Laser sights

[Grover]

I have a friend who is applying for his CCW through the Shafter City Police Department. The Chief to him he would not approve a carry weapon with laser sights.

Is this a Kern County ordinance that laser sights are not allowed or just the Shafter PD?

[spc]

Not sure about Kern, but I know that OC does not like them either. I have never asked here in my local. If you search the site you should come up with plenty of discussion on laser sights.

If El Gato comes on he may have a more complete answer for you.

spc

[AMS MIKE]

this will help

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

No Laser in Orange County. Period! It is a county by county choice.

The logic that is being used is. If you point a gun w/ laser at somebody and you do not shoot them you violate PC417.25

"417.25. (a) Every person who, except in self-defense, aims or
points a laser scope, as defined in subdivision (b), or a laser
pointer, as defined in subdivision (c), at another person in a
threatening manner with the specific intent to cause a reasonable
person fear of bodily harm is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by
imprisonment in a county jail for up to 30 days. For purposes of
this section, the laser scope need not be attached to a firearm.
(b) As used in this section, "laser scope" means a portable
battery-powered device capable of being attached to a firearm and
capable of projecting a laser light on objects at a distance.
(c) As used in this section, "laser pointer" means any hand held
laser beam device or demonstration laser product that emits a single
point of light amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation that
is visible to the human eye."

[Spicy McHaggis]

Originally Posted by Grover

I have a friend who is applying for his CCW through the Shafter City Police Department. The Chief to him he would not approve a carry weapon with laser sights.

Is this a Kern County ordinance that laser sights are not allowed or just the Shafter PD?

There isn't any laws against having the laser on your firearm. So it's just their policy that they do not allow it. Their reasons behind not allowing it may or may not be related to that code AMS_Mike cited. That code has an exemption for self defense and that's really the only lawful reason you would draw your firearm in the first place.

[NSP]

My thoughts.

If you need a laser to tell you where you are shooting then you shouldn't be holding a gun in that situation.

In most situations where you'd need your gun a laser sight is useless because you'll need to pull your gun and fire quickly.

Laser dot is a bad aiming device, what you need to shoot will most likely be moving quickly or you will be moving quickly, iron sights have more depth of field and rely on themselves rather than something moving to project themselves on.

Additional gear to snag yourself and/or clothing on. Adds weight. Adds another part you have to worry about working correctly in the heat of the moment.

[RomanDad]

From a liability standpoint, you don't want laser sights on a carry weapon. They have a negative image in popular culture and a jury very well might take that into account.