A photor course in accurate firearms reporting for these morons (from other morons):
Posted on 05/22/2012 5:57:20 AM PDT by marktwain
A man carrying a shotgun strolled through the Redondo Beach pier and Veterans Park on Monday, followed closely by news reporters and the police.
But he didn't have violence on his mind. He was just making a point.
Charles Nichols is an "open carry" activist who was looking to further a lawsuit against the city of Redondo Beach while demonstrating against restrictive gun-control laws.
Toting an unloaded 12-gauge Harrington & Richardson shotgun he purchased about 30 years ago, Nichols temporarily broke the afternoon calm as families and curious tourists looked on. Bullets were fastened to the end of the gun with clear tape.
Police officers checked Nichols' weapon and followed closely as he walked across the pier and into the park. A small swarm of media members and gun rights supporters trailed during the peaceful event.
Nichols was not arrested or cited, but his weapon was seized by police once he entered the park. The city's Municipal Code bans carrying firearms in public parks. The misdemeanor violation carries a maximum fine of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Police said a criminal complaint was submitted to the City Prosecutor's Office.
Nichols, a South Bay resident who has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn state gun laws, called the seizure illegal because a warrant wasn't issued. City Attorney Mike Webb declined to comment on the incident or Nichols' litigation.
His lawsuit, filed Nov. 30 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, seeks to overturn a state law enacted in 1967 that prohibits carrying a loaded handgun in public. The suit was filed about a month after a new state law that bans openly carrying unloaded handguns went into effect.
Nichols' lawsuit was dismissed earlier this month by a federal judge. Nichols has 30 days to file an amendment to the suit, and he said his shotgun parade on Monday was intended to further his case against the city of Redondo Beach, which was named as a plaintiff.
"I have no choice but to cross the line," said Nichols, a partially disabled engineer. "I need to basically prove that I am violating the law to have standing to bring my lawsuit, and what better way to prove I am violating it.
"Since California has made it illegal to carry a handgun, I have to carry a shotgun. People should be allowed to defend themselves in public."
Nichols was a co-founder of South Bay Open Carry, a local organization that advocates for the right to carry a holstered, unloaded gun. The group has staged public relations events across the South Bay.
Nichols has since parted ways with the group and founded another advocacy nonprofit, California Right to Carry.
His lawsuit comes as a bill banning long guns - shotguns and rifles - makes its way through the state Capitol. The bill, AB 1527, was authored by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena, and would make it a misdemeanor to carry an unloaded long gun in public areas or in vehicles. Licensed hunters and law enforcement officers would be exempt.
Portantino authored another gun-control bill, AB 144, that outlaws people from openly carrying unloaded handguns. That bill was signed into law in October 2011.
"Open-carry activists have decided to push the envelope," Portantino said. "That's an alarming sight - to see folks with rifles and shotguns over their shoulders around families.
"Let's act like reasonable people and make the world safer," he added. "If you're carrying a shotgun, you have no business being in a Starbucks."
Concealed-weapons laws vary in California, and permits typically require a background check and approval from a county sheriff's department or local police agency.
Nichols' gun show on Monday was opposed by members of the Brady Campaign for Gun Violence, who said Nichols was putting the public in danger by carrying the firearm.
The group has clashed over gun control regulations in the past with local members of the open-carry movement.
"He is endangering the safety the community by pushing a political agenda and putting dangerous firearms into our daily lives," said Sheri Barnett, a spokeswoman for the group. "He is scaring the community and inciting gun violence."
A pair of tourists looked on as Nichols walked around the pier, distributing a press release aimed at building support - political and financial - for his lawsuit.
"I think it would be intimidating for other people to see some armed man," said Gary Boccabella, who was visiting the area from Calgary with his wife, Pamela. "You have to look at safety and security. I would ask him why he thinks it's necessary to carry a rifle."
If you cannot exercise your Constitutional rights, you do not have them.
He wasn't very dangerous with bullets taped to the end of his shotgun.
My thought exactly. Is Uninformed/Illinformed 101 a required course for journalists? How do these people perform routine daily tasks without injury?
They are calling the ammo a bullet. Isn’t a shotgun shell called a shell & not a bullet.
Or am I wrong?
When the shell is taped to a 12 ga. AK-47 automatic assault rifle, journalists can call it a bullet.
A photor course in accurate firearms reporting for these morons (from other morons):
I thought of that picture but couldn’t find it. A classic!
Dude, what do you think interns are for?
;)
Let's see; "bullets" that would fit a 12 gauge shotgun would be what, 30 mm rounds?
Whenever you need a link to post, go to Google Images and search on “Agence France Presse bullet” and you’ll find a bunch of links.
Somebody did an absolutely hilarious silent video on YouTube that’s in the form of a “primer” (arrrh, arrrh) for urinalists so they don’t embarrass themselves quite this badly while trying to advance their agenda. I’ll see if I can find it and I’ll post a link.
Slug rounds.
Excellent video link. Thanks for posting it.
Cartridge vs. Bullet
http://www.thedissidentfrogman.com/blog/link/like-a-suppository-only-stronger/
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