Benjamin Wagner, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California. (Photo: Associated Press)
Just when you thought the California state legislature couldn’t get any more draconian, they go and do something like this. Gov. Jerry Brown signed on Monday another series of gun control measures aimed at restricting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Golden State residents.
The most restrictive of the bills requires law enforcement officers and concealed weapon permit holders who leave firearms in their cars to lock them in a safe box or in the trunk. This means, essentially, that when a concealed permit holder plans to travel to a “gun-free zone,” that individual will be required to lock their gun in a less accessible location before leaving their car. The same applies to a police officer who leaves their car to perform an investigation.
Citing a number of incidents in which stolen guns were used to commit crimes, the bill’s sponsor, Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) said in a statement: “This is a matter of basic public safety and common sense. My bill would ensure that the requirements for safe gun storage in vehicles are the same for everyone in California – law enforcement officers and civilians.”
It’s unclear how much “common sense” went into a law that keeps police officers from accessing their firearms, but Hill didn’t deign to address that objection.
Another bill would speed up the process of seizing guns from felons who are disqualified from owning firearms. The new law requires the California Department of Justice to review each case within seven days of discovering a felon who possesses a gun.
Yet another bill would centralize the concealed carry permit process by creating a uniform license to carry. Current licenses differ from county to county, but soon all permits will look the same.
The previous raft of bills Brown signed earlier this year included a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines, a prohibition on the sale of semiautomatic rifles with detachable magazines and a requirement that people purchasing ammunition undergo background checks.
Admittedly, the current round of gun control is less harsh (one bill allows law enforcement officers to buy and purchase guns deemed “unsafe” for untrained residents), and Brown vetoed a bill that would have allowed local law enforcement officials to charge as much as they want for concealed carry permits.
But the willingness of state lawmakers to meddle in the Second Amendment rights of California residents demonstrates once again their disregard for the individual right to keep and bear arms. And unless gun rights proponents stay vigilant, the rest of the nation may soon follow suit.
IN CALIFORNIA, THE PROBLEMS WE FACE TODAY EXIST BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR A LIVING ARE OUTNUMBERED BY THOSE WHO VOTE FOR A LIVING !!!!
Those who “vote” for a living include GOV. JERRY BROWN, rotten politicians PELOSI, FEINSTEIN, BOXER, LT. GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM, JERRY HILL, SHERIFF LAURIE SMITH, and others. These people have well known names but are ROTTEN TO THE CORE politicians. THEY SHOULD NOT BE REELCTED !!!! VOTE FOR TRUMP AND PROGUN REPUBLICANS WHO WILL MAKE THE EFFORT TO RESTORE YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL AND SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS !!!!
As a 56 year old native Californian, I have yet to meet anyone who has voted for Pelosi, Boxer, Feinstein, or Newsome. I do know a few older people who voted for Brown, probably voting more for “the good ol’ days” than for Brown’s policies. The wife and I are planning on moving to Idaho or Wyoming within 2 years to escape the ridiculous direction CA is heading. I also don’t know anyone who voted for Hillary in the Primary, but a bunch of people who voted for Bernie, yet somehow Hillary “won”. I am convinced the elections here are rigged, as there are far more “Red” counties than “Blue” counties. Granted, the “Blue” are the population centers, but I can’t see those welfare cases getting off their asses to vote. I almost wish we would go to a system requiring land ownership to vote. Since our taxes pay the bills, we should be the ones to determine who / how it gets spent.
Trump is not the answer. Trump is a gun control advocate. Maybe not along the lines of the Democrat party, but just like Trump has softened on his wall, trump is all about “reasonable” gun control. I point go two of his closest confidantes as proof. Rudy Jiuliani and Chris “crispy cream” Christy. Both support gun control in a major way. Voting is only part of the solution. Voters need to look hard at who they are electing, they dont. The biggest way to secure our rights is to expose as many voters and potential voters to shooting sports as possible. Gun rights mean nothing to people who don’t see their value. Stop griping about stupid politicians and take a kid shooting. Better yet, grab a lib, find an indoor range that’s rents class 3 and you will have an instant 2nd convert. Nothing better then watching a lib discover the joy of dumping an uzi mag or five.
