San Francisco's Gun Ban Could Affect Museums

San Francisco Chronicle reports on the gun ban known as Prop.8:

it would require police to leave their guns at the station, force museums to give up their gun collections and interfere with television productions and even the performances of operas like "Tosca" and "Carmen.''

Larry Barsetti, a retired San Francisco police lieutenant who is one of the plaintiffs, owns three handguns and has a license to carry a concealed weapon, but he said he now fears that Prop. H means he will not be able to carry a gun on the streets of the city he once patrolled.

"My problem is if I can't have a handgun when I go to any of the areas were I worked for 30 years and arrested thousands of people, I can't protect myself," he said.

Supervisor Chris Daly, author of the measure, said that police are exempt from the handgun ban and that TV productions and operas can use props. Daly also said Prop. H was drafted to stay within the limits of local authority by prohibiting only San Francisco residents, not visitors, from possessing handguns.

No word yet on whether Chris Daly wants to ban water guns.