Microstamping again...

[SierraNevadaCCW]

Please contact the Assembly...and urge NO on AB 1471!!

Thursday, April 12, 2007


Two bills aimed at dissolving the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Californians are headed to the Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, April 17.

Assembly Bill 1471, sponsored by Assembly Member Mike Feuer (D-42), would require that after a certain date, the make, model, and serial number be microstamped onto the interior surface or internal working parts of all handguns in such a manner that those identifiers are imprinted onto the cartridge case upon firing. Per AB1471, handguns that did not include their identifying information would be defined as “unsafe,” and their manufacture, sale, and transfer would be a crime.

Also, Assembly Bill 362, sponsored by Assembly Member Kevin de Leon (D-45), would require identification be presented for all mail order and face-to-face ammunition sales. Sellers of ammunition would be forced to keep detailed and accurate sales records. No retail seller of ammunition would be able to sell, offer for sale, or display for sale, any ammunition in a manner that allows that ammunition to be accessible to a purchaser without the assistance of the retailer or authorized employee.

However, not all is bad in the Golden State. Two NRA-supported measures, Assembly Bill 1645 and Assembly Bill 1105 will also be heard on Tuesday, April 17, in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.



AB1645, sponsored by Assembly Member Doug La Malfa (R-2), will protect the Second Amendment rights of Californians to keep and bear arms from executive authority during a state of emergency in California. Existing law authorizes the Governor to invoke various powers in the event of an emergency.



Also, AB1105, sponsored by Assembly Member Martin Garrick (R-74), would require the Department of Justice to complete a study identifying what actions would be required to reduce the waiting period for firearms transfers in California.

[DocAmentler]

Looks like it's time to write letters and make phone calls again.

[inboost]

Looks like it stalled for a moment:

COMPLETE BILL HISTORY



BILL NUMBER : A.B. No. 1471
AUTHOR : Feuer
TOPIC : Firearms: microstamping.

TYPE OF BILL :
Active
Non-Urgency
Non-Appropriations
Majority Vote Required
State-Mandated Local Program
Fiscal
Non-Tax Levy

BILL HISTORY
2007
Apr. 17 In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request
of author.
Apr. 11 Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Apr. 10 From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer
to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.
Mar. 22 Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
Feb. 26 Read first time.
Feb. 25 From printer. May be heard in committee March 27.

[akulahawk]

When they do that, it's an attempt to delay things a bit... so that they can try to slip it in at a later date, without folks noticing they've done it. Unfortunately for them, now that people have immediate access to the record, hiding bills like this gets extremely difficult. Sometimes they do this out of pressure from the public... but I'd be willing to bet that they're going to try to sneak this through or find some way to tie it to a public issue. Since the firearms used in the VT shooting clearly legally belonged to the shooter, microstamping wouldn't have done a darned thing... just be further confirmation of what we already know - the guns were purchased legally by the shooter.

Side note: it's also confirmation that 10 day waiting periods are absolute bull. He planned this for a while. No matter the waiting period, he'd have followed the law... until he broke it in a most heinous, spectacular way.

[inboost]

Akulahawk, I couldn't agree more about the VT shooter. Premeditated means prepared, and that's exactly what he was. I wonder if the democrats are going to write up legislation for a waiting period on chains and locks now? The good news is that the defaced serial numbers were easily recovered this time. Our pal who wrote 1471 will obviously argue that the CSIs got lucky with the purchase receipt, and this is a perfect case for microstamping. Anyone find it ironic that the bill author's name is "Feuer" (English translation: "Fire")?

[hbliam]

A casual read of the microstamping and "ID to buy ammo" issues doesn't leave me upset. Someone care to point out to me why I am supposed to be against it?

[inboost]

hbliam,

Here's my $0.02, take it for what it is, my opinion

The trouble with microstamping is multi-fold. Foremost is that the required technology to make this a reality doesn't currently exist at a manufacturing level. This means that expensive technology must be further refined such that it can be used at a production level. That's development money that someone has to come up with. Ultimately it adds cost to the firearms we intend to purchase. The price increase will be significant if microstamping remains at the level of development it's at now. This is exactly what the guys behind AB1471 want. They can't ban guns outright, but they can make selling guns for a reasonable price in California next to impossible. This drives manufacturers out of the state leaving you with limited (or no) choices in 2010. Keep in mind that microstamping the case is by nature a surface defect and will need to be carefully placed in the system of loading and extraction or it will degrade reliability. Paying more for a less reliable gun is arguement #1 against this bill.

