Gun Rights | Public Input Takes a Big Hit as California Legislative Session Sets to Close

BY L.A. PAREDES 

The Legislature’s “Public Be Damned” Attitude Helps No One’s Cause

The California Legislature has little more than a week before they close out the second half of the 2019-2020 legislative session.  This means if it doesn’t happen now – it’s not going to, at least until next year.  That said, it’s a sure thing that when the gavel falls on August 31, we can say with certainty that it ended the way it began: an all-you-can-eat-buffet of liberal spending and other crapola.

Obviously, COVID-19 has done a number on everyone – the Legislature included.  The difference, however is that the normal shenanigans have been amped up – testimony has been thwarted, rules have been circumvented, and the normal bias against all things 2^nd Amendment have seemed particularly evident.

GOC understands that safety precautions have been necessary, but the hefty restrictions on public input have been disastrous.  Yes, the silver lining means the shortened session forced the anti-gun legislators to focus on fewer bills, but that hardly makes up for squelching voices throughout California that should have been heard.  Clogged phone lines, disconnected testimony and limited hearings are no way to run a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”  This goes beyond Gun Owner’s bills of interest – this impacts any issue where individuals, groups and organizations were not able to have their positions heard and recorded. In our view, if the public is not able to effectively weigh in on any matter – anti-gun or otherwise – then it should be shelved until such time that testimony is fully open and transparent. In their arrogance, however, the Legislature will push through what they want to push through – the public be damned.

The following bills are alive and kicking – and GOC is doing what we can from afar to OPPOSE each one – regardless of any roadblocks:

• AB 2362: Muratsuchi/D – Allows DOJ to fine gun stores out of business for minor paperwork violations.
• AB 2847: Chiu/D – Forces manufacturers to use microstamping technology in order to have handguns on approved roster. Also, this bill deletes three models from the roster for every one “new” microstamped handgun.
• SB 914: Portantino /D – This bill is a complex and convoluted mess that will seriously undermine youth shooting programs throughout the state by mandating that only parents – not a relative, a school or legitimate shooting club – can provide a firearm to anyone under 18. This means that every competitive youth shooter – or kid that wants to go hunting with a grandparent – will not be able to use any firearm unless it’s provided by the parents.  This will literally gut high school shooting teams in the state.  The Left somehow thinks this will put a chill on “gun violence.” In spite of waiting on hold for an interminable time, GOC was never able to add our OPPOSITION to the record.
• SB 1175: Stern/D – Makes it illegal to import or possess African species trophies – this is the camel’s nose under the tent to eliminate hunting in the state.
• SB 118: This was signed by Governor Newsom, and is by far, the worst of 2020’s anti-gun bills.
  Inserted in the 66 pages of the Senate’s 2020 Public Safety “trailer bill”, the Legislature circumvented budget transparency with language that significantly expands the definition of assault weapons to include “pifles” – firearms that are not rifles, shotguns or handguns (typically including firearms that do not have a shoulder stock). The bill also mandates a new statewide electronic system for the sale of firearm precursor parts that is similar to both the Dealer Record of Sales and the ammunition purchase approval systems. That means the DOJ has the authority to define what constitutes a firearm precursor part. The bill also limits the purchases of precursor parts to one every 30 days and accelerates the date of implementation from 2024 to July 1, 2022. A legal challenge is likely to follow.  Stay tuned. 

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