Date: Fri, 9 Jun 95 14:33 EST From: Peter Nesbitt <0005111312@mcimail.com> To: Firearms Alert Subject: CALIFORNIA POLICE CHIEFS: CPCA Network Alert. [Forwarded to me for posting. Thanks! -- PDN] [Letterhead names at end of post.] [Please send me the address/phone number for the individuals listed on the CPCA letterhead.] [page 1] California POLICE CHIEFS Association Inc. 1455 Response Rd., Suite 190 Sacramento, CA 95815 Telephone 916-923-2375 FAX 916-263-6090 TO: Chiefs of Police FROM: John Lovell, Government Relations Manager DATE: May 24, 1995 RE: CPCA NETWORK ALERT After successfully resisting efforts of the gun lobby to take away the authority of chiefs and sheriffs to issue concealed weapons permits, we now have an opportunity to actually make some affirmative gains in the firearms area. Senate Bill 933, by Senator Richard Polanco, would ban manufacture and future access to so-called "non sporting handgun" -- better know (sic) as Saturday Night Specials -- in California. The principal behind SB 933 is a simple one -- if a handgun could not be legally imported into the United States because it violated the Federal Factoring Criteria (which defines "non sporting handguns"), it could not be legally manufactured, imported into, or possessed in California if it was manufactured in this country. This makes fundamental sense. If a type of handgun is considered unsafe and prohibited from import into the United States, it should not be manufactured and sold within the United States either. Although one would think that a simple, no nonsense bill like SB 933 would pass easily, the gun lobbies have vigorously opposed it. Their opposition is ironic since event the NRA supported the 1968 Federal gun legislation that authorized Federal Factoring Criteria. In a stunning upset for the gun lobbies, SB 933 won approval in the State Senate, but now faces extremely rough sledding in the California Assembly. It's first stop is the Assembly Committee on Public Safety. Frankly, unless you take action, the organized gun interests will succeed in killing SB 933 in that committee. [page 2] CPCA Network May 24, 1995 Page Two Here are the names of the Assembly Public Safety Committee members: Name Phone Fax Paula Boland 916-445-8366 916-322-2005 James Rogan 916-445-8364 916-322-4477 Larry Bowler 916-445-7402 916-324-0013 Richard Rainey 916-445-6161 916-327-5297 Antonia Villaraigosa 916-445-0703 916-445-0764 Kevin Murray 916-445-8800 916-445-8899 Shela James Kuehl 916-445-4956 The address for all members is the same: State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. Here are some key points to make: 1. It makes no sense to prohibit the importation of unsafe handguns into this country while permitting their manufacture and distribution within the country. 2. The proliferation of cheap, inexpensive handgun is a major contributor to the senseless shooting of police officers and of law abiding citizens. 3. These guns have no legitimate use: they often misfire, are inaccurate at longer ranges, and have no utility for sporting activities like hunting and target practice. The are the guns of choice among young criminals who cannot afford better made firearms. It is important that members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee hear from law enforcement professionals like you. Without that input, the organized gun lobby has an excellent chance of killing this bill. [end of letter] [Letterhead names] OFFICERS President JAMES E. ANTHONY Glendale 1st Vice President RON LOWENBERGE Huntington Beach 2nd Vice President RICHARD PROPSTER Gardena 3rd Vice President PETE G. HERLEY Tiburon Secretary/Treasurer RICHARD TEFANK Buena Park DIRECTORS BOB BLANKENSHIP Redding RICK BREZA Santa Barbara FRED COBURN Bishop B. WARREN COCK Retired KEN FORTIER Riverside ROBER HILL Tulare BOB MCDONELL Newport Beach TED MERTENS Manhatten Beach PETER NORMAN Foster City SAL ROSANO Santa Rosa JOE SAMUELS Oakland CRAIG STECKLER Fremont RICK TERBORCH Arroyo Grande COMMITTEE CHAIRS LAW & LEGISLATION TOM SIMMS Roseville NOMINATING LARRY TODD Los Gatos PAST PRESIDENTS LARRY TODD Los Gatos PUBLICATIONS JOHN DISTELRATH West Covina RETIRED MEMBERS JIM SIMMONS Albany STANDARDS & ETHICS PHIL COLEMAN Davis TRAINING JAMES NUNES Pleasant Hill WAYS & MEANS ROY HARMON Yuba City EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Rodney K. Pierini [end]