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Guns and Safes

Legislation Update

It's the repeating criminal, not the repeating rifle!


Liberal legislators have declared war on law-abiding gun owners. As you read this, our current gun laws routinely result in the confiscation of property and prosecution and incarceration of law-abiding citizens for non-violent administrative violations.

Proposed legislation is even worse.

This isn't about controlling crime; it's about controlling law-abiding Americans! It's about dismantling the 2nd Amendment! Crime is merely the excuse. Here's how you can tell. Laws that regulate, prohibit, outlaw, and control inanimate objects are aimed at the law abiding citizen. Laws that punish behavior or actions that harm others are aimed at criminals. Instead of tracking criminals on parole, we track people who legally own guns. Instead of writing a law that punishes the use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, we get laws that punish otherwise law-abiding gun owners for administrative violations such as not registering themselves and their firearm. Oh yes! When you register something you are most assuredly registering yourself!

Liberals prefer to track gun owners instead of parolees and violent offenders. Care to guess who they fear more? The liberal goal is to prevent private gun ownership, not crime. This goal is accomplished in part by making the red tape so overwhelming that many prospective gun owners simply give up on the idea of exercising the right to keep and bear arms. Don't surrender without a vote! This page lists some of the current legislative and, when applicable, election highlights as they relate to this conflict.


SHORTCUTS TO LEGISLATIVE ALERTS
CA Legislative Alert Shortcuts Federal Legislative Alert

 

OTHER SHORTCUTS
Ballistic Fingerprinting CA's Handgun License

 


CAFR Press Release concerning Governor Brown's action on recent gun legislation

October 15, 2011

On the plus side the governor vetoed the very obnoxious and confusing ammo bill SB 427 ( De Leon) - nothing changes this time around with respect to handgun and rifle ammo. This was a really important win for us and probably the bill that had the potential to do the most harm economically and with the most potential to drag gun owners and gun stores into court battles.

On the down side, he did sign into law the bill SB 819 ( Leno) that allows the state of California to continue to overcharge and misuse/misappropriate the surplus funds paid by gun buyers for background checks. (Editor note: refers to Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) and Safety Tag fees.) As I understand it we will continue to be overcharged and the state will continue to misuse the excess funds. Unknown if a court action will follow. SB 819 takes effect in January 2012.

He also signed AB 809 ( Feuer) into law which will create the same registration scheme for long guns as it does for handguns. This means that long guns, (rifles and shotguns), which are currently delivered to the gun buyer with a background check but without a registration requirement will now be registered the same as handguns. This will make firearm confiscation easier the next time the state decides to do it again. Yes, again. California has already established that it can and will - has - confiscated firearms. See the history of the SKS Sporter rifle and the ongoing confiscation of so-called assault rifles. This new long gun registration will make it very easy for the state to target individuals and groups of otherwise law abiding citizens. AB 809 is expected to cause an increase in demand and possibly the retail price for long guns as gun owners rush to beat the rush and AB 809's long gun registration scheme. AB 809 takes effect in January 2014. (Editor note: If past history holds, the rush and attendant price increase will take place in 2013.)

AB 144 ( Portantino) was signed into law and basically bans open carry. Many within the pro-gun community believe this bill was the result of an unnecessary fight between the proponents of open carry and Portantino. Well publicized and widely reported open carry demonstrations and a few "in your face" media interviews where proponents did a very poor job of representing gun owners led to the fight over open carry. Given whose in charge in Sacramento and the apparent fact that open carry proponents didn't have the funds or organization to win the fight it might have been better to maintain a lower profile until conditions were more favorable. The dubious silver lining to this cloud is that passage of this bill might work in our favor as elements within the gun lobby challenge the "good cause clause" in California's concealed carry law. The "good cause clause" is based completely on the local sheriff's arbitrary and discretionary opinion of what constitutes "good cause" and supports the elitist perspective of many of our state's anti-gunners. AB 144 takes effect in January 2012.

SB 610 ( Wright) Concealed Carry (CCW) is almost a neutral bill in the 2nd Amendment debate in that it makes no great or substantive changes. Regardless, it was generally supported by pro 2nd Amendment groups as pro-gun because first it does no harm to the 2nd Amendment and second because it does make certain minor monetary improvements on behalf of CCW applicants. Basically, SB 610 modifies existing law so that the applicant would not be required to pay for any training courses prior to a determination of good cause being made; this provision will save you some money when the sheriff turns you down. It clarifies that the application fee for a new license must include the costs of required notices and provides that no applicant would be required to obtain liability insurance as a condition of the license. Finally, it puts a time line on the sheriff for notifying you of your denial. Please note that this alleged "major league" pro-gun bill leaves intact the primary anti-2nd Amendment provision that allows the sheriff to refuse to issue a license for any reason that he as sole arbiter decides does not meet "good cause clause".

