After four decades of regulating the sale of guns California is preparing to regulate the sale of ammunition as well. When Assembly Bill 962 goes into effect on February 1, 2011 people buying bullets will be required to provide their name, driver's license number and right thumb print. Obviously, this means all ammo purchases must be picked up in person.
Here's the link to the actual bill: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0951-1000/ab_962_bill_20090226_introduced.html
A quick scan of editorials from several Bay Area newspapers finds that the general response to this new law is positive. Many extend the proposition that if registering guns is good, registering to buy ammo is even better.
But not a lot of editorial writers talk to cops before they put pen to paper. Many law enforcement professionals I know grimace and say, great, another law on the books. Just what we need another law to make up for previous laws that aren't always enforced.
Take a look at the laws covering gun sales before you decide where you stand on the new ammo sales law.
When buying a gun, a background check is required with a 10-day waiting period applying to all sales. Convicted felons, mentally ill or illegal immigrants are prohibited from owning firearms. And all sales must go through a licensed dealer.
If all those requirements were enforced in the first place would we really still care about who's buying bullets?
Cops know that as fast as a law goes into effect criminals have figured out a way around it. In this case, the easiest gambit is to hire someone with a clean criminal record and pay them to buy your ammo. Or you send a runner out of state to buy ammo. Or you steal it.
For the straight shooters who enjoy skeet or target practice, it's another form to fill out, more time and added restrictions. Los Angeles and 12 other cities have already adopted local ordinances regulating ammunition sales. The National Rifle Association www.nraila.org calls California's new ammo law "another severe, but impotent gun control measure."
"This law presents intrusive and unnecessary burdens that will only affect law-abiding firearm retailers and gun owners…not criminals," said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. "At a time when California is facing dire budget problems, California has squandered valuable resources in policing law-abiding Californians instead of investing in substantive measures that target criminals."
If we can't enforce laws already on the books and with recent severe job cuts in the law enforcement community, who's going to enforce this?
It's an interesting issue. Hit the "comment" button and tell us what you think.
Comments
This is the most ridiculous law to ever come out of anywhere, even Krazy Kalifornia. It is destined to go to the courts along with all the other assinine gun controls.
why do these idiots always pass laws to hurt the law abiding gun owners instead of going after the criminals these laws supposedly target?
to the writer of this article. the 50 round talk has been removed from the bill
It's almost like it was sponsored by Nevada and Arizona, where all my ammo money is going to be spent.
This regulation only applies to ammunition for handguns, not rifles, so ammunition for personal self defense is directly affected. As noted above, the 50 round limit was removed in the final version of the bill. Interestingly, there is specific language in AB962 that conflicts with pre-existing Federal law. As a result, there will be legal challenges to this law immediately.
This bill was changed considerably from the version posted in the article. The 50 round limit is now gone, and the law is now scheduled to go into effect in February 2011.
It's another piece of feel-good legislation aimed directly at those predisposed to obeying unenforceable laws. The effects on average gun owners would be significant, while criminals will simply buy their ammo the same places they buy their illegal drugs and illegal guns. Fortunately AB962 appears to be in direct conflict with federal laws surrounding the regulation of common carriers (FedEx, UPS, etc), and will be challenged in federal court.
Well, now that you're so late with this unless tidbit of information maybe you should pick up on Assembly Bill 373, pending legislation that will repeal AB 962. Contact California Rifle & Pistol Assc. for details and a letter letter of support that you can mail in.
Funny, isn't it, that in a state that's melting down they've got so much time on their hands even to consider anti business laws like this one? It's more on how the whole state is mismanaged and how external forces weigh heavily while the paying public must step asside so that "good may come." What good? What dream is this from?
Worse yet, the law will soon change to include ALL ammo. Hate to break it to you. That's that old "hand gun" argument like first the "hand gun" then the world as in no guns at all toy or real due to a touchy little unspoken and unspeakable "moral" in some dreamer's head. Plenty of time for "pot" though, that "killer weed" that's the cause of death and mayhem.
It would seem that Kalifornia is doing its best to make everybody, whether a resident or not, into a criminal. At the same time, it does its utmost to protect the real criminals from justice.
It is said that they cannot put us all in prison, so they are truning the entire state, and country, into a prison.
I am a former resident of California and a firearms instructor in rural Arizona. I recently met a woman seeking to purchase a handgun at the local Walmart (Walmart does not sell handguns). She was preparing for a trip back to California, where her father was about to undergo surgery. I had to inform her that there was no way that she could legally keep a loaded handgun available inside her automobile once she crossed the California line - California simply does not care about the safety of its residents or visitors. The more measures California passes, presumably to "control" firearms and ammunition, the more it tilts the balance in the favor of criminals who, by definition, are not concerned with breaking those laws. Only the otherwise law-abiding citizens are affected, despite the inane statement to the contrary by Governor Schwartzenegger.
You are right folks. These rediculous laws suck. What I cannot understand is why the people of kali-land allow this rediculous crap to continue? Don't the people with sence there vote??? I know that I left there in 57. It was already pretty bad. But at least I voted. My brothers are still there and they vote. They are getting very discouraged and your congress people from there are real doozies. They are your employees so why do you not getr rid of them. Actually Arnie is the best Governor you have ever had in muy memory. quitcher belly aching and get out there and do something. one puzzled sheepdog.
What if all the good, tax-paying, God-fearing folks left Kalifornia and moved to Texas? I guess the state would be even bluer and their ink even more red. Like Davy Crockett said "You may go to Hell and I will go to Texas".
These clowns that think of these laws to write are clueless about real life. They need to be put out of office a.s.a.p. so keep track of these dimwits and vote them out of a job. Remember, we are the people with the power to run their butts out of sacramento. Anyone who treds on the peoples rights should be on their way down the road kicking rocks looking for a different job. So do your homework folks and get rid of these people when election time comes it's your job to do so!!
Yes 50 rounds is out, also there are lawsuits to stop this pos legislation, hopefully they will tie this up in court and waste more of Kalifornias monies
Thanks for the column Rayne, as you know there is not a 50 round limit and the law is vague as to what types of ammunition are "handgun ammo." Appreciate your effort!
In response to those who do not live in CA from a 40+ year resident:
I don't know who elects our politicians, no one I know voted for the incumbents. Possibly we have polls in Juarez and other parts of Mexico they don't let us know about.
An honest "citizen's" life is expendable because we are not relevant anymore. Illegal aliens; people who want to import another countries culture, customs, and languages; drug traffickers and gangs; and those whose life styles are not "mainstream" are the future of CA and who the State serves.
Passing draconian firearm laws which emulate Great Britain and most of Europe is Politically Correct. Our unwritten politician's agenda seems to center around increasing the violence and social unrest so a totalitarian government can take hold in the rest of the U.S. (we have th
Remember (1) very important fact that most people fail to recognize. Gov. Schwarzenegger is married to a KENNEDY! and as the Governator has implied more than once, "he has to play nice at home or he doesn't get any action". So even though he may be registered as a Republican, the Democrat agenda takes center stage
Thanks readers for reminding me what a moron I am for not cutting the 50-rounds line, which didn't make it into law.
You know, it's good to be humble and I thank my readers for keeping me so. And while we're at it, where are your story suggestions? What Bay Area crime topic do you want to know more about? Stay safe!
It just bothers me that I have to spend twice as much money to protect my family when the criminals get cheap ammo/guns and don't follow any of the rules law abiding citizens do.
I think ....MOVE THE HELL OUT OF CALIFORNIA!!!!
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