Posted by Matt on March 10, 2012
While Starbucks permits patrons to openly carry guns in the 43 states that allow such laws, we are happy to report that
BJ’s Restaurants joins California Pizza kitchen in banning open carrying of long guns in their establishments. The open carrying of handguns was banned in California as of January 1, 2012, with the passage and signing of AB 144. However, the corporate policy of Starbucks has remained the same, allowing patrons to have their coffee while armed.
In reaction to the enactment of AB 144, Open Carry organizations across California began hosting open carry events brandishing rifles and shotguns in place of the now illegal handguns. In at least one instance, they showed up at a police fundraiser wielding unloaded rifles.
The following is excerpted from a letter by Jerry Deitchle, Chairman and CEO of BJ’s Restaurants to Dallas Stout, California Brady President and Karen Arntzen, California Chapter Advocacy Coordinator:
“Please also be assured that the safety of our guests and team members is our highest concern here at BJ’s. We do not allow our team members to bring firearms, weapons, illegal drugs or other banned items or substances into our restaurants. We don’t want our guests to bring such items into our restaurants, either. As you correctly pointed out, the accidental discharge of a firearm in a public place can cause significant damage to humans and property. We definitely want to avoid that risk.”
–Jerry Deitchle Chairman and CEO of BJ’s Restaurants
Open Carriers brought their long guns to an Occupy Protest (where they had previously been asked to leave) at Concord, California’s Todos Santos Park, December 17, from 12 to 1 pm. From their website it appeared they were attempting to “police” the protesters’ behavior by “protecting ourselves and our community in case of riots. We do not need civil unrest conducted in our communities which hurts small business even though we encourage free speech.” The California Brady Campaign is urging people for their own safety to stay away from any location where the Open Carry meet-ups are taking place. Brady will warn the community upon hearing of planned meet-ups. These individuals openly carrying long guns are protesting the signing of AB 144. However, this vigilante effort could lead to clashes resulting in accidental or intentional shootings.
Posted in Blog, Featured, News and Headlines |
Posted by Toni on March 10, 2012
Gun Purchasing Surges in 2011
The FBI performed a record number of instant background checks on potential firearm buyers in 2011 according
to new government data. Nearly 16.5 million queries were made by firearm sellers. That was up 15% from 2010, and the highest number of annual screenings performed since 1998, when the National Instant Background Check System (NICS) went into effect. Background checks are correlated with weapon purchases, so the uptick in screenings in 2011 suggests that the increase in gun sales which the FBI has been tracking for several years is continuing. Continue reading “The Purchasing Power of the Pistol”
Posted in Blog, News and Headlines, Reports and Statistics |
Posted by Matt on October 31, 2011
Congress is on the verge of passing a law that would deny states the right to decide who can carry hidden, loaded guns. But Newark Mayor Cory Booker is fighting back.
Check out Mayor Booker’s passionate new video, then help spread the word by sharing it with your friends and family.
Mayors and law enforcement professionals are on the frontlines of protecting their communities every day. The decisions they make shouldn’t be overruled by Washington politicians with nothing to lose when gun violence and crime start soaring.
Watch Mayor Cory Booker’s “call to our common sense” and make sure your friends and family see it right away:
http://www.ourlivesourlaws.org/mayorbooker
Source: Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Posted in Blog, Featured |
Posted by Toni on August 16, 2011
- The San Francisco Chronicle
California’s tough gun control laws are targeted at armed criminals in general and mass-shooters in particular. But they appear to have had the unintended consequence of making California gun stores unattractive to purchasers buying weapons for the Mexican drug cartels.
A Hearst Newspapers survey of guns purchased in the United States and funneled to Mexican drug traffickers learned from court documents that out of 1,600 guns identified by brand name and purchase point, a mere 70 came from California.
Continue reading “Gun Control Laws Work”
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Posted by Toni on August 16, 2011
The following article is from the Nevada County Public Health Department and the Nevada County Suicide Prevention Task Force —May 6, 2011
Many families think that suicide could never happen in their household. But it can and it does. Already this year, 11 people have died by suicide in Nevada County. Eleven precious individuals took their own life, leaving family members in a world turned upside-down.
Are you concerned that a member of your family or a friend may be suicidal? An important aspect of suicide prevention is reducing easy access to dangerous substances at home. Removing lethal means from a vulnerable person, especially a youth, can save a life. (It’s like keeping the car keys away from person who has had too much to drink.)