Take California back! Impeach Jerry Brown! Send Newsom and Harris, feathered out of town on a rail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This comment is mainly intended for the people of California. One of the best things that could happen in the United States in the November election would be to VOTE PELOSI OUT OF OFFICE !!!! I hope you will give that some thought before you vote.
THE PROBLEMS WE FACE TODAY EXIST BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR A LIVING ARE OUTNUMBERED BY THOSE WHO VOTE FOR A LIVING !!!!
KalifoniaKate is beyond redemption. Give it back to the Mexicans or use it for testing biological warfare agents or chemical agents. What a stink hole Governor Moonbeam and the DemoRATZ have turned it into. Do you really want to stop violent crimes? Then make it illegal to live in a ghetto and be black or Hispanic. That will cut your violent crime and cause a drop in drug use.
The State of California needs new Gun Laws and the State of Jefferson is the answer to all the citizen of California. We have 21 Counties now who want to become the 51st State of Jefferson. We in the Northern Counties and Southern Oregon are on the move to start the State of Jefferson. Our website is http://www.soj51.net for more information on how you can help with the New State of Jefferson. You are all invited to help with this movement to change the Gun Laws , Taxes, who represents us in the New State of Jefferson. If you currently live outside of the 21 counties move to any of the Counties now on the move to became the New State of Jefferson and get away from Gov. Brown’s” POWER” and others like him. If your current Sheriff or Police Chief do not issue you a CCW move to the New State of Jefferson and you will be able to get a two year License to carry carry your firearm. We have thousands of signature to Support Statement For Declaration to WithDraw From the State of California.
WHY DO GUN CONTROL RADICALS AND IDIOTS GET ELECTED IN CALIFORNIA ?? WHY DID GOV. JERRY BROWN GET ELECTED ?? WHY DID PELOSI GET ELECTED ?? WHY DID FEINSTEIN GET ELECTED ?? WHY DID BOXER GET ELECTED ?? WHY DID LT. GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM GET ELECTED ?? WHY DID JERRY HILL GET ELECTED ?? WHY DID SHERIFF LAURIE SMITH GET ELECTED ??
IF YOU SUPPORT THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE SECOND AMENDMENT, YOU DO NOT VOTE FOR POLITICIANS THAT ARE GUN CONTROL RADICALS AND IDIOTS !!!! SO, GO AHEAD, ELECT ANOTHER GUN CONTROL POLITICIAN AND THEN WHINE ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES !!!! IF CALIFORNIA ELECTORAL VOTES ARE FOR HILLARY AND SHE BECOMES PRESIDENT, YOU WILL REALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO WHINE ABOUT !!!! DO WHAT IS BEST FOR CALIFORNIA – VOTE FOR TRUMP AND PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT POLITICIANS !!!!
It does not matter what kind of box you lock your gun into in Santa Clara County, California. You can not get a CCW from our sheriff Laurie Smith. I submitted my application more than 2 years ago and no action has been taken. I am an anesthesiologist. We have a mobile anesthesia service for dental offices. We regularly carry large amounts of narcotics and anesthetics when we go to do our cases and large amounts of cash when we leave. In addition we cover trauma at a local hospital and often get called in late at night to our hospital in a less safe part of the city to save someone’s life. There have been assaults in our parking lots at night. Our sheriff, Laurie Smith, does not consider these valid reasons to issue a CCW. She has issued them to her political supporters. She lost a court case regarding her preferential method of awarding CCWs. As she appeals the case, no CCWs are being issued. That is the state of things in the State of California. Complete bias and disregard for the law by our very officers hired to enforce the law. It is a disgrace and a black eye for all LEOs in this county. No respect? Well, you have to earn it Ms. Smith. And in that, you have failed.
I believe that helps explain why LEOs like the current method of CCW permitting. They use it as political capital. They and all of their friends and supporters get CCW permits, so all is well, as far as their concerned. The little people do not matter.
