American Defense Enterprises

We forgot to mention this during last Saturday’s class…

AB962 will:

• remove mail order ammunition sales
• add cost to sales because vendors will be required to record personal information and fingerprint every purchaser and keep records for inspection
• force vendors to redesign stores to keep ammunition in locked cabinets or out of public consumer areas.

This will not reduce crime (obviously). This will create unnecessary burdens on ammunition vendors and firearm range owners. This is a waste of money and effort and only serves as a form of harassment against law abiding citizens. As CK mentioned, this now moves to the Governer’s desk for a signature or veto. If he does not act in 30 d, this will automatically become law. In the past, he has always signed or vetoed such legislation after waiting until the last minute to hear comment from the community — usually signed ( .50 cal ban, microstamping).

Please contact the Governor now…

Email him here.

Or, if you are a little less lazy, consider calling/faxing or writing him here:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

State Capitol Building

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916-445-2841

Fax: 916-558-3160 ( new number )

Heck…. Just do all four.

AB962, the ammunition restriction bill has passed out of the Senate public safety committee and is now headed to Senate appropriations committee. It was hoped that this bill would die in the public safety committee as our legislators should be focused on passing a budget replete with budget and tax cuts. This bill has been pushed by anti-gunners since 2003 in one form or another and failed every year. Unfortunately Senator DeLeon who reauthored the bill and submitted it for a second legislative session in a row pushed it out of the Senate public safety committee today on a vote along party lines based on sad police stories of gun violence by gang members with too many bullets and families with dead relatives.

Focus your attention of the Senate appropriations committee now. Hopefully they will have enough sense to know they can’t send an unfundable bill to the Governator.

Get your voice heard!
Call the Appropriations Committee Office
(916) 651-4101
You just have to tell them you are calling for voice your opposition to AB962.

Since this bill has been passed out of a policy committee before the July 10th deadline the Senate appropriations committee (a financial committee) has until August 28th to pass it on to the Goverator.  Hopefully he will veto this misguided bill when it reaches his desk.

All the deadlines and calander dates are available here.

The resourceful and informed people over at CalGuns.net have dug up the fiscal analysis of AB962.  It is very clear from this opinion that the money, resources and time to implement the requirement of this bill are not available.  Hopefully this analysis will kill the bill.

The fight is not over, so send some Faxes directly to the Senate Public Safety Committee at (916) 445-4688 to let them know you oppose this bill.  Supposedly they are logging the Faxes and letter sent directly to them and not the ones sent to committee members offices.

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE BILL ANALYSIS
AMENDMENT DATE: Original BILL NUMBER: AB 962
POSITION: Oppose AUTHOR: K. De Leon

BILL SUMMARY: Ammunition

This bill would establish a database maintained by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to serve as a registry of handgun ammunition vendors. Additionally, the bill would require that, beginning July 1, 2010, no person shall sell or transfer specified rounds of handgun ammunition in any month unless he or she is licensed as a handgun ammunition vendor.

FISCAL SUMMARY

Although DOJ has not provided a fiscal estimate for this bill, Finance believes creating a new database and registration program would require significant staff and contract resources. The bill would allow for a fee to be charged to cover DOJ’s costs, but caps that fee at $50. It is not clear that this program can be implemented at that fee level. If it cannot, DOJ would have to seek additional funding, creating pressure on other special funds and possibly the General Fund.

COMMENTS

Finance is opposed to this bill given the likely cost pressures it would impose and the significant resources it likely would require. Although the bill would provide for a fee to be charged for this purpose, absent specific information from DOJ, it is not clear the fee would be sufficient to fully fund this effort. Additionally, it may not be appropriate to impose additional workload during this time of limited state resources.

Furthermore, given that the licensing restriction would be in effect on July 1, 2010, and this bill, if chaptered, would be effective on January 1, 2010, DOJ would have only months to prepare and implement this database. Also, no appropriation authority is provided in the bill, so it is unlikely DOJ would have additional appropriations to draw from when developing this new program in time for the July 1, 2010 date.

