California governor Jerry Brown has signed a controversial bill outlawing the open carry of handguns in California.
Mr. Brown, the owner of three guns, said in a statement that he signed a bill banning the open carrying of handguns at the urging of law enforcement officials. The law is slated to take effect at the beginning of 2012.
“I listened to the California police chiefs,” the governor wrote.
Mr. Brown’s signature follows years of political debate over the issue. California has allowed weapons to be displayed in public, provided they are not loaded.
A number of supporters of the measure said it would make the state safer. Law enforcement officials throughout the state said the current law as written created a public safety issue as the public and police cannot tell whether the weapons are loaded.
“The bottom line is the streets will be safer for law enforcement and families,” said Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who authored the bill.
Mr. Brown has repeatedly said he would sign the measure into law if it made it to his desk. The measure will make it a misdemeanor to carry an exposed and unloaded handgun in public or in vehicles. Violators could face up to a year in prison or a potential fine of $1,000 when the law takes effect January 1.
Still, Republican lawmakers, who opposed the open-carry ban, warned that the only people to be affected by the law will be law-abiding citizens.
Speaking Sunday, state Assemblyman Tim Donnelly condemned the law, saying it curtailed the rights guaranteed under the Second Amendment.
“There are risks to living in a free state and for the governor to take away and chisel away at the Second Amendment right when he claimed to respect it, it just kind of shows his true colors,” the California Republican said.
