The Activist Summer Edition & 2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Activist Summer Edition & 2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT THE 2ND AMENDMENT IS JUST ONE OF YOUR RIGHTS REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM 2012 DEMOCRATIC PARTY PLATFORM 2012 The Second Amendment: Our Right to Keep and Bear Arms Firearms. We recognize that the individual right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we will preserve We uphold the right of individuals to keep and bear arms, a right Americans' Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. which antedated the Constitution and was solemnly confirmed by We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable the Second Amendment. We acknowledge, support, and defend regulation. We understand the terrible consequences of gun vio- the law-abiding citizen's God-given right of self-defense. We call lence; it serves as a reminder that life is fragile, and our time here for the protection of such fundamental individual rights recog- is limited and precious. We believe in an honest, open national nized in the Supreme Court's decisions in District of Columbia v. conversation about firearms. We can focus on effective enforce- Heller and McDonald v. Chicago affirming that right, and we rec- ment of existing laws, especially strengthening our background ognize the individual responsibility to safely use and store fire- check system, and we can work together to enact commonsense arms. This also includes the right to obtain and store ammunition improvements—like reinstating the assault weapons ban and clos- without registration. We support the fundamental right to self- ing the gun show loophole—so that guns do not fall into the hands defense wherever a law-abiding citizen has a legal right to be, of those irresponsible, law-breaking few. and we support federal legislation that would expand the exercise of that right by allowing those with state-issued carry permits to carry firearms in any state that issues such permits to its own residents. Gun ownership is responsible citizenship, enabling For Information On Voting In California Americans to defend their homes and communities. We condemn and your polling location go to: frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers and oppose federal http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-in-california licensing or registration of law-abiding gun owners. We oppose legislation that is intended to restrict our Second Amendment rights by limiting the capacity of clips or magazines or otherwise restoring the ill-considered Clinton gun ban. We condemn the reckless actions associated with the operation known as "Fast and Furious," conducted by the Department of Justice, which IN THIS ISSUE resulted in the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol Agent and others on both sides of the border. We applaud the Members of the U.S. Legislative Update: AB1527 & SB1366 on Governor’s Desk House of Representatives in holding the current Administration's Attorney General in contempt of Congress for his refusal to coop- Guest Columnist: Laura Hartung reviews Dark Knight Rises erate with their investigation into that debacle. We oppose the WAGV in the Community: Collaboration with Los Angeles improper collection of firearms sales information in the four south- ern border states, which was imposed without congressional au- School Police Department thority. Life & Culture • Ways To Give • Annual Report Women Against Gun Violence • The Activist • Summer 2012 & Annual Report 2011—2012 • wagv.org • gunssuck.org • 310-204-2348 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE STATE STATE Prevent Illegal Guns Act – Report Lost and Stolen Guns Assault Weapons (Bullet Button) SB 1366 SB 249 (DeSaulnier, D-7th District) (Yee, D-San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) Today in California, despite our almost 25-year old SB 1366 requires that every person whose fire- ban, manufacturers are selling weapons similar to arm is lost or stolen notify local law enforce- the type used in Aurora, Colorado in direct viola- ment within 48 hours of the time they tion of both the letter and spirit of our state law. knew or reasonable should have known This attempt to erode our public safety is not new. that the firearm had been lost or stolen. If Since the passage of the assault weapons ban, gun manufacturers have worked to find a myriad the firearm is subsequently recovered they of ways to circumvent the wishes of Californians. m u s t also notify the local law enforcement In anticipation of the gun industry’s attempts to a g e n c y On thewithin Governor’s 48 hours of the recovery. Desk evade the law, the ban included a “copycat” provi- sion under which Attorneys General have suc- Under current law, while firearms dealers and manufacturers must report cessfully sued to enforce California’s landmark legislation. any lost or stolen firearms within 48 hours, firearm owners