CAFR is disappointed that the NRA is celebrating this legislation, which they drafted, as if it will free up the process or increase the issuance of CCW's. It will have no such effect. The issuing authority will still have the ability to refuse to issue CCW permits based on whatever arbitrary criteria they wish to apply. The NRA, conspicuous by it's absence elsewhere - particularly in the fight against Portantino's AB 144 which bans open carry - also diverted attention and resources away from the main gun lobby effort aimed at doing away with the "good cause clause" of California's CCW law as well as support on other legislative issues. NRA drafted SB 610 benefits Democrat Senator Wright more than gun owners as it helps maintain his pro gun credentials and does so without actually doing any harm, from an anti gunner's perspective, to the original unconstitutional and anti 2nd Amendment concealed carry law already on the books. In short, the minor gains in SB 610 are a poor showing for a bill from a Democrat Senator that claims strong pro 2nd Amendment credentials. SB 610 takes effect in January 2012.

CAFR sincerely hopes that the lessons learned during this legislative session will lead to improved coordination next year between the NRA and the rest of the gun lobby. Should you have any questions please contact our legislative advocates, Kathryn Lynch, at (916) 443-0202, or Gerald Upholt, at (916) 384-5813.

Sincerely,

Marc Halcon, President
California Association of Firearm Retailers

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Hot Links & Bookmarks!
Locate your representative now!

I strongly recommend use of Gun Owners Of California (for California Legislation), and Gun Owners Of America (for current Federal Legislation), because both will provide accurate & insightful legislative analyses and updates, and both have contact data for your representatives. What they don't do is just as important; they they don't withold or spin information to get your support; they won't lie to you. They will back up their claims with original source material, chapter, line, and verse.


Regardless, stay informed, be involved, and for crying out loud - please - check the NRA's position carefully before you start writing letters on their behalf. It's unfortunate but the NRA doesn't always tell you everything you need to know about a pending Bill or a candidate. When in doubt - check it out! Try the "Gun Owner's"" links, I have found them to be truthful, thorough, and reliable.

Ron Godwin, Mgr

Gun Owners Of California Gun Owners Of America
California Rifle & Pistol Assoc. NRA
The United States Constitution The United States Bill of Rights
The California Constitution Christian Coalition of California
Gun News Daily Jews For The Preservation of Firearms Ownership
Flash Bunny; "Using new media to destroy old lies" Official California Legislation Information
Endorsements, how they work and how they don't! Legislator Contact Data

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California DOJ Hot Links

CA-DOJ; Firearms Division
CA-DOJ List of California approved handguns
CA DOJ Firearm Transport laws
Prohibited Persons Notice Form & Power of Attorney for Firearms Disposal
Operation of Law Form: For acquiring a firearm by Operation of Law (gift from parent, etc.)
Voluntary Registration Form: To report ownership of a firearm
Handgun Safety Certificate Study Guide
Assault Weapon ID guide
Firearm No Longer in Possession Form
Personal Firearms Eligibility Check Form
CA-DOJ requirement for Handgun Registration for new Residents: Use New Resident Handgun Registration Form
New CA Resident Handgun Registration Form

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Local Ranges
Where can I shoot?

Key = I Instructors Available, HS Hunter Safety Course Available, RO Range Officers on duty, PC Private Club, OP Open to the Public, CCW course, TSC Trap/Skeet/Sporting Clays Course Available
American Shooting Center (OP/RO/I/HS/CCW/TSC) South Bay Rod & Gun Club (OP/I/RO)
San Diego Range Info Project 2000 Range (OP/RO/I/HS)
Discount Gun Mart & Indoor Range (OP/RO/I/CCW) Lemon Grove Gun Club (PC)
Lakeside Sportsman's Club (PC) San Diego Shotgun Sports (OP/PC)
Linea De Fuego/IPSC/Action Shooters (PC/RO/I) Magnolia Indoor Range (OP/I/RO/CCW)
Pala Range (Up to 900 yds! Inexpensive membership!) Palomar Sportsman's Club (PR)

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FIREARMS LAWYERS

Bruce Colodny - Firearms Lawyer Trutanich & Michel, Attorneys at Law
Christopher Chiafullo - Firearms Industry Lawyer Larry Kincaid, Attorney, 1110 North 2nd St. El Cajon, CA (619) 937-0042
Jeremiah J. Sullivan III - Criminal Defense  

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El Cajon Gun Exchange BBB Business Review

One last thing- Call your legislator!
Tell them it's the repeating Criminal, and not the repeating Firearm!