From Assembly Member Anthony Portantino's office.
Assembly Member Anthony Portantino’s public safety measure to expand on last year’s ban on openly carried handguns has passed the state Senate Public Safety Committee on a vote of 4 to 2.
AB 1527 would outlaw the “open carry” of unloaded long guns such as rifles or shotguns.
at the urging of law enforcement as a follow up to last year’s successful AB 144, which banned openly carrying an unloaded handgun in public places.
“Last year, we tried to craft a narrow bill to close a loophole in the hopes that gun enthusiasts would support ending this dangerous practice,” explained Portantino. “Unfortunately, the “open carry” folks reacted by carrying rifles and other long guns, alarming the public and creating a potentially dangerous situation. As law enforcement officials tell us, it not only creates a tense situation, but wastes time and money when police have to roll out and respond to these unnecessary calls.”
AB 1527 builds on the law authored by Portantino last year and contains a similar list of exemptions to enable safe transportation, lawful hunting, and use by law enforcement officials. The measure would authorize similar penalties – a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and a fine of up to $1000 – for individuals who openly carry unloaded long guns in public.
AB 1527 has the support of California Police Chiefs Association, Peace Officers Research Association of California, California Chapters of the Brady Campaign and Legal Community Against Violence.
Where I agree with EVERYTHING you say except, the HELLO LITTLE GIRL part, when you say that no one listens, therefore your efforts are lost. We are in fact giving up our right to act as responsible people because we live in a world of irresponsible people, this is in fact a very slippery slope. Once something becomes the law of the land the Supreme Court uses those uncontested "bills" "Laws", and "rules" to vet (sp) it's future decisions. Just a note the Second amendment says we have a right to defend hearth and home, so this bill doesn't truly challenge the Constitution, it just chips away at it.
I just believe people carrying around rifles on the street will make the streets much less safe.
May the below quote answer your question "WHY would anyone need a rifle in public?" "Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the people's liberty teeth keystone... the rifle and the pistol are equally indispensable... more than 99% of them by their silence indicate that they are in safe and sane hands. The very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference. When firearms go, all goes, we need them every hour." -George Washington (Address to 1st session of Congress) I hope
Here's another relevant quote: "I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." -James Madison I can only imagine he would disapprove of AB 1527