How people attempt suicide plays a crucial role in whether they live or die. Nationally, firearms are used to complete a suicide more than every other method combined. Here in Nevada County, firearms were used in 91 percent of the suicides completed to date this year (10 of 11 suicides). Firearms differ from other means of attempting suicide as they are more lethal, quick, and irreversible. For these reasons, both the Consensus Statement on Youth Suicide by Firearms (developed by a multi-disciplinary consortium of experts) and the National Council for Suicide Prevention (a group of 10 national organizations) are promoting safe firearm storage practices.
Continue reading “Reducing Access To Lethal Means: SAVES LIVES”
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Posted by Toni on August 16, 2011
“…most children, older adults, and women are murdered at home. A gun in the home is a particularly strong risk factor for female homicide victimization.”
A study, “Risks and Benefits of a Gun in the Home,” released in February 2011 in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, (published by SAGE, a publication by the Harvard School of Public Health) examined scientific research on both sides of the debate so that conclusions could be made based on facts and data. Author David Hemenway, Ph.D. (Director of the Harvard Injury Control Research Center and the Youth Violence Prevention Center) studied the various risks of having a gun in the home, including accidents, suicide, homicide, and intimidation. He also studied the benefits of having a firearm in a household including deterrence, and thwarting crimes (self-defense).
After weighing the evidence on both risks and benefits, the study proved that the risks of having a gun in the home greatly outweighed the benefits or perceived benefits. Currently approximately one-third, possibly more, American households have a firearm.
Hemenway concluded that homes with guns are not safer or deter more crime than those homes that do not have guns. In fact, as gun control groups have been saying for decades, homes with children or women were less safe because, as the author stated, “Whereas most men are murdered away from home, most children, older adults, and women are murdered at home. A gun in the home is a particularly strong risk factor for female homicide victimization.”
Continue reading “Guns in the Home Do Not Deter Crime”
Posted in Blog, News and Headlines, Reports and Statistics |
Posted by Matt on July 1, 2011
Al-Qaeda spokesman Azzam al-Amriki calls on lone wolves in the U.S. to exploit gaps in our gun laws, buy assault weapons and launch a deadly new wave of mass shootings.
Please watch this video, share it with your family and friends, and urge Congress to take action at http://fixgunchecks.org.
Posted in Blog, Featured |
Posted by Matt on April 17, 2011
As a recent response to a post on this blog reminded me, it is very, very common for gun-control opponents and conservative politicians to point out that “Guns Don’t Kill People, People Do.” The problem with this catchy conservative talking point is that it doesn’t really argue anything. Of course people kill people; I’ve yet to see a bunch of guns and knives running around by themselves committing murders.
Continue reading “Gun Violence and the Census: Sobering Statistics”
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Posted by Toni on March 4, 2011
Those in America who believe in “arming against tyranny” may be thinking that the horrendous civilian crisis in Libya could be more easily accomplished if the people were armed. That, after all, is the message oft repeated by those advocating the right to bear arms. It’s not merely to defend their homes and families, but against a tyrannical government, although who makes that determination in our elected democratic government is certainly problematic. Continue reading “Revolt Comes Through the Dignity of People Power and Without Violence”
Posted in Blog, Featured |
Posted by Laura on February 21, 2011
The Coalition Against Gun Violence held an educational community wide forum, “What Right Do You Have To Carry A Gun?” Feb 17th at the Faulkner Gallery in Santa Barbara. A panel discussion about the recent Supreme Court rulings on the second amendment was held in front of a packed house. Panelists included Brian Hill, presiding Judge of the Santa Barbara Superior Court, Dr. Beth Schneider, professor of sociology at UCSB, and Richard Solomon, a former law professor at Southwestern University and an ACLU board member. The event was moderated by Marty Blum, former Santa Barbara mayor, who last year supported a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Lori Salada, D-San Diego, that would have prevented Californians from openly carrying unloaded handguns without a license. Though the bill was shot down, new legislation seeking the same outcome and authored by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena, was introduced Jan. 13. The legislation, AB 144, was referred Feb. 3 to the Committee on Public Safety.
Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Brian Hill, who also teaches constitutional law at the Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law, began the discussion, leading a scholarly discourse about interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.
Continue reading “Second Amendment Forum, “What Right Do You Have To Carry A Gun?””
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