Date: Mon, 15 May 1995 23:55:48 -0400 From: alerts@gatekeeper.nra.org (NRA Alerts) To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: ALERT: CA - Review of Activity and a Look at What's Ahead May 15, 1995 California Here's a review of activity in Sacramento last week and a look at what's ahead: ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY AB 634 (Caldera) - which would have repealed the state firearms preemption law (Government Code 53071) and allowed local governments to enact any type of gun control ordinance they chose was DEFEATED on a 4-2 vote. AB 1404 (Machado) - which would have increased to a felony, the penalty for loaning a long gun to a minor without parental permission was DEFEATED on a 3-3 vote. Senator Pat Johnston co- authored this bill. NRA opposed several amendments attached to the bill which launched serious attacks on the rights of gun owners. SB 43 (Johnston) - which would restrict police chiefs to issuing concealed weapon permits to residents of their city. Current law allows chiefs to issue to residents of the county. Senator Johnston is carrying this bill for Sacramento Sheriff Glen Craig. Their objective is to restrict the activities of Isleton Police Chief Gene Byrd, who is a strong Second Amendment supporter and has been issuing permits "Florida-style". The bill has not yet been set for hearing but please start expressing your OPPOSITION to committee members as soon as possible: (All area codes are 916) Paula Boland, Chair - 445-8366 Sheila James Kuehl - 445-4956 Antonio Villaraigosa - 445-0703 Kevin Murray - 445-8800 Larry Bowler - 445-7402 Richard Rainey - 445-6161 James Rogan - 445-8364 You should also contact Senator Johnston (445-2407) and politely tell him of your strong opposition to SB 43. Note: This committee has a vacancy which may not be filled for some time. However, 5 yes votes will still be necessary to pass a bill out of committee. ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS AB 624 (Allen) - which would reduce the penalty for illegal possession of a firearm within a school zone from a felony to a felony or misdemeanor (a "wobbler") was APPROVED 17-0. AB 631 (Davis) - which would have subjected handgun owners to arrest if a person under the age of 18 took a handgun off premises without permission is now a 2-year bill. Assemblymember Davis decided not to push the bill this year because she knew it would fail. AB 635 (Bowler) - an NRA/CRPA-sponsored bill that would require crime laboratories to collect detailed information on firearm use in violent crime. The bill was APPROVED 10-0. Both AB 624 and AB 635 will soon be voted on by the full Assembly. Additionally, AB 132 (Battin), which would correct a serious definitional problem in the Roberti-Roos Assault Weapon Control Act, will be up for vote on the Assembly Floor on Thursday, May 18. This bill will clarify that the SKS rifle which must be registered is the one originally designed to accept a detachable AK magazine. Please call your Assemblymember and encourage him/her to SUPPORT all three bills. SENATE REVENUE AND TAXATION SB 1124 (Watson) - which would impose a 5% tax on firearms and ammunition sales is scheduled for May 17. Please call the committee members listed below and express your OPPOSITION: Mike Thompson, Chair - 445-3375 Dan Boatwright - 445-6083 Ken Maddy - 445-9600 Tom Campbell - 445-6747 Rob Hurtt - 445-5831 Milton Marks - 445-1412 Alfred Alquist - 445-9740 Quentin Kopp - 445-0503 Nicholas Petris - 445-6577 SENATE FLOOR Two anti-gun bills authored by Senator Polanco could be voted on by the full Senate next week. SB 933 would ban so-called "Saturday night specials" and SB 357 would specifically allow local government to regulate ammunition and require anyone who sells, loans or transfers ammunition to be a licensed firearm dealer. Please call your Senator and express your OPPOSITION to these two bills. LOCAL NEWS On May 10, "Women Against Gun Violence" held a rally on the Capitol steps. About 150 people attended. Part of their effort was in support of AB 629 (Caldera), a ban on so-called "Saturday Night Specials", and AB 634 (Caldera), repeal of state firearms preemption. The Sacramento Bee chose not to report on the rally. Maybe that was because AB 629 and AB 634 had already been DEFEATED. Timing is everything!