A local gun-rights organization has vowed to fight legislation reintroduced at the Capitol on Friday that would make it illegal to carry unloaded weapons in public.
Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, a Democrat from La Cañada Flintridge in Southern California, said the bill would clarify that “(t)here’s a proper place for firearms and having a proliferation of them strapped to hips is something that belongs in a Western movie, not Main Street, California.”
The legislation, which was obstructed from passing last fall by Republicans and gun-rights activists, is one of many being proposed around the country less than a week after an assassination attempt in Arizona on U. S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords left six dead and 14 wounded. Giffords is still recovering after being shot in the head at close range by the lone gunman, 22-year-old Jared Loughner.
San Jose’s Yih-Chau Chang, a spokesman for the open-carry advocacy group Responsible Citizens of California, said his group will fight the legislation.
“We are prepared to engage the Legislature this year like we did last year,” he said.
Law enforcement agencies throughout the state support the legislation.
Local gun-rights group vows to fight legislation against carrying unloaded guns in public.
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