Legislation banning the open carrying of rifles and shotguns in public has been sent to Gov. Jerry Brown after passing the California Assembly Wednesday over the objections of Republican lawmakers.
According to the
San Diego Tribune, the legislation from Democratic Assemblyman Anthony Portantino was introduced to stop gun rights activists who had begun carrying unloaded long firearms to protest legislation approved last year prohibiting the public display of handguns.
It is also illegal to carry a loaded gun in public in California.
In pushing the bill, Democratic lawmakers cited a series of recent gun crimes even though, the Tribune reported, none of the high-profile incidents are believed to have included rifles or shotguns.
Republican opponents of the measure slammed the Democrats for linking the bill to the fatal shootings this summer at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., and a Sikh temple outside Milwaukee.
If signed by Brown, the measure would make it a misdemeanor to carry a rifle or shotgun in cities and towns and in some incorporated areas.
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