At this point, it is far beyond too late to have hope as a gun owner in California. The message from the media, from the political zits, from teachers, clergy, even Leo’s, is gun control. There ARE exceptions, but they are few and far between.
Even if Trump wins this election, gun control here will continue apace, as millionaires and billionaires like Bloomberg and Soros have the political power(money) to never run out of support.
There is a valiant effort to put a right to own firearms as a ballot initiative to amend the state constitution, but I have as much hope for it as I did the Veto Gunmaggedon inititiative. We are behind enemy lines in our own homes, our rights are stripped daily, each new infringement is worse. To all the Californians who can read this, LEAVE NOW.
If you want to own firearms and ammunition without having to justify the free exercise of your rights to others, then please leave California. I know that is asking you to turn your world upside down, but the alternative is the complete loss of the 2nd Amendment under Clinton, and if you should inadvertently become nebulously “suspected” of terrorist tendencies, then you will be just as stripped of your 2nd Amendment rights under a Trump presidency. He agreed with Clinton on No Fly/No Buy/Yes infringement. No matter who wins the election, we lose on the 2nd.
I really did not think they could get any dumber out there, but I have been proven wrong again. It really is the land of Fruits, Nuts and Flakes………….. They get what they elect and then deserve by doing so………….. Just keep it in your REPUBLIC of SOCIALISM because it sure isn’t a FREE society under our Constitution.
I can see the criminals lining up to make sure they’re in compliance with this one.
California, a lost cause good people should flee from as fast as the they can, taking their guns, their money and their law abiding ways with them. Leave California for the criminals, gang bangers, drug dealers, illegal aliens, elected twits and other whack jobs. No one of character should ruin their future, reputation or subject their families to such a commie state.
I Live in this abomination of a State, all I can say is I am sorry that we unleashed the morons of Feinstein and Pelosi and Boxer on to the rest of you Americans. Blame San Francisco for the lousy gun control crap. I am leaving this state as soon as I can. I will take my money with me and in my place will be more generational welfare recipients with their hands out take, take, taking from hard working people. This state is toast, and an utter embarrassment to the rest of the nation. We are outnumbered here 10 to 1, by people sniffing rainbow unicorn farts.
Cali and Jersey…..the most communist gun rights states in the US
In my humble Arkansas redneck opinion, a majority of California gun owners are like the proverbial frog in the pot of water that is slowly being heated to boiling temperature: “Oh it’s not really that bad, it’s just common sense, we can live with these newly added restrictions.”
Californians, you need to face the fact your state is daily moving closer to a complete police state. Your government does not respect individual rights and sees no need to discontinue efforts to regulate every aspect of your existence. And too many of your fellow citizens think all that restriction is just great, so you’re not going to have the votes to change things.
Leave before your life is like what’s depicted in the old novel “1984.”
Amen brother
Look, I’ve lived in California my entire life and I can tell you it has slowly gone downhill due to leftist ideology. There is a total control of democrats in Sacramento and this is the way the state has gone now for over 50 years. California is a lost cause and it’s way beyond a 1984 style of takeover. We are already in a police state as far as I’m concerned and it’s going to spread to currently free states. You think this is going to stay contained here. Forget it. You can already see the pincer movement going inwards from both costs. How soon before Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, North and South Dakota fall to the radical Marxist progressive collectivism (RMPC) anti-2A/anti-gun ideology? It’s come for you too.
They won’t stop and frankly conservativism as we know it is dead. RMPC has been making its slow and steady encroachment into our lives for over 100 years. It is out in the open now. They don’t have to hide their nefariousness anymore. Why? Because they’ve won and in California they are beginning the foundations of the confiscation rule-sets that they will enforce in about 4 to 8 years from now. If you think this is bad in Cali, just wait. They will make this entire state a citizens gun free zone.
Also, notice in these pictures and videos of these officials that they always have one or two of these rabid anti-2A dikey lesbians in the background and on PD’s nationwide. Ask yourself why?
free gun zone sign no good idea because criminal can see and bring gun the start to shootings It’s stupid !!!
