Washington, DC -(AmmoLand.com)- A concerted effort is underway to overturn several restrictive anti-gun measures signed into law in California this summer, and all Golden State gun owners need to do their part to help ensure these unjust laws don’t stand.
According to a recent report by NRA-ILA, bills that have been passed by the legislature and signed into the law by the governor may be prohibited from becoming law through a successful referendum. In order to qualify, a referendum for the ballot must be submitted within 90 days of the governor’s signature; the proponent must 1) present the referendum to the secretary of state; 2) be certified by the secretary of state; and 3) collect the required number of signatures and return them to the respective counties prior to the deadline. If successful, the measures will appear on the ballot for a vote of the people.
Six of the current petitions targeting the new laws have a signature deadline of Sept. 29, and each requires 365,880 signatures.
These include:
- 1788 (16-0004), Referendum to Overturn Law Redefining Assault Weapons;
- 1789 (16-0005), Referendum to Overturn Law Prohibiting Possession of Large-Capacity Ammunition Magazines;
- 1790 (16-0006), Referendum to Overturn Law Regulating Ammunition Sales;
- 1791 (16-0007), Referendum to Overturn Law Redefining Assault Weapons;
- 1792 (16-0008), Referendum to Overturn Law Establishing Criminal Penalties for Falsely Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms; and
- 1793 (16-0009), Referendum to Overturn Law Regulating Loans of Firearms.
California gun owners are seeking to overturn seven new gun laws that target the law-abiding. Another punitive measure, signed later by Gov. Jerry Brown, is also included in the recall process. 1794 (16-0010), Referendum to Overturn Law Requiring Serial Numbers on Personally Manufactured or Assembled Firearms, also requires 365,880 signatures, but has a later deadline of Oct. 20.
In truth, none of the measures passed by the California legislature and signed by the governor would do anything to stop violent criminals. Rather, they are all aimed at putting more burdensome regulations on law-abiding gun owners.
Brown actually vetoed the one bill that would have dealt specifically with punishing people who’ve committed a pre-existing crime. That measure would have made theft of a firearm a felony offense in all cases.
During the time the first six measures were signed by Gov. Brown, NRA-ILA California spokesperson Amy Hunter called the bills “a draconian gun-control package that turns California’s law-abiding gun owners into second-class citizens.”
Hunter said many of the state’s elected officials used the December terrorist attack in San Bernardino to help ramrod through their gun-control agenda.
“The governor and legislature exploited a terrorist attack to push these measures through, even though the state’s already restrictive laws did nothing to stop the attack in San Bernardino,” she said. “These bills make no one safer; they only add another layer of laws that criminals will continue to break.”
About the NRA-ILA:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
For more information, please visit: www.nra.org. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at NRA on Facebook and Twitter @NRA.
“Failure is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.”
Does anyone have an update on how signature collecting is coming? These petitions were hot news for a week or two, but I haven’t seen any updates on the progress…..will we make the goal in time, or is this looking like a failed attempt at saving our rights?
Pat,
The last I hear was “it could go either way.”
They’re still collecting signatures.
There are actually nine petitions. Petitions 16-0002 and 16-0003. One petition is to use electronic signatures for future petitions and another petition is to have an option for a Jury Trial in child custody disputes.
Veto Gunmmageddon has partnered with V.O.T.E! to work together gathering signatures for each petition. V.O.T.E! has an extensive network that allowed VG to quickly get the petitions out and circulated for signature.
On facebook’s V.O.T.E! [your county] group is where a lot of coordination is taking place. Go to V.O.T.E! [your California county] and help out. We need volunteers. Thank you.
I have family in the Bay Area and have been visiting that region for close to 20 years. It is obvious, even to the most casual observer that street crime has made the area one of the most dangerous places to live, raise a family or just take a walk. It seems that the entire population is convinced that the more laws there are to deter an individuals right to self defense the safer the state would be. That the opposite is occurring seems not to have entered their minds. There are none so blind a those who will themselves… Read more »
NOTHING, could be further from the truth… Concealed carry, or open carry, would reduce crime and violence SIGNIFICANTLY.
Brian, I suggest you re-read kevikens comment and try to comprehend it. The only error in his comment was stating that the “entire population is convinced that the more laws there are to deter an individuals right to self defense the safer the state would be.” It’s not the entire population…just the voting majority of “useful idiots”.