logout

Store Research

Assembly Bill 144 of 2011

November 18, 2011

Some bill research does not include the Governor's file because at the time we researched the bill, the sitting Governor had not released his chaptered bill file. If the Governor's file is not included with this particular research, please contact our office (1-530-666-1917 or quote@legintent.com) and we will be happy to provide this file at no charge if it is available. Please Note: Governor files did not exist prior to 1943.

This bill was carried for the California Police Chiefs Association who argued that absence of a prohibition on "open carry" has created an increase in problematic instances of guns carried in public, alarming unsuspecting individuals and causing issues for law enforcement.  Often, when an individual is openly carrying a firearm, law enforcement is called to the scene with few details other than one or more armed individuals are present at a location. In these tense situations, the slightest wrong move by the gun-carrier could be construed as threatening by the responding officer, who may feel compelled to respond in a lethal manner.  Thus, "open carry" creates an unsafe environment for all parties involved; the officer, the gun-carrying individual, and for any other people who happen to be in the line of fire. Additionally, the increase in "open carry" calls placed to law enforcement has taxed departments dealing with under-staffing and cutbacks due to the current fiscal climate in California, preventing them from protecting the public in other ways.