CA ammo bill is an expensive farce

[ericire12]

http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/article_475aed32-fc72-5e96-b9ee-b21aeb3b6a57.html

CA ammo bill is an expensive farce



On Oct. 9, Marcos Breton extolled a Sacramento city ammunition control ordinance as the model for a statewide ammunition registration proposal. A few days later Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 962 into law.

Acknowledging past vetoes of similar measures, Schwarzenegger praised the alleged success of the Sacramento ordinance in nabbing criminals who attempt to buy ammunition, adding that the statewide requirement for ammunition registration will prevent prohibited persons from skirting the record keeping requirements of individual cities. The governor concluded that the bill "reasonably regulates access to ammunition and improves public safety without placing undue burdens on consumers..."

During an approximate 18-month period, the Sacramento Police Department reported 136 convictions out of tens of thousands of ammunition purchases. That's a paltry record for a process that requires an expensive electronic tracking system and valuable manpower to run.

The state bill requires individuals purchasing ammunition to be fingerprinted and registered at the time of sale with name, address, ammo brand, quantity and driver's license number. Firearms dealers will be required to maintain these records indefinitely and make them available for inspection by the California Department of Justice. As an additional burden, the law will require ammunition retailers to store ammunition away from purchasers. It also outlaws mail order ammunition purchases.

Interestingly AB 962 drew no support from Attorney General Brown or any law enforcement organization. Although Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton and Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel hailed the measure, 15 sheriffs wrote letters of opposition to this legislation.

Small wonder, really. The millions of dollars needed to set up the electronic transmission of information to local police departments and the California Department of Justice was cut out of the bill because of budget constraints. Law enforcement officers who would normally be chasing crooks will have to physically visit each dealer and inspect registers to see if they recognize a prohibited person.

The federal government tried a similar national ammo registration scheme under the 1968 U.S. Gun Control Act. After 18 years, millions of registrations and not one crime being solved, Congress dropped the program in 1986 because federal law enforcement officials testified that the program served no crime fighting purpose and only burdened law-abiding vendors and consumers.

California's ammo registration experiment takes effect Feb. 1, 2011. Local dealers will have to maintain reams of paper records. The costs of administration will be passed on to residents who purchase locally. Millions of dollars in local revenues and state taxes will be lost as Californians who choose not to be fingerprinted drive to nearby Arizona, Nevada and Oregon.

The worldwide black market will keep the street hoods, organized gangs and drug cartels as well supplied as ever. After all, AB 962 only really controls its target audience: law-abiding taxpayers.

Jim Mosher is an Encinitas resident.

[tombogan03884]

FTA ;
After all, AB 962 only really controls its target audience: law-abiding taxpayers.

No law is aimed at Criminals who will ignore them any way. Criminals are the natural allies of politicians. They provide the excuse politicians need for tighter control of "the herd".

[Chromedragon]

I think ill skip the single stage press and go for the dillion 650xl now. it will be easier though im still not sure about how the laws willl effect the actual bullet components for internet sales. The bill states hand gun ammo but im betting the enforcers here in the PRK will just tag all of it if the bill is not over turned by 2011.

[TAB]

the law does cover primers in the "mail order" ban.

[PegLeg45]

The state bill requires individuals purchasing ammunition to be fingerprinted and registered at the time of sale with name, address, ammo brand, quantity and driver's license number. Firearms dealers will be required to maintain these records indefinitely and make them available for inspection by the California Department of Justice. As an additional burden, the law will require ammunition retailers to store ammunition away from purchasers. It also outlaws mail order ammunition purchases.

I know this says the registration requirements are for sales/purchases of ammo from dealers, and bans internet purchases........but what about mere possession?
What if a family member ships it to you from another state?
Is there a 'possession' clause preventing owning banned or unregistered ammo not bought in-state?

My eyes are foggy from a long day and I might have missed it in the text...my apologies if I did.

[Sponsor]

[RedLightning]

It seems to hurt even more when a "Republican" is the one who signed the bill into law.   

[tfr270]

He's a RINO. He was bombarded with emails, letters, fax, and phone calls requesting that he veto this bill with very well written and well thought out arguements against it. He signed it anyway. It's his Kennedy family ties.

[MikeBjerum]

He's a RINO. He was bombarded with emails, letters, fax, and phone calls requesting that he veto this bill with very well written and well thought out arguements against it. He signed it anyway. It's his Kennedy family ties.

The amazing power of a wife's crossed legs 

[TAB]

He's a RINO. He was bombarded with emails, letters, fax, and phone calls requesting that he veto this bill with very well written and well thought out arguements against it. He signed it anyway. It's his Kennedy family ties.

don't forget are last POUS, he was a long time GOP member, from a very GOP family.  he said he would sign another AWB if it made it too his desk.

[Pathfinder]

He's a RINO. He's married to a Kennedy. was bombarded with emails, letters, fax, and phone calls requesting that he veto this bill with very well written and well thought out arguements against it. He signed it anyway. It's his Kennedy family ties.

Fixed it - too wordy.