In "
Trouble in Paradise," I wrote about how
R-Ranch in the Sequoias is developing a set of "gun safety" rules. I posted an update in "
A Gathering Storm."
Because I had not heard back, I wrote the entire Board. Responses from two (and unverified information I have says three are for a total ban) confirm my worst fears:
From one director:
This year (as part of the contention on the Ranch) one of the members had a 'concealed' automatic weapon (which he did not have a permit to carry). This disturbed some of our employees and they reported it to Management. This member was very vocal and noted that he has always carried a gun on the trail rides. Furthermore, it was his right and privilege to carry his weapon(s) at all times, anywhere on the Ranch and his interpretation of the law is that anyone over 18 has that right as well. You can imagine the can of worms that this opened. We've had people suggest that anyone over 18 should be able to wear holstered guns around the ranch. Heaven forbid!
[I've learned he was wearing a semiauto tucked into his belt because he didn't have his holster with him--the sheriff's deputy told him that was considered legally concealed but declined to make an arrest.]
From the president:
The mission as it started out was to prevent the open and unrestrained carrying of weapons on the ranch especially where children or others are frequently present. I do not believe it will benefit any of us at this point, to jump to any premature conclusions. The main point is everyone that comes to the ranch needs to be secure that they are safe and that no set of people can either intentionally or by accident compromise the safety of others.
Well, it's not
my mission. And talk about intentionally compromising the safety of others...
Here's the ownership setup at R-Ranch. It's similar to joint ownership of common areas in a condominium:
This is not a time share. At R-Ranch no one person or family owns an individual lot. By subdividing ownership rather than land, owners enjoy the entire ranch whenever they wish and as often as they wish, without the constraints of timesharing. There are 2,500 shares, with undivided interest, buyers receive a grant deed at close of escrow.
The Ranch is surrounded by millions of acres of Sequoia National Forest, where open carry is legal--basically, the restrictions are
you can't discharge a firearm "within 150 yards of a campground, trail, road, recreation area or across a body of water.}
Exempt from CA edicts against carrying loaded weapons in a public place are persons "carrying a firearm while at home or at his place of business, including temporary residences and campsites."
The bottom line: If the Board can enact a ban against carrying on Ranch property--complete with legal penalties, i.e., calling in the law to arrest violaters and/or via legally enforceable fines/property use restrictions, they are in effect implementing gun control backed by the force of law.
If they get away with it, every homeowner's association in the state of California will have a blueprint for enacting
Wilmette-style gun bans and ignoring California's state preemption of firearms laws.
