Jeff Chan 
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                   chan@shell.portal.com

March 27, 1994

Dear Assemblymember:

I'm writing to you regarding three bills currently before the
legislature addressing firearm concealed carry (CCW) permits.
Specifically, I urge you to support AB 3368 and oppose SB 1717 and SB
1896.  For how much longer can Californians' right to choose safe and
effective self-defense be arbitrarily denied by police chiefs and
sheriffs with their own private agendas?

As you know, following concealed carry reform in Florida in 1987, the
murder rate dropped nearly 40%.  Where the rate was once far above the
national average, Florida's murder rate is now below the national
average.  Around 200,000 concealed carry permits have been issued there
to date and instead of the hysterical predictions of "blood in the
streets" by anti-firearms-rights lobbyists and media, the opposite has
happened: Florida is now a LESS deadly place.  Needless to say, this
fact has not been widely reported by the generally anti-gun media.

In Florida, Oregon, Georgia, Utah, Idaho and several other states that
have recently reformed their firearm carry permits, any adult with no
criminal or mental history can get a license to carry.  In some states
there are training requirements that go along with this process.  In all
of these states the murder rate fell or did not increase significantly.
[1]

California has a chance to address this issue by passing Ross Johnson's
AB 3368, which would make illegal concealed carry a felony, but would
make issuance of permits based on objective criteria, not the
questionably-motivated whim of the local chief.

Also touted as CCW reform SB 1717 and SB 1896 on the other hand would
make illegal concealed carry a felony while at the same time not
reforming the current system that makes issuance of permits arbitrary
and nearly impossible in come cities and counties.  SB 1896 by Petris
contains additional attacks on firearms rights that would only serve to
criminalize legitimate firearms ownership while doing essentially
nothing to stop crime or control criminals.

Experience in other states has shown that concealed carry reform reduces
crime by making it possible for decent people to defend themselves in
the face of violent crime.  Again, I urge you to SUPPORT AB 3368 and
OPPOSE SB 1717 and SB 1896.

Sincerely,

[signature]


1.  Independence Issue Paper #14-93, "Concealed Handgun Permits for
Licensed, Trained Citizens: A Policy That is Saving Lives" by Clayton E.
Cramer and David B.  Kopel, June 18, 1993, Independence Institute, 14142
Denver West Parkway, Suite 101, Golden, CO  80401, 303-279-6536