CSM: Does open-carry gun ban make California safer?
This week in response to the California ban on open carry, The Christian Science Monitor asked the question, “Does open-carry gun ban make California safer?” It attempted to provide answers by getting insight from both sides.
What is interesting is that even in a “balanced” piece, there was some not so subtle bias, which we practically expected. Consider the wording:
“But do stronger gun-control laws make a society safer – as (Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee) Baca suggests – or less safe? It is not clear from statistics whether gun control has lessened crime in the states that have implemented stronger laws, say critics.”
Is this true? Numerous studies have shown that gun control has had little effect on crime, while some studies have shown that gun ownership doesn’t result in crime. But instead CSM’s editors have twisted this, suggesting that it isn’t clear.
While this is a less overtly anti-biased piece than many we’ve seen in the CSM, it is still clear to us that the paper has an agenda – even when they say the facts aren’t so clear.
NRA News: California: Governor Jerry Brown Signs Bills Restricting Rifles, ‘Open Carry’ of Guns
Cam Edwards talks to Ed Worley, NRA-ILA California State Liaison
Governor Brown Limits Open Carry
FoxNews is reporting that gun owners in California will now face new restrictions:
“Gov. Jerry Brown’s says he has signed a measure that bans the open carrying of handguns in California. The law, AB144, makes it a misdemeanor to carry an exposed and unloaded gun in a public place.”
This is a major step back for those in California and it will be interesting to see how the mainstream media responds to this issue.
Oath Keepers: Join Us At 2nd Annual Open Carry Kentucky Gun Rights Rally
Oath Keepers:
Oath Keepers Founder Stewart Rhodes and Sheriff Richard Mack (who is on our National Board of Directors) will both be speaking at this open carry event at the Kentucky State Capitol, in Frankfort this next Saturday, October 8, 2011.
This march is organized by Oath Keepers founding member Rex Bartley, who also organized last year’s march. This is an important event. So far as we know, this is the only open carry rally (including open carry of rifles) at a state capitol. Please turn out to stand with the strong patriots of Kentucky as they exercise their right to bear arms. Read more
Wisconsin Carry Files Second Lawsuit In ‘Madison 5′ Culvers Incident
Wisconsin Carry:
To Recap: On Saturday, September 18, 2010, five (5) members of WCI met for dinner at a Culvers Restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin.
Each of these individuals was openly carrying a handgun when they arrived at the restaurant, entered the restaurant and ordered and ate their meals.
At or about the time that the WCI members finished their meal and left the restaurant, a woman in her car observed them openly carrying handguns and called 911 to report it to the City of Madison Police Department.
The 911 caller informed the dispatcher that she didn’t know if it was an emergency, the men were doing nothing wrong and appeared totally relaxed, weren’t threatening anyone and the restaurant was full of people but they each had sidearms and she didn’t know if that was legal. Read more
L.A. Times Op-Ed Piece Offers Intersesting Take on State Wide Open Carry Ban
Adam Walker penned an interesting and compelling op-ed piece for The Los Angeles Times on what the new legislation that could ban open carry of firearms in California. Winkler writes:
“If, however, California bans what is called ‘open carry,’ the state will probably have to loosen the standards for people to have permits to carry concealed weapons. In California, gun owners can only legally carry a concealed firearm, loaded or unloaded, if they have a permit. And in cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, ‘concealed carry’ permits are very difficult to obtain — arguably too difficult, if AB 144 becomes law.”
Some excellent points that prove the battle for our gun rights is never over.
FoxNews.com: Philly Gun Owner Charged “with disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment”
FoxNews.com is reporting that Mark Fiorino, a suburban Philadelphia IT worker is facing jail time for “disorderly conduct and reckless endangerment,” for reportedly openly carrying a handgun in Philly – which he had a permit for. An officer reportedly confronted Fiorino, apparently not knowing that open carry was completely legal in the city of Brotherly Love with a permit.
But rather than apologize and drop the matter the city is throwing the book at Fiorino and taking aim at other gun owners. Lt. Raymond Evers, a spokesman for the city police, reportedly told FoxNews.com “that gun owners who open carry, which is legal in the city, may be asked to lay on the ground until officers feel safe while they check permits.”
Additionally FoxNews.com noted:
“The warning comes after Mark Fiorino, a suburban Philadelphia IT worker, posted an audiotape to YouTube of his tense, 45-minute encounter with police in February over his exposed handgun. The video went viral and captured national attention.”
Our best wishes to Fiorino for standing up for his (and all of our) rights.
Open Carry Banned in California
The California State Assembly has a passed a bill that will make it a misdemeanor to carry an exposed firearm, even it’s unloaded, in a public place, street or vehicle.
The California Police Chiefs Association hailed the move, suggesting it would “increase public safety.”
Should we be surprised by this ruling in the least?
Philadelphia Weekly: “Cops Don’t Know Their Own Gun Laws”
Do we expect the police to know the law? We do, but this week The Philadelphia Weekly offered an interesting story titled, “Open-Carry Experiment Shows Cops Don’t Know Their Own Gun Laws.”
The story notes that gun-rights activist Mark Fiorino took a stroll around the City of Brotherly Love with a holstered firearm. The author noted:
“One city cop, who requested anonymity, said that he was unaware carrying a firearm openly within the city limits was legal.”
The story further noted that it is legal to carry openly within Philadelphia as long as you have a license, and open carry is legal throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Student Paper of DePaul University Calls on “Right to Bear Arms”
Time and time again, we see editorials that suggest that lax gun laws are somehow responsible for tragic shootings. That if there were just stricter laws somehow criminals would be unarmed. Of course this is backward logic.
So it was refreshing to see Allison C. Barinholtz write an op-ed piece for The DePaulia, the student paper of DePaul University, titled “The right to bear arms and self-defense.” Ms. Barinholtz notes an interesting point:
“…there exists no constitutional amendment granting the right to government to limit the usage or ownership of private guns.”
This is an interesting point, given that many on the other side of the issue like to note that the Second Amendment is not limitless in its power.
She also makes an excellent point on the notion of carrying firearms, concealed or open:
“With the capability of individuals to carry guns, coupled with the proper permits and training, the common citizen is safer overall. The permission to carry a gun grants both power and responsibility. Some are afraid that granting people more power in this field will encourage more and easily provoked gun violence. Comfort may lie within the realization that a firearm does not need to actually be used in order to gain a desired effect.”
Of course, we must accept that the anti-gun zealots won’t see, or agree with this point of view.
