From: WIENER@pc.gcs.litton.com (WIENER, DAN  x3708)
To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com (FAlert)
Subject: More Webb media
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 95 12:17


   The media feeding frenzy around Simi Valley councilwoman Sandi
Webb just keeps growing.  The focus has shifted from her support of
William Masters (who killed a graffiti vandal in self-defense) to
her open admission that she sometimes carries a concealed handgun
into Los Angeles without a permit.  She is trying to further shift
the focus to the issue of self-defense, and the Catch-22 we face in
that we have a theoretical right to use force to defend ourselves,
but current laws make it illegal to carry any means of implementing
that fundamental right.

   Yesterday KNX radio (CBS's newsradio station in Los Angeles)
apparently denounced Sandi in strong terms (I didn't hear it
myself).  J. Neil Schulman will deliver an editorial reply.

   A local editorial cartoon titled "Sandi's Webb" portrayed her as
a spider with gun in hand, guarding a web with a law book in the
center.  So far Sandi has turned down 20/20 and the Phil Donahue
show, out of concern over their reputations for doing hatchet jobs. 
Sandi did agree to do a TV interview next week for some show that
would be broadcast in Italy(!?).  Sandi will be speaking at the
California Libertarian Party convention in Oakland this weekend.

   Ventura County District Attorney Michael Bradbury sent Sandi a
polite letter taking note of her recent admission about carrying
without a permit.  "While I empathize with your desire to protect
yourself and your daughter in light of your personal experiences, I
cannot simply close my eyes to your statement of intention to
violate state firearm laws...  In short, you should understand that
you are subject to prosecution if you carry a gun under the
circumstances you described and your conduct comes to the attention
of law enforcement."  In other words, he's not about to bring any
charges over her past actions (actually he can't anyway, even if he
wanted to attempt something so ridiculous and risky, since she only
admitted to carrying a gun in Los Angeles, not Ventura County), but
she has now been officially warned about the future.  We speculate
that Bradbury must be under enormous political and media pressure
to respond forcefully to Sandi's "confession".

   I've received several requests for newspaper addresses, from
people wanting to send letters-to-the-editor regarding Sandi Webb
and her position on carrying concealed weapons.  I would caution
people that unless you live in Southern California, a supportive
letter from a distant location might look a little strange unless
it is carefully worded.  On the other hand, Sandi has been getting
some national publicity, including her appearance on CBS This
Morning (where the topic was pretty much restricted to graffiti),
and a report on NPR (national public radio).

   Letters-to-the-editor must contain your full name, address, and
telephone number (for verification) in order to be printed (the
papers will only print your name and home town).  Any letters
should be brief and are subject to editing. Here are the addresses:

   Letters to the Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square,
Los Angeles, CA 90053; or fax to (213) 237-7679.

   Daily News, Public Forum, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, CA
91365; or email 74511,2472@compuserve.com; or fax (818) 713-3723.

   The Star, Editor's Letters, P.O. Box 869, Simi Valley, CA 93065;
or fax to (805) 526-0479.

-- Dan Wiener (wiener@pc.gcs.litton.com)