For those who might not be up on our governor, he has been slipping for quite some time now, but he was still keeping do nothing feel good legislation from becoming law. I guess that is no longer the case. I must, however, commend him for putting his signature on them. Many thought he'd just let them sit until they were law. He wanted people to know exactly where he stood on the issue. Thanks Arnie. Now we all know.
For as misguided and heavy-handed as these bills are, they are not the end of the world. In fact there are several provisions that severely limit their applications. Microstamping requires that all patent issues be resolved, and grandfathers previously "safe listed" handguns to allow their continued purchase. The lead ammo ban is limited only to ammo used while hunting, and only effects certain areas of California.
The bills in their approved state are not that terrible. What they will become, however, is a whole other animal.
This was the second foot in the door to the complete ban of handguns, and then, guns. The first was the establishment of the "safe" handgun list, which required handguns to have certain safety features, and be submitted for testing and approval in California. Californians can only purchase a percentage of handguns on the market.
Anti-gunners are not interested in challenging the ownership of guns in California, they're having much more success imposing "common sense" restrictions. Most Californians who don't own firearms don't seem to be opposed to other law-abiding Californians owning firearms. This is probably why a simple ban was never proposed. Antis found that they could attract a lot more support for their bills if they simply proposed "safety restrictions." Who wouldn't want a safety feature, right? No big deal, right? Not quite. The new safety features made it harder for manufacturers to comply. Many simply eschewed California's market as too complicated and dangerous for them to get involved in. Some stuck through, and jumped through all the hoops to get their handguns approved for sale in California. Now they're adding more "safety restrictions." Who wouldn't want a safety feature, right? Eventually they'll make it economically inviable to sell handguns in California.
Handguns won't be banned. You just won't be able to buy them.
The lead ammo ban passing was a surprise to many, but some expressed nonchalance on California gun forums. "The ban only applies to hunters? Haha! Now the Fudds know how it feels!" Indeed. Yet again we find ourselves playing right into the anti's divide and conquer efforts. Somehow many in the gun community (hopefully a shrinking group) feel that the goal of anti-gunners is to oppress one group of gun owners while leaving the other alone. People keep talking about hanging separately, but some folks just don't get it. Your semi-auto rifle is an "assault rifle," and your deer rifle is a "sniper rifle." Anti-gunners are anti-gunners. They're not "anti-hunters" or "anti-recreational shooters" they are anti guns, and they want to get rid of them, big or small, fast or slow, new or old, black or wood. We'd have enormous political power as a group if we'd only get this idea through our collective skull. But all this has been said, many times before. Unfortunately, I don't think anything short of a ban on semi-autos and scoped rifles will ever really unite the gun community.
Please excuse my sarcasm in the next section, but just as there is a rift between hunters and shooters, there is a rift between California gun owners and non-Californian gun owners. I know this does not represent every non-Californian, but I think it needs to be said.
But, what does this mean to gun owning NON-Californians? Oh, nothing. It isn't as though California is the testing ground for laws such as these before they get picked up by other states, and then proposed federally. No, don't worry about that, just keep hoping that Commie-fornia will break off from America and fall into the ocean. Move along, nothing to see here... Oh wait... Whoops.
Similar federal legislation is being drafted by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
But hey, I'm sure it won't make it. That never happens.
Gun control doesn't work.
Gun control doesn't work.
Gun control doesn't work.
It's not about me keeping my guns, or any "cold dead hands" bullshit, gun control simply does not work on any level.
I'm really disgusted with this whole thing. This post seems a bit sub-par to me, but I don't feel like going over it again and giving it more unity, because I just don't want to have to reread it.
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