Some are happy about these 3 bills. IMHO, I see nothing in here to really advance the cause of making gun ownership/carry any better.
Now, if you go to
http://nramemberscouncils.com/legs.shtml you will find things that are going against us.
Be sure you read the last paragraph. Last sentence; If you “FIX YOUR GUN you FACE A FELONY.”
Example,
AB 98 HANDGUN CARRY Description: Existing law generally makes it a crime to carry a concealed handgun.
This bill would repeal those provisions and establish the new crime of unlawfully carrying a handgun, as specified. The bill would make it a crime to carry a handgun in a vehicle or upon one's person, subject to exceptions, regardless of whether the handgun was concealed. The bill would provide that unlawfully carrying a handgun is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or by both that imprisonment and fine, as specified. The bill would also provide that the offense would be punishable as a felony if certain circumstances exist, as specified. The bill would further provide that in certain instances the penalty imposed would be by imprisonment in the state prison, or by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or by both that fine and imprisonment, as specified.
Action needed: None at this time
Details: AB 98 stalled in the Assembly Appropriations Committee last year and may return in 2006.
Example, AB 352 Issue: MICROSTAMPING (Koretz)
Description: This bill would, commencing January 1, 2007, expand the definition of unsafe handgun to include semiautomatic pistols that are not designed and equipped with a microscopic array of characters, that identify the make, model, and serial number of the pistol, etched into the interior surface or internal working parts of the pistol, and which are transferred by imprinting on each cartridge case when the firearm is fired.
This bill would provide that, commencing on January 1, 2007, no handgun may be submitted for that testing unless the handgun is designed and equipped with a microscopic array of characters, that identify the make, model, and serial number of the pistol, etched into the interior surface or internal working parts of the pistol, and which are transferred by imprinting on each cartridge case when the firearm is fired.
Action needed: None at this time
Details: AB 352 stalled in the Senate last year and may return in 2006.
NRA is strongly opposed to AB 352:
"FIX YOUR GUN - FACE A FELONY."
In AB352, the proponents seek to mandate that all new semi-automatic handguns introduced in 2007 would be required to have information (make, model & serial number) about the firearm "micro-stamped" on the surface of parts of the handgun. This "micro-stamped" information would supposedly be transferred onto the cartridge case of the ammunition when it is fired.
The technology being mandated in AB352 has not been studied or tested in the real world and is only available from a single source and would create a government sanctioned monopoly for that company.
The advocates of AB352 claim that the addition of this requirement in the manufacturing of handguns for California will assist law enforcement by creating additional evidence for solving crimes. In committee hearings the author admitted that the “micro-stamped“ cartridge cases could not even be used for evidence!
There is NO SUPPORT from the California law enforcement organizations, That includes the California Police Chiefs Association (Cal Chiefs). The Police Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) opposes AB 352.
The parts of the handgun that would have the 25 microns deep (half the thickness of a fine human hair) "micro-stamping" etched on them can be easily replaced without the use of tools. The markings on the parts will also be degraded and easily erased with the normal wear and tear in using the handgun.
A review of federal law has revealed that AB352 would make the everyday practice of maintaining and repairing firearms (as outlined in the handgun owners’ manual) a felony. If a person needed to replace commonly worn out “micro-stamped” parts to keep their handgun safely operating, that person would be violating Federal law because the alteration, removal and obliteration of a manufacturer’s or importer's markings on those parts carries the penalty of up to ten years in federal prison and $250,000.00 fine. If AB352 becomes law: If you “FIX YOUR GUN you FACE A FELONY.”
Vote: majority.
Appropriation: no.
Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.
