Any California THR members open carrying?

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As a practical matter, the "school zone" exception is the reason I don't open carry in California. If you open carry all the time, any cop pretty much just has to follow you around a bit and you'll violate the "school zone" exception eventually, probably without your knowledge. Also, there's a good chance of being in a school zone if you're merely pulled over for something, hanging out at a doughnut shop, or whatever. I'm not imagining things. There's a recent case about the school zone exception that convinced me that I shouldn't be open carrying in California. The cost/benefit analysis doesn't work for me. If the cost/benefit analysis works for you, then that's great, and I'm happy for you. :)
 
Actually, the first time that I ever heard about the "school zone" exception, I immediately thought to myself that I won't be open carrying. After months of research and reading about open carrying in California, I still have the same mindset on this issue. Thus, my initial thought was the correct thought, for me personally that is.
 
Yes the only law that really limits the ability to freely travel with an unloaded firearm in California is the state version of the "Gun-Free School Zone Act".

Because of this and only this law it is recommended you transport in a locked container.


The legislation does nothing to protect children from those intent on harm. Yet manages to control most of the state's population having nothing to do with schools because they will need to travel within 1,000 feet of a school on roads.
So it is one of those ingenious anti-gun maneuvers which on the surface appears to apply to just schools or 'protecting children' while applying to virtually every member of society going about their daily lives.

Who wants to be the politician arguing for the repeal of legislation titled "Gun-Free School Zone Act"?
Are they against children?! :barf:



Scenario: A short trip to the mall, best buy, In-N-Out burger, Starbucks etc... Am I legally allowed to open carry so long as I am not within 1000 feet of a school. These are not government buildings or sensitive areas, such as an airport or courthouse. I may keep a 1911 on my hip, unloaded, and magazine pouch(s) on the other hip so long as both are fully visible.
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Officially? Maybe.

However the people that do these things in cities for demonstrations and to alert people of their rights normally set it up with the police in advance by alerting them to the event beforehand. The police then often show up to monitor the exercise. Since they cannot ever cross a school zone they won't be going too far from the initial location. Confined by the borders of school zones.
The same action by a regular person without alerting the locals in advance is eventually going to result in tense interactions with police.
It may not happen the first time. You may even get away with it for a week. But make no mistake you will end up confronted by police with drawn weapons in most of the state. You may have a resulting legal battle.
To remain officially legal you will need to research the location of every single school near you, and stay more than 1,000 feet away. Stay even further away just to be sure. 1,000 feet is greater than the width of most roads, about the length of 3 football fields. This means your little outing will probably be impossible without extensive research. Certainly not just casually going where the mood takes you.

Here is one of many resources for locating the address of every single public or private school that you must stay 1,000 feet or more away from:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/sd/
Newer schools may not be immediately on such a list.
 
All I've got to say is those that do unloaded open carry in California have a pair that clanks. Hats off to you brave enough to do it. Make sure you keep a video camera with you at all times that you do it. I think you should exercise your right, not because open carrying an unloaded weapon will be all that helpful in a Self Defense scenario but it is a statement similar to Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat. Okay maybe greatly exaggerated but its still a statement.
 
Regarding the idea about unloaded open carry being of no use, I disagree. For example, recall the recent case in Ohio involving the woman raped on the side of the road:

http://www.toledoonthemove.com/news/story.aspx?id=404292

A firearm would be useful, or maybe even necessary, to stop such a crime. An unloaded handgun (with loaded magazine on my person) would do the trick. I'll bet at least one motorist didn't stop due to being unequipped to handle a physical threat. Having said all that, I still don't open carry because of the "school zone" law.
 
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jakemccoy said:
As a practical matter, the "school zone" exception is the reason I don't open carry in California. If you open carry all the time, any cop pretty much just has to follow you around a bit and you'll violate the "school zone" exception eventually, probably without your knowledge. Also, there's a good chance of being in a school zone if you're merely pulled over for something, hanging out at a doughnut shop, or whatever. I'm not imagining things. There's a recent case about the school zone exception that convinced me that I shouldn't be open carrying in California. The cost/benefit analysis doesn't work for me. If the cost/benefit analysis works for you, then that's great, and I'm happy for you. :)
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Actually, knowledge is required to be guilty of the offence.

