'rer rabbit and the briar patch comes to mind.

[beevul]

5. Yup.

In a couple years, they'll be wishing things were like they used to be.

They know not what they do.

[jpak]

9. The NRA should sue the SCOTUS to allow guns in their chambers - see how far that gets

:rofl:

[X_Digger]

10. Please don't ban open carry.. noooo ;)

Go right ahead, your mouth is open, please to be inserting foot.

You do know that the AG of California argued against the McDonald case being argued for just this reason, don't you? He knew that if the right case were argued, he'd lose the ability to enforce some of the more restrictive laws that CA currently has on the books.

"Please, b'rer bear, don't throw me in the briar patch!"

[Upton]

6. What can you expect from a nanny state..

that received the Brady Bunch's highest ranking? I grew up in the Bay Area, and I still miss it sometimes, but it's this kind of nonsense that makes me happy I made the choice to move to Washington state..

[eqfan592]

8. So, California, with all of its massive problems...

..decided that THIS issue was the priority, huh? I think California's over-reach has been and will continue to meet reality in the future.

yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup yup

[spin]

11. California has hardly been a "belleweather" state for open or concealed carry ...

(Note: I believe you mean bellwether.)

California has had the same laws since 1986 while the rest of the country wisely allowed concealed and loaded open carry.


Interestingly enough California's current strange open carry law requiring unloaded weapons was a result of racial fear generated by the Black Panther Party.

Black Panther Party

***snip***

Attracting new members through their high visibility, the Panthers sprang to national attention in 1967. Antagonism toward the party by law enforcement officials had prompted California lawmakers to consider GUN CONTROL. In May 1967, legislators met in Sacramento, the state capital, to discuss a bill that would criminalize the carrying of loaded weapons within city limits. To Seale and Newton, chairman and minister of defense of the BPP, respectively, the proposed law was unjust. Governor RONALD REAGAN was on the lawn of the state legislature as 30 armed Black Panthers arrived and entered the building. TV cameras followed the group's progress to the legislative chambers, where they were stopped by police officers, Seale shouting, "Is this the way the racist government works— won't let a man exercise his constitutional rights?" He then read a prepared statement:

The Black Panther Party calls upon American people in general and black people in particular to take full note of the racist California legislature which is now considering legislation aimed at keeping the black people disarmed and powerless, at the very same time that racist police agencies throughout the country are intensifying the terror, brutality, murder and repression of black people.emphasis added

The Panthers kept their guns, left the building, and were subsequently disarmed by the police.

Read more: Black Panther Party - Further Readings - Panthers, Police, Fbi, Seale, and African http://law.jrank.org/pages/4775/Black-Panther-Party.html#ixzz1MdAMifxa]

Mulford Act

The Mulford Act was a 1967 California bill prohibiting the public carrying of loaded firearms. Named after assemblyman Don Mulford, the bill garnered national attention after the Black Panthers marched on the California Capitol to protest the bill<1><2>. The bill was signed by California Governor Ronald Reagan and became California penal code 12031 and 171(c)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulford_Act

[ileus]

12. Hopefully this will let our friends carry loaded...carrying unloaded is worse than being unarmed.