Most of the mass shooters said that was a big (biggest?) factor in their site selection.
I believe in California, the “leaders” are voted in by the people of California. So it must be the people who are guilty of these ultra liberal “leaders” being in charge of their lives. They have no one to blame but them selves, Unless there is such great voter fraud in California that the real “people” don’t count. Maybe the “American people” in California should move out and hope it sinks into the Sea. Or maybe take up arms?
Where is the NRA and other gun rights group challenging this BS in court? The importance of the Supreme Court looms larger with each of the liberty stealing laws. There are many good people standing up for gun rights, among them some of my family. They have lived there most/all of their lives and don’t want to leave kids/grandkids behind. There are consequences for every decision.
The NRA in a california is MIA. The NRA-ILA is even worse. They want your money, but fuck you for support.
This comment is mainly intended for the people of California. One of the best things that could happen in the United States in the November election would be to VOTE PELOSI OUT OF OFFICE !!!! I hope you will give that some thought before you vote.
I am sure there are many countries that support Communists and terrorists that are happy to see a clique of people in the United States who are so radical that they want to mis-interpret the Second Amendment in order to disarm the American people and
make them as defenseless as the anti-American people of Russia, Iran, North Korea, etc. so Americans would not be armed to defend themselves against a tyrannical government and terrorists.
Several of these radicals, who are California Democrats, are listed below:
GOV. BROWN AND ROTTEN POLITICIANS PELOSI, FEINSTEIN, BOXER
These radicals want to take away your Second Amendment Constitutional right to keep and bear arms for personal defense. Israel and Switzerland encourage citizens to be armed for personal and national defense. It is the responsibility of the citizens to insure the safety of this system of protection. Are Californians so irresponsible that they cannot be allowed to be armed as provided by the Second Amendment ? It seems like the neurotic attempt to disarm the citizens is due to the neurotic attitude of Gov. Brown and rotten politicians Pelosi, Feinstein and Boxer. More than likely, the situation would be much better if BROWN. PELOSI, FEINSTEIN AND BOXER WERE NOT REELECTED !!!!
Ah, Commiefornia and their “common-sense gun laws”. Well, at least of of the bills will affect LEOs as well as us civies…
Since when is a LEO required to surrender his weapon upon conducting an investigation in a “gun free zone”. Gun free zones are a misnomer anyway. The firearm carrying criminal isn’t going to pay attention to a sign and conveniently leave his firearm in the getaway car and try an assault or robbery with a knife or other instrument. Gun Free Zone=Target Rich Environment.
A car is not a gun locker. There is never a good reason to leave an unsecured firearm in a vehicle. Locking gun boxes are inexpensive and easy to install by securing the cable under the seat frame bolt. Long guns should be in a locking rack.
And they (‘they’ being Californians) have two dumb a$$ FEDS to thank for the lock-box in the car bill. I keep a gun in my car, and I lock my car to both protect my property and to prevent anyone whose low enough to steal from me from getting my lawfully owned firearm and using it to commit a crime, as in the cases where the federal officers had their guns stolen. Basically, as long as Californians continue to elect these monsters this is what they can expect. And if those who are against these types of laws are the minorities, well quite simply they are screwed. Because it is not going to get better; their gun rights will continue to decline in the same vein they have for years. Eventually you won’t even be able to own a friggin’ Red Ryder BB gun in CA. In God’s name, get out of there if you can. If you’re ‘stuck’ as I’ve heard so many plaintively cry because of extended family, debt, etc, God help you – because your politicians certainly won’t. They are obviously on the side of the criminals and against the good people of their state.
Will the criminals and law-breakers comply with Kalifornia’s new gun security laws? I think not. False sense security only adversely impacting the law-abiding.
California is ran by COMMUNISTS…….. Disarm and conquer…..