You may still get hassled, but the truth is you have to know (or should know (626.9) you are carrying in a school zone. The only way to get a handgun thru a school zone is to have it in a locked container, unloaded. You CAN carry that container around (an aluminum suitcase witha combination lock, for example- has been used).

" As a practical matter, the "school zone" exception is the reason I don't open carry in California. If you open carry all the time, any cop pretty much just has to follow you around a bit and you'll violate the "school zone" exception eventually, probably without your knowledge. "
 
cpileri said:
Actually, knowledge is required to be guilty of the offence.
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I have no confidence in any lawyer's ability to show I was ignorant of a school zone. So, I view knowledge as a given.

This issue really is a matter of a personal risk/benefit analysis. In my world, the benefits of open carry do not overcome the risks. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I have too much to lose to screw around with open carry.
 
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yeah

I do indeed sympathize with your position. As stated by others, this UOC in Ca is for those of us with BBO's (Big Brass Ones).

C-

Bigger and "brasser" than mine, anyway.
 
Keep in mind the following is coming from somebody who loves California...

A big problem with open carrying in California is that the cops seem to be out to get people who carry. Whereas, in many other states, it seems like the authorities appreciate, or at least willfully tolerate, a law abiding citizen who carries a gun. In California, the cops everywhere don't like folks who carry. If cops could get away with throwing you in the can without asking you questions, then I'm sure they would.

I'm sure there are some California cops who are exceptions, but they're few and far between. These few cops don't amount to enough numbers to make a cultural difference among cops. Further, these cops definitely aren't sticking their necks out and fighting for the rights of law abiding citizens to carry. If they are, then show me videos of them doing so and I will stand corrected.
 
Re: OC becoming Illegal-great I was wrong, but it isn't that much better. But they are going to be fingerprinted for buying ammo, aren't they? Maybe I'm wrong about this too.
ll
 
lloveless said:
Re: OC becoming Illegal-great I was wrong, but it isn't that much better. But they are going to be fingerprinted for buying ammo, aren't they? Maybe I'm wrong about this too.
ll
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yeah, can you believe that!? I just found that out today while buying ammo at the indoor range. Our damn governator signed that in... he's supposed to be pro-gun, I thought... What an a-hole. It's like all the politicians in CA have the anti-gun disease.
 
yeah, can you believe that!? I just found that out today while buying ammo at the indoor range. Our damn governator signed that in... he's supposed to be pro-gun, I thought... What an a-hole. It's like all the politicians in CA have the anti-gun disease.
Click to expand...

My take coming from the other side of the country is that its a good distraction from the huge amount of REAL problems Arnold/Cali faces.
 
Those Guys Are Awesome!

I think it's great that these gentlemen would be so brave to openly carry. It's almost like saying,

"Hey look anti-gun Californians - guns don't kill people. I have one right here and everything is completely safe and under control. In fact, one could argue that you are more safe with me here since no criminal would be so bold to attempt to rob/rape/hurt you while I'm standing here with a pistol on my hip."

What a courageous way to stand up for our 2nd Amendment rights. And those guys did it with class, positivity, and friendliness - the best way to win someone over.

Think about if we (Californians) all organized and had a day called "2nd Amendment Day" where we got into groups, and went out in public to educate people, just like the guys in the news story. In fact, that sounds like a great idea for the entire USA to take part in. What a powerful way to expose people to guns and stand up for our rights.

I think that is something organized RKBA groups should do once a month (or every so often).

And it appears MUCH easier to communicate the right things when there is a group of people (like in the news story) rather than an individual. It seems like it would relieve some of the social pressure.
 
"A big problem with open carrying in California is that the cops seem to be out to get people who carry."

I agree with you jakemccoy.

I believe it would be harder for the cops to harass us if we were to organize (peacefully) in a protest fashion - but not like a typical protest where we hold signs and shout vulgar things. Our holstered pistols would be enough to draw attention. More like what the gents did in the news story. Just gather and talk to the curious people. Be friendly and non-confrontational. Just make our presence known and educate those that are friendly.

Most uninformed folks get their gun knowledge from movies and other biased media. They think it's only gangsters, hell-bent-militiamen, and psychopaths that own guns. If we were to show how cordial, inviting, and "normal" we are, it would do our cause a great deal of good :)

What do you think?
 
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