Sitting Duck Policy

When two gunmen in Upland, Calif., took $150 from liquor store owner Hugh M. Davenport and fled, Davenport ran out of the store with his carbine and riddled the fleeing bandits’ car, bringing it to a halt.

Davenport ruptured the left front tire and put holes in the radiator, the gas tank and the oil pan.

The thugs then fled on foot. However, they were captured minutes later by the police.

Source: The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA, January 1966

Out of jail for less than a week, a California parolee made a bad call one morning when he knocked on the door of a nearby home and, after getting no response, forced the door open.

The intruder was met by the homeowner who held a firearm and demanded the intruder leave his property.

The intruder refused, charging at the homeowner who fired a shot and struck the suspect in the leg.

The would-be thief fled in a nearby car.

Source: The Salinas Californian, Prunedale, CA, 10/21/2010

In California, a bill that will ban the (currently legal practice of) carrying an unloaded firearm, unconcealed, and in the open, awaits the Governor’s signature.

Assembly Bill 144 (AB 144) had previously been defeated.

“Just because one person is comfortable with their weapon,” says Anthony Portantino (the California Assemblyman behind the bill), “doesn’t mean that gives that person the right to infringe on the rights of other people who aren’t comfortable.”

Daryl Dempsey of USA Carry responded eloquently to Mr. Portantino:

“Just because one person is not comfortable with weapons, doesn’t mean that gives that person the right to infringe on the rights of other people who are comfortable, and who are legally eligible, to carry weapons openly or concealed – loaded or not.”

We do not restrict people carrying protest signs by requiring they be permitted AND concealed. We do not restrict people carrying the Bible, the Koran, the Talmud, or Upanishads; or wearing a Yarmulke, Turban, or Burke to only those who have a permit AND keep them out of public view.

So if we do not restrict open and unrestricted First Amendment Rights, what gives Mr. Portantino or ANYONE the right to infringe upon Second Amendment Rights.

A point to ponder: More people have been killed in the name of religion than with modern handguns. Why aren’t we restricting the free practice of religion?