Politics & Government

Local Assemblyman Introduces Bill to Ban Open Carry of Guns

The legislation is virtually identical to a bill introduced last year which would make it illegal to carry an unloaded weapon in public view.

A new bill introduced by one of Monrovia's representatives in the state assembly would make it illegal for California residents to openly carry an unloaded firearm in public.

Current state law bans people from carrying loaded firearms in public, but in the past few years "open carry" advocates who wear unloaded weapons in coffee shops and other public venues have gotten increased attention in California.

The bill, AB 144, was introduced by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge, on Thursday.  If it were passed, violation of the law would be punishable with misdemeanor charges of up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, according to Wendy Gordon, a spokeswoman for Portantino.

Gordon said that the timing of the bill is not related to the that left six dead and a congresswoman seriously wounded.

She added that Portantino introduced the bill at the request of several police advocacy groups.

Arizona's laws do not restrict carrying firearms, unloaded or loaded, concealed or in the open.

While the Arizona shootings did result in a few calls from members of congress and columnists for more gun control, national polls taken since the shootings have not shown any large increase in public support for stricter gun laws.

Because of this, open carry advocates who defeated similar California legislation last year are not concerned that the Arizona case will have any bearing on public support for Portantino's bill.

"I think the public realizes that no gun laws are going to prevent a situation like the Arizona shooting," said Sam Paredes, the chief lobbyist for the Gun Owners for California group.

He said that nobody has ever linked someone practicing open carry of causing a crime.

"It's a symbolic solution to a non-existent problem," Paredes said.

Portantino, of course, does not agree.

"Average Californians understand police officers displaying loaded weapons, they understand hunters, and they even understand those folks who are legally licensed to a carry a weapon," Portantino wrote in a statement.  "What they don’t want is a proliferation of public displays of weapons for no purpose."

The bill has the support of the California Police Chiefs Association and the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC).  Lt. Ron Cottingham, the president of PORAC, said in a statement that police officers fear that the sight of an armed person could lead to an unfortunate accident.

“These people work in groups and they are trained on how to confront peace officers.  It is scary for our neighborhoods and businesses,” wrote Cottingham.  “It is not safe, and I fear a horrible accident could happen if something is not done about it.  That is why PORAC supports AB 144.”

The bill will next go through various committee for debate and amendments.  There is no set timetable on the bill, but in recent years, most legislation has taken until the end of the legislative session in September to get passed and onto the governor's desk.


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