Currently, DOJ maintains a database related to firearms transactions, which is supported by fees.

The bill would create a new handgun ammunition tracking database and registration program for handgun ammunition vendors. The bill would allow for a fee of up to $50 to reimburse DOJ for its costs of administering the license program, maintaining the registry of handgun ammunition vendors and other regulatory functions, including enforcement.

We have posted about AB962 multiple times before.  This bill will prohibit the sale, delivery or transfer of >50 rounds of handgun ammunition to non-family members unless you are a registered ammunition vendor with the state.  This bill will essentially destroy the firearms classes that we enjoy taking with ADE since it would require students to purchase their own ammunition before class.  Keep in mind that most beginning students may not have ever fired a handgun before and probably do not own their own firearm yet, so buying ammunition is not an insignificant task for them.  The bill would also require ammunition vendors would also be required to keep records of ammunition sales and take a thumbprint of the purchasers.  Further, ammunition storage restrictions in the bill would make it impossible to sell ammunition to students on Burro Canyon class days.  Lastly, the State of California is on the verge of bankruptcy and issueing IOUs to bill vendors if they don’t pass a budget by the 29th of July when they run out of money.  The State simply does not have the money to spend on the databases and infrastructure to support the ineffective programs mandated by this bill.

Contact the members of the Senate Public Safety Committee by Phone, Mail, and Email and tell them to vote “NO” on AB962 at the June 30th meeting.

SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE:

State Senator Mark Leno (D-3) – Chair
(916) 651-4003
Senator.Leno@SENATE.CA.GOV

State Senator John J. Benoit (R-37) – Vice-Chair
(916) 651-4037
Senator.Benoit@SENATE.CA.GOV

State Senator Gilbert Cedillo (D-22)
(916) 651-4022
Senator.Cedillo@SENATE.CA.GOV

State Senator Loni Hancock (D-9)
(916) 651-4009
Senator.Hancock@SENATE.CA.GOV

State Senator Robert Huff (R-29)
(916) 651-4029
Senator.Huff@SENATE.CA.GOV

State Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-6)
(916) 651-4006
Senator.Steinberg@SENATE.CA.GOV

State Senator Roderick Wright (D-25)
(916) 651-4025
Senator.Wright@SENATE.CA.GOV

Outlook formatted emails

Senator.Leno@SENATE.CA.GOV; Senator.Benoit@SENATE.CA.GOV; Senator.Cedillo@SENATE.CA.GOV;Senator.Hancock@SENATE.CA.GOV; Senator.Huff@SENATE.CA.GOV; Senator.Steinberg@SENATE.CA.GOV; Senator.Wright@SENATE.CA.GOV

Legislative alert:

