[CA] California bans [unloaded] gun toting in public

From California, comes this latest infringement:

California Gov. Jerry Brown announced Monday that he signed into law a measure that bans handgun owners from openly carrying their weapons in public.

Previous regulations had allowed the open carrying of unloaded handguns in public, but police chiefs and sheriffs objected to the rule because people felt frightened when they saw handguns in public places.

“They are tied up dealing with calls from the public about gun-toting men and women in the coffee shop,” California Assemblyman Antony Portantino, who introduced the bill, said last month. “As law enforcement officials tell me, it’s not safe and someone is going to get hurt.” ...

So both loaded and unloaded open carry is now illegal in the Golden State.

[MI] When Gun Law Doesn’t Mean What It Says

From Michigan, on open carry:

One of the interesting things about teaching and practicing gun law is the fact that this area of law is not well-settled.

It is cutting-edge, developing law. For example, readers may be aware that only very recently did the US Supreme Court rule, in McDonald v Chicago, that the Second Amendment applies to the states.

Rather than being the end of the debate, that ruling led to Chicago adopting the most restrictive gun control regime in the United States, which was almost immediately challenged in court. The new case, and others like it, will help to define the outlines of our Second Amendment rights by forcing courts to rule on what restrictions are reasonable.

We have similar issues of Michigan law currently being played out in Michigan courts. One of them is the right of CPL (Concealed Pistol License) Holders to carry openly in places where others are prohibited from possessing firearms. ...

Read the rest here.

Bravo to those who open carry their weapons

Article on open carry from Denver Gun Rights Examiner Dan Bidstrup:

Those who choose to carry their weapons openly are making a statement every time they step out their door. It forces everyone who sees them to confront the whole gun issue. There may be some who are morbidly afraid of the kind of people who would carry a gun, and they will run away. There may be some who come over and slap you on the back and commend your civic spirit. There may be some who promptly call 911 to report you, and when the police come you get to have a nice conversation about municipal laws and the Second Amendment to the US constitution. Educating is important, but it might make you late to a meeting.

...

Openly carrying a gun also shows the general public over and over that a person who is not a police officer can carry a weapon and not shoot anybody at the grocery store or otherwise going about their business. There will be a slow desensitization in our society that will go on, until spotting a pistol on someone's belt is observed and evaluated by the average person like an interesting car or unusual boots, just part of the landscape. There is also the salutory effect on criminals who choose not to attack in a place with armed citizens. Even if they don't choose to attack the person with the gun, they don't know if that person might seek to rescue your un-armed victim. It makes their life harder. ...

Read the article here.

[MI] Flint moves forward on gun control ordinance change, despite fears of increased violence

Flint, Michigan voted to repeal city's illegal open carry ban:

FLINT, Michigan — The Flint City Council moved forward on eliminating the city's illegal ban on openly carrying loaded weapons in public — but some council members weren't happy about it.

A local ordinance that bans people from openly carrying a loaded gun isn’t consistent with state law, which allows people to carry handguns openly as long as they are visible and in holsters.

The city attorney said the city must update its ordinance to comply with state law, or risk legal challenge. ...

Article here.