Bring-your-gun-to-the-beach day in Hermosa Beach

More than a dozen people packing pistols on their hips strolled down the Hermosa Beach strand Saturday, picking up garbage and distributing fliers about the rights of gun owners.

The event was part of a burgeoning and controversial "open carry" movement nationwide promoting the right to carry guns in public. Although carrying a concealed weapon is illegal without a permit, California allows people to openly carry guns in many areas as long as they are unloaded, though they can keep ammunition with them.

Members of South Bay Open Carry, which organized the beach cleanup, said they hope such events will dispel misgivings about gun owners and make carrying a handgun in public more acceptable. Organizers said they turned the event into a cleanup to demonstrate that they are contributing to the community.

"Just because somebody is carrying a gun doesn't mean that they're a criminal," said Scott Brownlie, a 25-year-old firefighter who stood outside a coffee house with an unloaded Colt M-4 carbine slung across his back. "If a lot of people were allowed to carry more … there would be a lot less crime."

Most people walked by the group without a second glance. A police spokesman said the department received no complaints about the event.

Open Carry has drawn criticism from gun control groups that say police, not untrained gun owners, should be protecting the public.

Similar Open Carry gatherings have taken place in recent years in San Francisco and San Diego.

A bill by Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) would, with some exceptions, prohibit civilians from openly carrying handguns. The legislation, which was approved by the Assembly but still needs to pass the Senate, has won backing from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the California Police Chiefs Assn.

Read the full story here

-- Jack Leonard in Hermosa Beach

Photo: Firefighter Scott Brownlie carries an unloaded Colt M-4 carbine in Hermosa Beach. Credit: Christina House / For The Times

Comments

[My opinon means nothing]

This is supposed to make me feel safer how? How irresponsible.

[hairycarrion]

I can't trust that just because a gun owner has a permit to carry that they have a healthy emotional quotient. Cops and military included.

[ceaandtee]

the founding fathers must be turning over in their graves!! this ammendment has been so misinterpeted and twisted that it ought to either be removed or ammended. i also onder how these same people would feel if thy saw people of color entering an establishment baring their arms? they ould all panic.the last thing they want is for people of c olor casually strolling the streets with their heat on display

[hairycarrion]

And one more thing, there would be a lot less crime if society actually addressed the causes of criminal behavior at the core. Carrying a gun like these self-righteous bullies, is provocative behavior. Not public or civic minded behavior by any means.

The reason there is crime in the first place is oppression and poverty. Fix those and no one "needs" a weapon.

[john hough]

that should make kids and familys feel real safe..not that gangs, dopedealers and crime people don't bring them anyway!!

[LoneRager]

This is all wonderful until the first, "Sorry about the gunshot wound, I THOUGHT it was unloaded."

[Mufon]

We don't have anything to fear from these people, misguided as they are. They're law-abiding, that's why they're open-carrying unloaded weapons. Criminals illegally carry concealed loaded weapons, so these people on Hermosa Beach does not signal an apocalypse.

Now, while I support their cause in principle, what they're doing is unfortunate and hurts their cause. They are of course frightening the populace that do not like or are unfamiliar with guns, and turning them against gun ownership, some even moreso than they were before. They're also inviting trouble, because although most crooks are not smart enough to read the papers, some might, and they'd know these people are carrying unloaded weapons. So they'll rob them with illegally carried loaded weapons, and steal the rifle like the fellow in the picture is carrying, unloaded.

And finally, doing this provokes the largely anti-gun politicians of LA County and the state. The one things politicians absolutely love to do is pass laws that will adversely affect otherwise law-abiding citizens. Why provoke these powermongers (on both sides of the political aisle).

"...this ammendment has been so misinterpeted and twisted that it ought to either be removed or ammended." So, ceaandtee, this is the only amendment that has been misinterpreted and twisted? Or the one you happen to dislike. I would think the ACLU, with their broad interpretation of the constitution, would be vigorously defending legal citizen gun owners, but for some reason they turn a blind eye to a broad 2nd amendment reading.

And nice playing the race card. Did you ask them what they would think of people of color legally carrying guns? They'd probably be all for it.

[Ucvbn Bjfyuvs]

Hey! There's some nut-bag walking around with a gun! Did somebody call the police?!?