Issue: AMMO RESTRICTIONS (DeLeon)
Description: AB 962, as amended, De Leon. Ammunition.
Existing law requires the Department of Justice to maintain records pertaining to firearms transactions.
This bill would require the department to maintain additional information relating to ammunition transfers and licensed handgun ammunition vendors, as specified.
Existing law generally regulates the sale of ammunition.
This bill would establish a program administered by the Department of Justice for licensing handgun ammunition vendors, as specified.
The bill would establish a database maintained by the department to serve as a registry of handgun ammunition vendors.
This bill would require that commencing July 1, 2010, unless specifically excluded, no person shall sell or transfer more than 50 rounds of handgun ammunition in any month unless he or she is registered as a handgun ammunition vendor, as defined. The bill would also require employees of those vendors who would handle, sell, or deliver ammunition in the course and scope of their employment to obtain a certificate of eligibility, as specified. The bill would require the Department of Justice to maintain a registry of registered handgun ammunition vendors, as specified. The bill would provide that no vendor would be authorized to sell ammunition pursuant to a handgun ammunition vendor license unless the vendor is listed on the centralized registry.
The bill would also provide that no retail seller of ammunition shall sell, offer for sale, or display for sale, any handgun ammunition in a manner that allows that ammunition to be accessible to a purchaser without the assistance of the retailer or employee thereof.
Existing law generally regulates what information is required to be obtained in connection with the transfer of ammunition.
This bill would, subject to exceptions, commencing July 1, 2010, require certain ammunition vendors to obtain a thumb print and other information from ammunition purchasers, as specified. A violation of these provisions would be a misdemeanor.
This bill would provide that a person enjoined from engaging in activity associated with a criminal street gang, as specified, would be prohibited from having under his or her possession, custody, or control, any ammunition. Violation of these provisions would be a misdemeanor.
The bill would prohibit supplying or delivering, as specified, handgun ammunition to prohibited persons, as described, by persons or others who know , or by using reasonable care should know , that the recipient is a person prohibited from possessing ammunition or a minor prohibited from possessing ammunition, as specified . Violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor with specified penalties.
The bill would provide, subject to exceptions, that commencing July 1, 2010, the sale or other delivery or transfer of ownership of handgun ammunition may only occur in a face-to-face transaction, with the seller deliverer or transferor being provided bona fide evidence of identity of the purchaser or other transferee. A violation of these provisions would be a misdemeanor.
By creating new crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

Well, it was fun shooting with you all.  If you think the current ammunition shortage is bad then you are in for a rude awakening.  Yesterday Assembly Bill AB 962 was sent to the State Assembly floor for a vote that could make it law.  In the current bad economy we need to focus our attention on more pressing matters.  We do not need another government mandated program to regulate the sale and transfer of products and services.  This law will put out of business firing ranges, gun stores and firearms training classes in California.  Additionally this bill will decrease the state revenue from these business and leave the people they employ jobless.

The gist of the bill is that it will:

1) stop internet ammo sales (forcing all ammo sales to be face-to face)

2) require registration and thumbprint at each ammo purchase

3) require certification of ammo sales personnel

4) require all ammo kept inside a secure enclosure

And the worst part …

5) limit the sale or transfer of ammunition to 50 rounds per month

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND TELL THEM YOU OPPOSE AB 962!

Text of AB 962

Existing law requires the Department of Justice to maintain
records pertaining to firearms transactions.

This bill would require the department to maintain additional
information relating to ammunition transfers and licensed handgun
ammunition vendors, as specified.

Existing law generally regulates the sale of ammunition.

This bill would establish a program administered by the Department
of Justice for licensing handgun ammunition vendors, as specified.

The bill would establish a database maintained by the department
to serve as a registry of handgun ammunition vendors.

This bill would require that commencing July 1, 2010, unless
specifically excluded, no person shall sell or transfer more than 50
rounds of handgun ammunition in any month unless he or she is
registered as a handgun ammunition vendor, as defined. The bill would
also require these vendors to obtain a background clearance for
those employees who would handle ammunition in the course and scope
of their employment. The bill would require the Department of Justice
to maintain a registry of registered handgun ammunition vendors, as
specified. Violation of these provisions, as specified, would be a
misdemeanor.

As talked about here (TheCitizen), HR 2159 (The Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2009) would allow the Attorney General to have the power to deny firearms to potential terrorists.

If our no fly list is an example of what the government considers to be potential terrorists, this bill would have serious unintended consequenses….

NRA-ILA California news website

For those not familiar with the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) they are the lobbying arm of the NRA that helps get our feelings about gun control and the right to bear arms to our legislators in Washington D.C. and here at home in California.

As the legislative session is getting into full swing we need to keep a lookout for bills that seek to limit our rights protected by the 2A or for those few bills that seek to protect them.

Another good place to keep up to date on bills and their status is the NRA members council of California

The Good Stuff:

I have already posted about AB357 which would make California a “Shall Issue” state.  It is sitting in committee now, so keep sending letters to your Reps and the committee members to tell them you support this bill.

