]http://www.libertybelles.org/articles/ammocontrol.htm
CA: Ammunition Control
by Jennifer Freeman
How do you pass a gun registry law without attracting too much attention? Bury it in an ammunition bill. At least that's what the State of California is trying to do.
AB 362 would limit ammunition purchases to 50 rounds per month and would require the submission of a thumbprint and background check before the ammunition could be purchased. That is extraordinary, in and of itself. But there's more. The bill also states:
© (1) The Attorney General shall permanently keep and properly
file and maintain all information reported to the Department of
Justice pursuant to Sections 12071, 12072, 12078, 12082, and former
Section 12084 or any other law, as to handguns and maintain a
registry thereof.
(2) The registry shall consist of all of the following:
(A) The name, address, identification of, place of birth (state or
country), complete telephone number, occupation, sex, description,
and all legal names and aliases ever used by the owner or person
being loaned the particular handgun as listed on the information
provided to the department on the Dealers' Record of Sale, the Law
Enforcement Firearms Transfer (LEFT), as defined in former Section
12084, or reports made to the department pursuant to Section 12078 or
any other law.
(D) The manufacturer's name if stamped on the firearm, model name
or number if stamped on the firearm, and, if applicable, the serial
number, other number (if more than one serial number is stamped on
the firearm), caliber, type of firearm, if the firearm is new or
used, barrel length, and color of the firearm.
(emphasis added by Liberty Belles).
What is the purpose of all of this? One could argue that restricting access to ammunition could result in a decrease of gang violence. With over 100,000 gang members in Los Angeles County alone, California has a legitimate concern about gang activity.
Unfortunately, the majority of gang members are in the United States illegally or are the children of illegal aliens. Yet, benefits, jobs, and foreign language assistance is readily available in California. The State also has a major problem with jail and prison overcrowding. So convicted criminals are not serving their full sentences. Plus, there's no telling how many crimes are plea bargained to lesser charges resulting in lighter sentences. Why then isn't California deporting foreign-born criminals and building new jails?
California's crime problem has nothing to do with the availability of ammunition. In fact, ammunition is readily available all over the country. Crime rates vary due to a variety of factors, none of which have been linked to ammunition sales. It's as if California is reluctant to blame the criminal preferring instead to blame the criminal's instrument while simultaneously eroding the rights of the law abiding.
One could argue that this law isn't about reducing crime at all. It's about exerting control over the people of California. If the State can't take away your guns, it will take away your ability to use them. California relies on its abundance of criminal activity in order to justify its anti-gun, anti-ammo legislation.
AB362 passed the Appropriations Committee by a vote of 12-5 on June 7, 2007. This bill could pass quite easily unless there is an outpouring of opposition from the people of California. Contact your State Senator to express your opposition.
Jennifer Freeman is Executive Director and co-founder of Liberty Belles, a grass-roots organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the Second Amendment.
http://www.libertybelles.org
jennifer@libertybelles.org
CA: Ammunition Control
by Jennifer Freeman
How do you pass a gun registry law without attracting too much attention? Bury it in an ammunition bill. At least that's what the State of California is trying to do.
AB 362 would limit ammunition purchases to 50 rounds per month and would require the submission of a thumbprint and background check before the ammunition could be purchased. That is extraordinary, in and of itself. But there's more. The bill also states:
© (1) The Attorney General shall permanently keep and properly
file and maintain all information reported to the Department of
Justice pursuant to Sections 12071, 12072, 12078, 12082, and former
Section 12084 or any other law, as to handguns and maintain a
registry thereof.
(2) The registry shall consist of all of the following:
(A) The name, address, identification of, place of birth (state or
country), complete telephone number, occupation, sex, description,
and all legal names and aliases ever used by the owner or person
being loaned the particular handgun as listed on the information
provided to the department on the Dealers' Record of Sale, the Law
Enforcement Firearms Transfer (LEFT), as defined in former Section
12084, or reports made to the department pursuant to Section 12078 or
any other law.
(D) The manufacturer's name if stamped on the firearm, model name
or number if stamped on the firearm, and, if applicable, the serial
number, other number (if more than one serial number is stamped on
the firearm), caliber, type of firearm, if the firearm is new or
used, barrel length, and color of the firearm.
(emphasis added by Liberty Belles).
What is the purpose of all of this? One could argue that restricting access to ammunition could result in a decrease of gang violence. With over 100,000 gang members in Los Angeles County alone, California has a legitimate concern about gang activity.
Unfortunately, the majority of gang members are in the United States illegally or are the children of illegal aliens. Yet, benefits, jobs, and foreign language assistance is readily available in California. The State also has a major problem with jail and prison overcrowding. So convicted criminals are not serving their full sentences. Plus, there's no telling how many crimes are plea bargained to lesser charges resulting in lighter sentences. Why then isn't California deporting foreign-born criminals and building new jails?
California's crime problem has nothing to do with the availability of ammunition. In fact, ammunition is readily available all over the country. Crime rates vary due to a variety of factors, none of which have been linked to ammunition sales. It's as if California is reluctant to blame the criminal preferring instead to blame the criminal's instrument while simultaneously eroding the rights of the law abiding.
One could argue that this law isn't about reducing crime at all. It's about exerting control over the people of California. If the State can't take away your guns, it will take away your ability to use them. California relies on its abundance of criminal activity in order to justify its anti-gun, anti-ammo legislation.
AB362 passed the Appropriations Committee by a vote of 12-5 on June 7, 2007. This bill could pass quite easily unless there is an outpouring of opposition from the people of California. Contact your State Senator to express your opposition.
Jennifer Freeman is Executive Director and co-founder of Liberty Belles, a grass-roots organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the Second Amendment.
http://www.libertybelles.org
jennifer@libertybelles.org
