SF Chronicle Article on Open Carry

[Phatty]

Today, I happened to read this article on open carry in San Francisco. Although an attempt was made by the author to appear objective and present both sides of the debate, it clearly skews against open carriers (no big surprise there). It's mostly the same old arguments we've all heard, so I won't post the article in full here, but a certain quote by a California state rep caught my eye and gave me a good chuckle.

The most significant opposition to the movement comes from state Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, D-San Diego, who is pushing a bill to forbid anyone from openly carrying an unloaded handgun in public.

"Even the Second Amendment says we must have a well-regulated militia," Saldaña said. "But right now there is no real regulation about carrying unloaded weapons around. You really have no idea who the person carrying it is - they could be a felon, could not legally own the gun, could be on parole. We need to change that. Anyone who displays a weapon is increasing the potential for a violent situation."

The total misuse of the "well-regulated militia" is absolutely priceless. Also, I appreciated her insinuation that felons and others not allowed to carry are open-carrying, as if a felon would ever open carry. If I'm a felon, would I really strap a cop-magnet on my hip?

I'd love to hear some more about this Assemblywoman Saldaña. I generally expect anti-gunners to toss out illogical and unreasonable arguments, but this fine lady takes them to a whole new level.

 

[Gouranga]

yeah, but like you said no surprise there. One of the many reasons I would never live in California.

Her angle is, if you remove all open carry then you will remove all danger. That way you can easily identify the criminals since they would be the only ones open carrying. My immediate question to her would be, how many armed felons does she think carry openly with an unloaded weapon? May be just me but I would not think that was how they rolled.

Now another thought to bring up to her (or maybe not), is what about cars. Felons are constantly using cars for illegal activities. Without cars, there would be no drive-bys, no gun running (tough to do without transportation), no high speed chases (big attraction in cali), or any other illegal activity. We could cut a major cause of death in the state out almost completely. All we need to do is completely ignore the law abiding citizens whose rights you strip away. Now you can do that with firearms but with cars, too many of those people vote.

 

[Mainsail]

California? Sheesh, there's hostility against OC from other gun owners. It's no different that the Fuds against the "assault" weapons folks. Anti-gunners are dumb. Divide and conquer, that's how they've won in the past, it's how they'll fight in the present.

 

[One-Time]

Theres a lot of dumb alledged pro gunners too

 

[oneounceload]

How does open carrying an UNLOADED gun increase the potential for a dangerous situation?

It is then merely a large paperweight

 

[grimjaw]

Anyone who displays a weapon is increasing the potential for a violent situation.

Yeah, I notice that spontaneous acts of violence happen all the time around the police, who openly display weapons willy nilly.

 

[Blue Brick]

So can you carry extra (loaded) speed loaders or magazines?

 

[rm23]

When anti-gunners refer to police officers open carrying, do they describe them as 'gun toting?'

 

[JoeSlomo]

Silly citizen!

Guns are for criminals and police!

 

[svaz]

Now another thought to bring up to her (or maybe not), is what about cars. Felons are constantly using cars for illegal activities. Without cars, there would be no drive-bys, no gun running (tough to do without transportation), no high speed chases (big attraction in cali), or any other illegal activity.

When you are trying to take sheeples' Rights away, that's no big deal, but if you try to take their conveniences away, THEN you are asking for trouble.


'Most men don't want Freedom. They are satisfied with a Just master.'
-Roman Senator something-or-another.