A similar bill is Assembly Bill 1167 which would grant CCW reciprocity to CCW holders form other states and visa versa.  I don’t know if California residents who have a Utah or Florida or other CCW permit would benefit from this bill, but it is a step in the right direction.

SECTION 1. Section 12058 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
12058. (a) Persons holding a valid permit or license to carry a
concealed handgun from any state or a political subdivision of a
state shall be deemed a licensee under subparagraph (A) of paragraph
(1) of subdivision (a) of Section 12050.
(b) The Department of Justice shall enter into reciprocity
agreements with all other states that have the legal authority to
enter into those agreements so that licensees under Section 12050 may
carry firearms in those states pursuant to the conditions imposed by
Section 12050. The department shall each month maintain and publish
a list of those states with which this state has established
reciprocity.

The last bill, AB225, is a spot bill (place holder) that seems like the intent will be to define “Good Cause”.  This is a great concept.  Currently there is no firm definition of “Good Cause” that is universally accepted or published statewide.  Basically the standard for “Good Cause” varies from county to county and Sheriff to Sheriff.

Now the Bad Stuff:

AB962 – The ammunition ban bill by DeLeon.  Basically AB962 will limit you to purchasing 50 rounds of ammunition a month if it passes.  Every legislative session DeLeon submits this bill.  I don’t know how he gets away with it since bills that are not passed out of committee are not allowed to be resubmitted the next legislative session.  Anyways, write you legislator a letter telling them you want them to oppose this bill.

AB697 – “Smart guns” = Dumb law.  Yet another silly bill that wants guns to only fire if the user is authorized.  Someone with fingerprint recognition technology is probably prodding State Senator Mark DeSaulnier to submit this every year.  Note to self … never vote for someone withe a “DeSomthing” last name.

There are several more to be posted later.  Write you Reps to tell them to support or oppose these Bills!

UPDATE: The City Council has decided not to draft an ammunition sales registration ordinance.

For a little over 2 years the City Council of Long Beach has been discussing drafting a City Ordinance that would require ammunition retailers to keep records on the identity of every person that purchases ammunition and what they purchased.  This data is then to be used by the Long Beach Police to identify persons who are prohibited from purchasing or possessing ammunition.

Well they appear to be set for a final vote this Tuesday, March 24th.

Read about it on Breaking News from CalGunLaws.com

Several other cities have implemented similar ordinances only to repeal them later.  Los Angeles still has their law in place, but it has proven to be useless at reducing the crime rate.

Rand Study On Ammo Sales Confirms Ammo Sales Records Useless

The study shows that because of the tremendous manpower involved in monitoring the records and doing background checks, the Los Angeles Police Department is largely not doing so.

Significanly, the Rand study does not conclude, nor claim to prove, that violent felons or other dangerous criminals typically purchase ammunition from firearms retailers.

What the Rand study actually did uncover is the state of confusion that exists concerning when a person is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

Similarly, the Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986 repealed the federal requirement to show I.D. when purchasing ammunition because it was found to be ineffective at reducing crime.

So basically what we have is yet another push by anti-gun orginizations to try and prevent law-abiding citizens from exercising their rights specifically protected by the Second Amendment.

If you live in California it behoves you to make your voice heard and contact members of the Long Beach City Council and let them know that you oppose any Ammunition Sales Registration.

Contact emails for the Long Beach Mayor and City Council can be found at this link.

Your letters do not need to be long.  A simple letter stating something like the one below is sufficient.  Copy and Paste if you like, but please change the name of the addressee and add your name to the end.

Mayor Bob Foster,

I am a resident of California and I urge you and the City Counsel to oppose the Ammunition Sales Registration ordinance.  Similar ordinances have been shown to be ineffective at lowering crime and have been subsequently repealed. Again, I urge you to oppose this ordinance.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Contrary to what we may have previously suggested, it looks like our new Attorney General, Eric Holder, will be actively seeking to reinstate the “assault weapon ban” (reported at ABC News).