Seems to me that if a cop has to lock up his duty weapon before leaving his patrol car to investigate an incident, there will be a lot fewer investigations performed by police, or a lot more dead cops. This is about the stupidest law I have ever heard of. Oh, BTW… Does the IDIOT in the photo at the top of the page have a FEDERAL TAX STAMP for that silencer on his AR-15? Did he complete a federal background check before transferring custody of the rifle he has in his possession? What’s good for the goose…
Yeh well, both of you guys sound like Cali law enforcement to me. No worries for your gun rights, ccw, weapon selections for personal use in California etc. etc…. The safety first crew, with the idea that you can actually ‘serve & protect’ – which was never a law enforcement mandate. I have a right and duty to protect myself. I’d rather have a gun on me than a cop on the phone. I suggest you concern yourself with your own safety, you need it in the present climate and I support you. Please, back off a bit. Give me the respect to allow me to concern myself with my own safety. Don’t keep moving in on my Constitutional rights and expect me not to object amigo. Please. and …HEY – #$@!^hole California haters – thank god the patriots in Boston concerned themselves with what was happing in New York. California bashing isn’t helping. We’re not getting run out of the finest state in the country by the idiots presently in charge, tables turn, history moves forward – never by cowards either.
Safest place for my CCW weapon is on my person….where ever I go. This just adds to the many reasons to never go to Kalifornia…….and move out if you live there. Nothing is more important than your right to personal protection. When it’s illegal for you to have protection that levels the field between you and the bad guys…..It’s time to find a new home. Since they are taking away peoples rights, I think their status as a US state should be revoked. These laws are not in line with the US constitution…..period…..regardless of what the liberal courts and politicians say.
When did politicians start caring about people??
Agreed….generally they don’t care about people….except to vote for them and pay taxes. But they can’t be elected by a state with no people in it…..and they can’t get any money if no one lives in their state. And I get that not everyone is going to leave the state….but if its left to only the libtards….they will eventually crumble…because they will not want to be the only ones paying for the illegals healthcare/welfare/housing.
They should focus on the real problem in California which is housing!
You are kidding, right? More draconian than before? Don’t be ridiculous.
The first bill requires ANYONE who leaves a firearm in a vehicle to put it in a trunk or other lockable and concealed container, or a container attached to the vehicle. The derivation of the bill was one particular incident in which a stolen firearm was used by an illegal immigrant (perhaps accidentally) to kill a tourist on Fisherman’s Wharf, a prime tourist location in San Francisco, as well as reports that more than 300 firearms have been stolen from police vehicles. Nothing in the law requires an officer or citizen with a CCW to secure a firearm while in the vehicle, and there are plenty of mini-safes that fit under a car seat, or can be bolted down and secured under the seat with a slide out drawer for easy accessibility when re-entering the vehicle. Personally, I cannot imagine leaving an unsecured firearm in an unattended vehicle, so all this bill does is enact a “best practices” requirement.
CCWs are not “centralized.” They are still issued by county sheriffs, but under this bill, it is now permissible for the CCW to be issued on a plastic credit card like document. This measure was and is backed by various CCW and pro-gun groups because at the current time, the standard (and under the law mandatory but ignored by some counties in favor of a plastic license) CCW license issued by a sheriff’s department, the so-called “rice paper,” is a larger sheet of paper that has to be folded to fit in a wallet. This is not a restriction, this is a net benefit and convenience to CCW holders.
The last bill mentioned, speeding up the process for seizing guns from persons who have lost their right to bear arms because of a disqualifying offense, is just another “feel good” measure that will have no discernible effect. The law already requires seizure, and the Legislature has twice now raided funds earmarked for running the background check system to pay for more officers to conduct the investigations and seizures. That program has been a flop; by the time the DOJ gets a new officer trained, he (or she) quits and goes to work for another department or agency in a more secure, better paying job.
Thank you Mark! I understand the frustration of California laws, but this latest one was actually negotiated with the CCW permit holders ommited from their focus. Nobody that I know (w/permit) leaves an unattended gun loose in their vehicle simply because they don’t want their side arm stolen in the first place! The vast majority of us lock them up or carry it with them when possible, so those that do not are now held more accountable to do so… That’s a very GOOD thing, Jordan Michaels. Try being at least a little bit more responsible with your writing.