Photo of woman in costume walking with gun on Aptos beach stirring up controversy

Whether it was real or fake, many were not happy to see a woman carrying what appeared to be a gun as she walked down Seacliff State Beach in Aptos.

The woman is dressed in a costume, prompting some people to defend her, saying it was only a fun photo shoot. But others say, it was not the right place to do that. “There’s children. What kind of message are you sending to the kids and families? This is a family beach. People should be able to come out and enjoy themselves,” said Santa Cruz County resident Theresa Dickson.

In the photo, the woman is carrying something resembling a rifle. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said it received no calls on Sunday about the woman, but advised that openly carrying a gun, even if it’s a replica, is not a good idea.

“They may know it’s a replica. As we’ve seen in the picture they’re walking around having a good time with what they know may be a fake firearm, but our responding officers don’t have any idea what they’re walking into, as well as the other public member that are on the beach. It’s a gun with a person walking down the beach and it’s not a safe scenario.” said Sgt. Dee Baldwin.

While some were outraged by the photo, we spoke with one woman, Sandra Betz, who was on the beach at the time. She said there was nothing to fear. After seeing it in person she said you could tell the gun was fake and plastic.

She added her four year old daughter pointed out the woman because she was dressed as a queen and says you could easily tell the folks were just there for a photo shoot.

The state parks regulation on weapons:

“4313. Weapons and Traps.

(a) No person shall carry, possess or discharge across, in or into any portion of any unit any weapon, firearm, spear, bow and arrow, trap, net, or device capable of injuring, or killing any person or animal, or capturing any animal, or damaging any public or private property, except in underwater parks or designated archery ranges where the Department of Parks and Recreation finds that it is in its best interests.

(b) Nothing herein contained shall be construed in derogation of the use of weapons permitted by law or regulation and to be used for hunting in any unit, or portion thereof, open to hunting.

(c) Firearms not having a cartridge in any portion of the mechanism, other unloaded weapons or devices such as traps, nets, and bows and arrows may be possessed within temporary lodging or mechanical mode of conveyance when such implements are rendered temporarily inoperable or are packed, cased, or stored in a manner that will prevent their ready use.”