[swimologist]

To hairycarrion: So povert and "oppression" cause crime?
How come in 1965-- despite much poverty and "oppression"
in the Chinese community-- there was only two people of Chinese descent in the California prison system? And to ceeandtee,
the only reason people would be frightened by seeing "people of color" carrying guns is that "people of color"commit a wildly dispproportionate amount of violent crime compared to whites. Typical liberal excuse-making for
criminal minorities

[David Jackson]

Only Police and Criminals should be allowed to own and cary guns.

I am certain that the founding fathers did not expect that average citizens should be allowed to defend themselves against attack.

[Margo]

This is absolutely crazy. If these gun fanatics can't see the stupidity, the danger and the potential hazards of the general public being armed . . .. . . then what is there to say?

[whocares?]

That firefighter should be at the gym instead of acting like a big baby by bringing his gunny to the beach. wah.

[David Huffington]

Keep up the good work boys with flexing your rights. The first amendment means nothing without the second one.

[Melvin Painter]

These gun carriers are not the same ones that democraps, liperals, and progs would like to protect. Obammy and his administration would only like to protect only criminals, illegal aliens, and anchor babies who are armed and without a permit. The legal gun owners are the responsible ones as they have clean records and jobs. Nothing to be afraid of unless you be otherwise.

[Richard]

I can't help but wonder how long it will be before some true criminals will kill you for your gun. Gun's cost money, on the black market or otherwise. Your's is free

[Frank Caramelli]

Less crime. Right. If everyone in LA carried a gun maybe there would be less crime. We would also see headlines like "Thirty Wounded After Fender Bender". Legal or not, these people strike me as a bunch of insecure weirdos. If you got in their face about their extreme positions on the 2nd Amendment, they would probably shoot to kill, claiming they were "verbally assaulted". These little boys need to grow up.

[Rob]

This is pure intimidation by gun owners! I really can't believe gun rights advocates have deluded themselves into idea that openly packing weapons will somehow convince the general population that this sets up a trusting civil environment. I understand that even the NRA has doubts about these campaigns.

Only in parts of Africa and Asia are there lands where people amble about with the open display of fire arms. They need to have their weapons at ready due to violent world they share. I don't see such a reason existing here accept maybe in the confused mental state of some paranoids who believe the World is out to get them at every turn.

I sincerely believe this out and ready tactic will backfire politically. The one thing most of the electorate agree on is that their streets should be safe and passable. It's not easy to change our Constitution but gun control could move out of the shadows with a few idiots drawing their weapons in public venues.

[phoenixandrew]

It's a harsh fact that 100% of so-called "law-abiding" gun owners will eventually commit a crime with it at least once in their lifetime. It could range from showing someone you have a gun (threatening another person) to using it to kill someone in a petty dispute (murder).

[Emily]

Headline July 11th Northridge, 9 year old boy shoots toddler with loaded gun, later dies.

[Normal]

Brilliant. No one would DARE carry a loaded gun and be mistaken for someone whose gun is UNloaded, right? Those that are loaded will CERTAINLY be EASILY distinguished from those that aren't - in fact, the word 'loaded' will appear on the bearer's forehead, right?! One way to cut down on unemployment, perhaps, and to reduce our carbon footprint...?

[kgoddess]

OK, now I know why I won't go anywhere near Hermosa.

[Yolanda]

I guess they have open carry in N.M.!? Shameful to let any one open carry, no matter what, you never know what the person will do. And if it is loaded.

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico — A gunman opened fire at an Albuquerque fiber optics manufacturer Monday, killing three people and wounding eight others before turning the gun on himself in what police said was a domestic violence dispute.

Earlier Monday, police Chief Ray Schultz said there were six dead.

He explained at a news conference later that responding officers had seen people down and believed they were dead, then continued into the building to search for the gunman. Officers who arrived later determined several shooting victims had survived.

[Independent]

It amazes me how scared all of you are with your OMGITSAGUN comments. How did so many become so weak and feeble minded? This country used to be the home of the brave...oh wait...I forgot....California.

[kindon]

and THAT's why I left USA and moved to Canada.

[Nabil Al-Murabit]

You know, I would've expected this to happen some redneck area down south, but HERMOSA BEACH?! You've got to be kidding me! I live in Playa Del Rey and I didn't know that I lived so close to conservative right wing nuttery. What's next, rattle snake biting and speaking in tongues at the local Southern Baptist Church?