By Steven Avila |Staff Writer|
Last week, the San Bernardino Sun reported the ban of “open carry” of unloaded guns was passed in Assembly Appropriations, and thank God.
The bill, authored by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, would ban openly carrying guns and make doing so punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or even a year in jail, as reported by the Pasadena-Star News.
In the already chaotic time we live in this is exactly what we need right now.
Guns are so widespread in this country, what is the need to add fuel to the fire by carrying them to a ball game or run errands, unloaded or not?
The opponents of this ban, such as South Bay Open Carry, an organization originating in Los Angeles, argue that this a constitutional issue.
The mission is to “support the rights protected by the United States Constitution to keep and bear arms,” says South Bay’s website.
“We believe that the right to self-defense as guaranteed in the Second Amendment of the Constitution is a right that cannot and must not be infringed.”
In fact, most of the arguments around banning open carry seem focused on that amendment.
True, it’s a constitutional right, I’ll grant that.
But every time these kind of arguments are employed, it seems to be forgotten that they are rights as long as they don’t infringe on other people.
Frankly I don’t see the reason I or people like me–average citizens in other words–should have to watch an elderly grandparent have a panic attack at the sight of a person carrying a gun at their doctor’s office just because it’s his legal right.
Or why should a parent have to see their young child freak out when a person carrying a Glock gets into line behind them at the local McDonald’s?
Here’s another thing people need to remember.
Our forefathers guaranteed us many rights, including the right to bear arms.
But, back in 1791, a person “bearing arms” would be lucky to fire off three shots in a minute.
It’s simply a technology issue.
If those same forefathers saw a gun capable of spewing 15 shots in a matter of seconds only to be reloaded in about another three seconds, they may just have had second thoughts.
California’s not the only state going through this.
In Arizona, as reported by the The Sun, Gov. Jan Brewer shot down a bill in favor of open carry.
In that bill it would be legal to pack heat on state college campuses.
Brewer has been a highly conservative governor, so when even she’s dropping a bill like this, what does that tell us?
We have enough trouble on college campuses. Anyone else remember Virginia Tech?
We have the same trouble on our streets as well. Bottom line: no one is telling gun enthusiasts they can’t own guns.
Buy them, own them in their home, it’s no difference to me.
But the fact is, no matter what way anyone wants to spin it, guns, as a piece of technology, were originally designed for only purpose: to harm or kill.
So we don’t need them on our streets or in our stores; the rest of us have our legal right to say no.
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