MORE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY BETTER, INFORMATION ON NEW CALIFORNIA GUN CONTROLS

By Bob Walsh

One of the things I found out yesterday is that when the legislature of the formerly great state of California passes a bill to the Governor’s desk, it drops out of the legislative computer system so there is no real easy way at this stage of the game to get a copy of the actual text of the bill. Right now that is leading to the following issues, which I am confident will be clarified in the next few days or weeks.

SB880 does expand the definition of “assault weapon” to include ANY semi-automatic centerfire rifle that is capable of using a detachable magazine. It does, however, apparently refer only (maybe) to NEW SALES and not to existing privately held weapons. So maybe I don’t have to register my Mini-14 and M-1 Carbine as dreaded and evil assault weapons. Maybe.

SB1235 establishes some sort of framework for background checks for buying ammunition. I BELIEVE that this means an ammunition buyer’s license but I have not been able to get ahold of a copy of the final bill that Moonbeam actually signed so I don’t know that. I am unsure whether or not this also bans self-importation or internet sales.

SB1446 does ban the mere possession of “high capacity” (more than ten rounds, which is actually standard factory capacity for many weapons) “ammunition feeding devices” (magazines) by private citizens. As of January 1 2017 you have to either turn them over to the Gestapo or remove them from the state, unless an appeal to this idiotic law is successful. That is definitely possible but not a sure thing.

It should be noted, for anybody who gives a shit, that these bills were fast-tracked without the normal required public comment period before they were approved by both houses on a party-line vote and sent to the Governor, who signed them on his way out the door on vacation.

EDITOR’S NOTE: According to the Los Angeles Times, Moonbeam signed six gun-control measures and vetoed five others.

Bills the governor signed will:

— Require an ID and background check to purchase ammunition and create a new state database of ammunition owners

— Ban possession of ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets.

— Restrict the loaning of guns without background checks to close family members.

Bills the governor vetoed would have:

— Put an initiative on the November ballot to clarify that theft of a firearm is grand theft and is punishable as a felony.

— Require those who make guns at home to register them with the state and get a serial number so the weapons can be tracked.

— Required stolen or lost guns to be reported within five days.

— Limited Californians to the purchase of one rifle or shotgun per month

Bob, as I said before, get yo ass out of Kookfornia and move to gun-happy Texas! Yippi-bang-hi-bang-ho!