Bill To Ban Open Carry Passes California Assembly

Jun 1, 2010

Sacramento, California – Today, legislation to ban the open carrying of handguns in public areas passed the California State Assembly by a vote of 46-30.  The legislation, AB 1934, authored by Assembly Member Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego), is supported by the California Brady Campaign Chapters, the California Police Chiefs Association  and Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC).  The legislation now heads to the California State Senate for consideration.

“This is a great first step to stop the practice of carrying of openly-displayed handguns in California,” said Dallas Stout, President of the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.  “This dangerous practice not only threatens the safety of Californians but also is waste of police resources.”  Last fall, gun enthusiasts began gathering a Starbucks establishments and other restaurants with their guns strapped to their hips, often with ammunition in their back pockets.  Usually, police were called to the scene with reports of  “man with a gun”.

California law allows for the open carry of handguns in public but the handgun is required to be unloaded.    Some gun enthusiasts simply get around the law by carrying their ammunition magazine in their back pocket.  In fact one gun lobby website states, “With a little practice, one can easily load a handgun in under two seconds”.

Furthermore those who carry handguns in public are not required to undergo any training or acquire a permit.    Law enforcement is only allowed to check to see whether the gun is unloaded. “The unregulated carrying of exposed guns is intimidating and threatening to the people in our communities,” Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “People who are carrying guns openly may even be people who are prohibited from possessing a firearm.”

The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence recently released the results of a poll showing broad discomfort with open carry.  The poll of 600 registered voters was conducted by Lake Research Partners.  Among the findings:

The poll of 600 registered voters was conducted April 26-28, and carries a margin of error of plus or minus four percent.  Among the findings:

•    Fifty-two percent oppose allowing people in general, not just those connected to law enforcement, to carry loaded guns openly in public;

•    Fifty percent of voters feel less safe knowing that people not connected to law enforcement can carry guns in public, while 38 percent feel more safe.

•    A majority – 51 percent of those polled – said they were less likely to vote for a candidate who makes it easier for people to carry loaded guns in public, compared to 27 percent who were more likely to support such a candidate. Fully 63 percent of women said they were less likely to vote for a candidate who makes it easier to carry guns in public.

•    Women across all groups oppose open carry broadly – 76 percent of women of color, 68 percent of urban women and older women, 59 percent of suburban women 55 percent of younger women and a majority of rural women.
 
•    A similar majority – 56 percent of those polled – favor Starbucks and other retail establishments establishing strict “no guns” policies for their businesses – and far more gun owners support a “no guns” policy for Starbucks than believe Starbucks and other businesses should allow firearms on their premises.

As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies.  The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities. 
 
Visit the Brady Campaign website at www.bradycampaign.org.  For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read Paul Helmke's blog at www.bradycampaign.org/blog/.

###

###

As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities

Dan Gross is the President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. A photo and more information about Dan Gross is available here.
For continuing insight and comments on the gun issue, read The Brady Blog

Brady News Releases are available via RSS