We aslo know that make / model /serial number always goes one place: the legal registered owner. We really need the microstamping to write down a description of the felon to be useful. I don't see this happening so my personal opinion is that sucessfully recovered microstamp info only provides a brisk single step to the gun's first introduction into public domain and ends there. As soon as the firearm is stolen the microstamp trail falls down. Your typical felon isn't capable of legally buying a gun in the first place so it's safe to say that the legal trail is going wide of disclosing his info.

Finally, by the very nature of the technology, the microstamp is easily removed without effecting the function of the gun (or perhaps even improving it!). Imagine that you are throat polishing your 1911 and find out after the fact that you feloniously removed the microstamp feature? How about putting a new titanium firing pin to improve lock time and reduce inertial mass (improving safety). Again you're now a felon for defacing the make/model/serial number data microetched in the end of the firing pin. Of course an internet search will quickly provide the whereabouts of this stamping so you can avoid these dark activities, but this same information will be public domain to the criminals who are easily removing the microstamp data with the brush of a round-file.

As for "ID to buy ammo", it's once again driving retail sales out of California. Do you think WalMart and other large chains who are not making much profit on ammo sales are going to go through the expense of training employees and registering (this means pay a fee to DOJ) as a California ammuniton seller? How about your local gun store who intends to sell ammo until they are forced out of the state? They will have to pass the costs to you. It's also my understanding that this bill will places controls such that out of state vendors will not be able to ship ammo in, as that would require UPS / FedEx / USPS / etc. to be the 'vendor' who must check ID. I don't see any of these shipping companies ponying up for training and taking the time for such a thing, let alone accepting the liability of it.

It's clear to those who wish to reduce firearms ownership in California that there is a considerable number of us who quickly mobilize and get vocal when they point blank ban things. However, they have learned that we don't get too excited when they burry their true intent in obscure ways. It's also to their creative credit that they orchestrate ways to apply new legislation which seems common sense on the surface to the average person. We've got to watch them like a hawk, because if we don't it won't be long until we're surrendering our firearms or leaving the state.

[akulahawk]

The "Microstamping" bill is basically the same kind of deal that the chamber loaded/mag disconnect bill... new designs would have to have it or it could not be even tested to get on the "not unsafe" list... and therefore able to be sold here. If they extend it to say that ALL dealer sold guns must have the microstamping, that would be effectively a ban of all handgun sales, and would only affect the law-abiding anyway.

The ID check bill sounds like a good idea... make sure that the buyer is ok to purchase the ammo. The problem for us is it would effectively shut down internet sales of ammo to California. If no stores want to deal with this, it effectively becomes an ammo ban, and would again affect only the law-abiding.

Both would add another layer of nuttiness that just isn't necessary, even if the technology was workable.

[More Cowbell]

Bad guy pick up handful of brass at firing range. Bad guy go somewhere and shoot someone. Bad guy throw brass on ground at crime scene. Bad guy laugh a lot knowing police looking for twenty different shooters.

[akulahawk]

Originally Posted by More Cowbell

Bad guy pick up handful of brass at firing range. Bad guy go somewhere and shoot someone. Bad guy throw brass on ground at crime scene. Bad guy laugh a lot knowing police looking for twenty different shooters.

That's about what I wrote the last time I sent a letter to my Legicritters... almost word for word!

[BonoVox]

How about reloading? You might find shell casings with more than one SN on them. Heck there could be 5 or 6.

Oh and I bet the BGs would not disable such a device.

Then the BG check for ammo purchases. Please...we all know that BGs don't have guns anyway. There are laws against it. So why would they need ammo???

[xd675]

Well this bill is set to enter comittee hearings on july 16 (this monday) I just got finished calling my senator, and sending an e-mail. I encourage you to do as well.

Here are members of the comittee:

Senator Tom Torlakson (Chair)
916-651-4007

Senator Dave Cox (Vice Chair)
916-651-4001

Senator Samuel Aanestad
916-651-4004

Senator Roy Ashburn
916-651-4018

Senator Jim Battin
916-651-4037

Senator Gilbert Cedillo
916-651-4022

Senator Ellen Corbett
916-651-4010

Senator Robert Dutton
916-651-4031

Senator Dean Florez
916-651-4016

Senator Sheila Kuehl
916-651-4023

Senator Jenny Oropeza
916-651-4028

Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas
916-651-4026

Senator George Runner
916-651-4017

Senator Joe Simitian
916-651-4011

Senator Darrell Steinberg
916-651-4006

Senator Mark Wyland
916-651-4038

Senator Leland Yee
916-651-4008

Good luck!

[DRSFEFA]

Too late. Arnold signed it.

[Justaguy]

Originally Posted by xd675

Senator George Runner
916-651-4017

For the record, we never have a problem with either Runner on gun issues. Save your efforts for the others...

[Quiet]

Originally Posted by DRSFEFA

Too late. Arnold signed it.

The Govenator also signed the lead ammo ban.