This week Gov Jerry Brown signed a law that makes it a criminal offense to carry a gun that is in open view in public places in the state of California. The carrying of a gun whether concealed or open, according to LA County Sheriff Lee Baca , “could appear as a threat to their well-being and is regarded as a public safety threat.” This statement from a man in charge of a county bearing some of the most restrictive guns laws in the nation and which, at the same time, boosts one of the highest rates of armed violence.
My question is to ask, 'Is this just another feel good law'? Is it a law designed to imply a safer private sector, when in fact, it may work in the opposite direction.
Consider who is actually impacted by this new law. That would be Mr. and Mrs. Average American, the vast majority of which wouldn't think of carrying a gun in the first place. Fact: Only about 1% of the people in states that allow concealed carry even bother to get a permit. Fact 2: If you happen to live in a 'open carry friendly state', how often do you see someone carrying a gun? I've seen one in the past five years and he turned out to have mental problems. But for the sake of argument, let's say that 5% of the general population decided to carry a gun on their hips. If you went to a crowded store that percentage would imply about five out of every hundred shoppers would be openly armed walking around with their wives and kids buying milk and other sundries. Now, would the sight of those people make me 'tense' or afraid violence was about to break out at any moment. Probably not. However, if I were a crook would the sight of armed citizens make me think twice about robbing the place. You betcha it would.
Speaking of which; of the 5% of the population suffering from some form of mental illness, how many do you think will abide by Jerry's new law? Zero – after all, they're crazy. Duh! And what about the habitual criminal the man who takes from others at the point of a gun? Again, the answer is zero. They consider themselves above the law which they are until caught and prosecuted. That's a double duh!
This brings me back to my opening question that this legislation may be 'feel good' law. It attempts to regulate, when in fact, it changes nothing. It fails to address the root causes of problems in this society; crooks and nut jobs running around on the loose. Neither group of which is allowed to carry a gun in the first place under Federal law!
Governor Brown, please enforce the laws already on the books and stop trying to appear like your smart, cause mister, you ain't!
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