Idea for a CA Ballot Initiative

[RAD-G27]

Here in CA we have this wonderful thing called Ballot Initiatives where common everyday folks can get issues put on the ballot during General Elections so that the people of the state can vote on them. How about a Ballot Initiative that requires CA to be a Shall Issue State? I know that CA is a majority Blue state, but even many of them have weapons, and there is a possibility that it would pass. Waiting for the Legislature to do anything about it won’t happen, and if they do, they’re more likely to go the way of NY.

Items to be included in the Initiative:
• CA will be a shall issue state
• All rules to be at the state level, not at the discretion of individual Co. Sheriffs
• Period of time that the license will be good for, 3-5 years
• Number of weapons allowed on a license, I would think a minimum of three
• No “Good Cause” required, just the normal background check

It would have to be well enough written that the state could not muck with it should it ever gat passed.

Issues:
• Someone to write the Initiative, probably basing it on NV or some other state.
• Someone to write the petition for signatures
• Filing the Initiative with the State
• Funding, this is the hard one
• Getting enough signatures
• A WEB Site to host for info, downloads for the petition and contributions
• Publicity, based on funding

I know that I have probably not though through everything and that it would not be easy. Looking for your thoughts and comments on this one, doable, DOA, possible, other issues, etc. Everyone in CA should have an equal opportunity to obtain a CA CCW.

[GBROKE]

Have your forgotten what state we live in... Full of LIBERALS!!! That would get shot down pretty quick!

[Steyr_fan]

I can't remember where I saw it, but if you get enough signatures, they HAVE to include it on the next vote. Let the people decide, and if enough people do vote FOR it, they have no choice but to allow it.

I think this is a fine idea, and although I suck at doing stuff like this, I would be more than happy to pass on the info to everybody I know, and sign the petition.

[RAD-G27]

Hey, I was trying to be nice, hence the referenct to Blue and I did not use the "L" word. I'm sure that we have some nice Blue folks that come here. In addition, as long as we have the appropriate number of signatures and all of the i's are crossed and the t' dotted, I don't think that Jerry Brown can keep it off the ballot. Leave it to the voters.

[BonoVox]

You are right funding is the tough part. Especially for something that likely does not have a chance.


There would have to be some pretty significant polling done first to guage California's appetite for such a law.

[GBROKE]

Originally Posted by RAD-G27

Hey, I was trying to be nice, hence the referenct to Blue and I did not use the "L" word. I'm sure that we have some nice Blue folks that come here. In addition, as long as we have the appropriate number of signatures and all of the i's are crossed and the t' dotted, I don't think that Jerry Brown can keep it off the ballot. Leave it to the voters.

Don't get me wrong I would be one of the first in line to sign that thing I just do not believe we would have enough to win a majority of votes for it. Call me a pessimist, but I am more a realist...

Really the media is to blame... The majority of people see a gun and automatically think BAD...

Yes sometimes bad people get guns and some of the stories I hear are horrible, but a free country comes with cost...

[DVSmith]

Originally Posted by BonoVox

You are right funding is the tough part. Especially for something that likely does not have a chance.


There would have to be some pretty significant polling done first to guage California's appetite for such a law.

All you need is one wealthy backer that is passionate about the subject. People float vanity initiatives all the time, just look at Rob Reiner!

[RAD-G27]

Originally Posted by BonoVox

You are right funding is the tough part. Especially for something that likely does not have a chance.


There would have to be some pretty significant polling done first to guage California's appetite for such a law.

With regards to polling done to guage the appetite, tht would probably be up there in $'s as well, might as well just go for it. If I could only find the support.

[sealbeach]

I think it sounds like a good idea, massive amount of work, and you really need a team that has done this before...

[Steyr_fan]

Originally Posted by GMONEY

Don't get me wrong I would be one of the first in line to sign that thing I just do not believe we would have enough to win a majority of votes for it. Call me a pessimist, but I am more a realist...

Really the media is to blame... The majority of people see a gun and automatically think BAD...

Yes sometimes bad people get guns and some of the stories I hear are horrible, but a free country comes with cost...

But you never know unless you try! I'd almost bet that the people would surprise you! If you ever saw the vote tally taken by county here in CA, you might be surprised to know that the state is actually more red than blue, and only the big cities got the attention, and the Electoral College votes.
Edit: Here is the national map: USATODAY.com

I think the worst it might be is a draw. We also know that the Gov. would support such an initiative as well... that might be somewhere to start, along with several of the state reps that vote Pro 2A.

My 2 pennies,
Paul

[RAD-G27]

Does anyone have a contact at the NRA, I wonder if they would lend support?

[BYcyclist]

Originally Posted by RAD-G27

Does anyone have a contact at the NRA, I wonder if they would lend support?

Not personally - contact NRA-ILA - I'd help. For all the realists, pessimists, etc. I'd be game to try.

Either that or abandon this state.

The only reason we're in this mess is that most gun-owners waited around sitting on the sidelines.

Here is my anecdotal evidence that there is far better appetite for this then you guys think: go check out the anti-gun articles published in the www.sacbee.com and then count the number of type of responses on their blog on the articles. You'll find pro-gun comments outweight anti-gun comments by a margin of at least 8 to 1.

[Sod Buster]

Has the Calif. Rifle and Pistol Association been coinsidered for help?....Just say the word and let us know where we can help.
"Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick"
Pres. T. Roosevelt

[tango-52]

Anybody have a couple of million dollars they want to cough up for the paid signature gatherers? That is what it will take. This topic has been hashed to death on Calguns. Although everyone on this board would love to see it and would support the effort toward shall-issue, the focus of this board is on helping people get their CCWs under the existing system, as broken as it may be. Let's stay focused.

[SierraNevadaCCW]

Problem with voting, is the millions upon millions of liberal stupid blue state voters in the big cities...while most of the counties are red as a majority but not nearly as populated. That's why it's a "blue state".

Same with the amounts of electoral votes if you look at a national map. Calif. gets 55 electoral votes in a national election...the votes by county come in as a red majority...but the sheer populations of the "blue" urban areas turns it blue...even though the "blue" is only in a few places on the map when looking at it county by county.