Portantino named ‘Legislator of the Year’ for open carry ban

The California Police Chiefs Assn. recently named Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) “Legislator of the Year” for his public safety measure banning the open carry of unloaded handguns in public places.

“As someone with many relatives in law enforcement, this means a lot to me. I know and respect the dedicated men and woman in uniform and the work they do to keep our communities safe,” Portantino said in a statement.

Portantino’s measure was backed by the police association and rank-and-file police officers who said that openly carrying weapons in public places is a safety threat and a waste of police officers’ time.

Dave Maggard, the association’s president, said Portantino took on a hefty task.

“Getting legislation like this introduced and passed is critical for the safety of our communities and we appreciate Assembly member Portantino’s leadership,” he said.

-- Mark Kellam, Times Community News

Twitter: @LAMarkKellam