Assemblymember Portantino’s Bill Banning “Open Carry” of Handguns Passes Key Committee
Sacramento – Assemblymember Anthony Portantino’s legislation to repeal the “open carry” loophole in state law moved a step closer today when the Assembly Public Safety Committee voted to approve Portantino’s AB 144.
Portantino’s bill makes it illegal to carry an unloaded handgun in any public place or street. Law enforcement personnel are exempt as are hunters and others carrying unloaded weapons under specified licensed circumstances.
“This is a sensible gun ban that law enforcement asked me to carry to make our streets and communities safer,” explained Assemblymember Portantino (D- La Cañada Flintridge). “I think most Californians would agree that they don’t want people walking around in parks or in coffee shops with a gun strapped to their hip. Whether it’s loaded or not, it creates some very real public safety issues.”
Despite being passed by both houses in the legislature, similar legislation failed to reach the Governor’s desk last year due to a large number of controversial bills on file at the end of session. This means that Californians may walk into a grocery store carrying an unloaded weapon on one hip and the bullets on the other. After seeing a rise in these types of needless public displays, law enforcement officials sought the ban on this open display of firearms. Portantino took up the cause and has worked with law enforcement to re-introduce the “open carry” ban. The measure is supported by the California Police Chiefs Association and PORAC – rank and file police officers. Representatives from both groups testified at today’s hearing.
The Los Angeles city council recently voted to support AB 144 and asked the L.A. City Attorney to look into writing a similar law banning open carry handguns in Los Angeles.
California is one of many states that allow so-called “open carry” which gives gun owners the right to display weapons, though in California those guns must be unloaded. Carrying loaded firearms in public is already against the law in California.