Gun rights by the bay

San Francisco, where freedom is OK as long as it involves marijuana, but not firearms, lost its bid to ban handguns and ammunition.

On Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the California Court of Appeal upheld a district court decision, which found that the ordinance was pre-empted by several state laws, one of which prohibits cities from restricting handgun possession in an individual's home, business, or private property.

"These laws of statewide application reflect the legislature's balancing of interests -- on the one side the interest of the general public to be protected from the criminal misuse of firearms, on the other, the interests of law-abiding citizens to be able to purchase and use firearms," the panel wrote in its unanimous decision.

"When it comes to regulating firearms, local governments are well advised to tread lightly."

City officials may appeal -- which would be a commendable sentiment if they were trying to expand liberty instead of restrict it.