whose guns are lost or stolen are not required to do anything. As a result, law enforcement This time around, the gun manufacturers have efforts to investigate gun crimes and disarm dangerous criminals are sig- found a way to exploit an inconsistency in our cur- nificantly hindered. The public overwhelmingly supports laws requiring the rent state regulations, which are not in full compli- reporting of lost or stolen firearms. A 2011 nationwide poll found that ance with the clear language of our law. The gun industry is undermining our safety by selling weap- 94% of Americans surveyed, including 94% of gun owners, favor laws to ons fitted with bullet buttons – a “tool” used to re- require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms. This bill would require that, move the ammunition magazine. They interpret beginning January 1, 2013, every person whose firearm is lost or stolen this slight alteration as making the firearm must notify local law enforcement within 48 hours of the time the person “California compliant”. But make no mistake – knew or reasonably should have known that the firearm had been lost or these weapons remain assault weapons and still hold ammunition magazines that can be switched stolen. Reporting lost or stolen weapons would help law enforcement out in seconds and fire an estimated 50 – 60 solve crimes and fight more effectively against gun trafficking. It would rounds per minute. They have no use for hunting also help take firearms away from prohibited persons who may falsely or personal protection and represent a tremen- claim their firearms were lost or stolen. Finally it would make it easier for dous threat to our public safety. law enforcement to return weapons to their legal owners. In response to the gun manufacturers’ blatant dis- regard for the will of Californians, State Senator Leland Yee introduced Senate Bill 249, co- To track California State Legislation: authored by Senate President Pro Tem Steinberg, Senator De Leon, Assembly Member Feuer and http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/ Assembly Member Portantino. Senate Bill 249 clarified existing law to conform to the original in- tent of the assault weapons ban and affirmed that bullet button-equipped firearms are illegal assault weapons. This bill also confirmed that the Califor- nia Department of Justice has the authority to up- date and bring into compliance existing regulations concerning assault weapons Pulled To Be Reintroduced At A Later Legislative Session Page 2 • The Activist • Summer 2012 and Annual Report 2011-12 STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE The Long Gun Open Carry Ban AB 1527 (Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge) Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge) has introduced AB 1527, a measure that will prohibit individuals from openly display- ing unloaded rifles and shotguns in public. AM Portantino introduced the legisla- tion at the urging of law en- forcement as a follow up to last year’s successful AB 144, which banned openly carrying an unloaded handgun in public places. “Last year the state made it clear that this type of behavior had no place on Main Street, California,” said Assem- blymember Portantino. “Unfortunately, the Open Carry community has decided to once again force our hand by escalating their unneces- sary activities and entering our On thecommunities Governor’s with AR-15s Desk and other long guns. I had hoped cooler heads would have prevailed and this law wouldn’t be necessary. Obviously that hasn’t been the case, and I must once again take action to ensure the safety of our communities.” AB 1527 builds on the newly enacted law authored by Portantino last year and provides a similar list of exemptions to enable safe transportation, lawful hunting, and use by law enforcement officials. GUN FACT #1 CARRYING A GUN DOES NOT PROVIDE SELF-DEFENSE “Law abiding citizens have the right to carry guns to defend themselves” is the meme that drives our gun laws. Relying on this meme, laws have been passed that allow conceal and open carry guns in public places ranging from restaurants, bars and movies, to churches and offices. There is pressure from the NRA and gun extremists to pass laws allowing guns on college campuses, on airplanes and to do away with gun free zones. But the fact is that the meme is false, it is a fiction; carrying a gun does not provide any realistic possibility of self defense—the element of surprise always defeats the gun carrier. The criminal does not approach and say “draw.” They have a gun to the back of your head before you know they are there. And you will not dare move as they take both your money and your gun. President Reagan was surrounded by secret servicemen and local police carrying guns and looking for trouble. A would be assas- sin with a $45 handgun was able to shoot all six of its bullets, hitting four people including Reagan, Jim Brady (his press secretary) and two officers before bring subdued.