California Legislative Update

After moving Assembly Bill 35 (Shelley) off of last Wednesday`s schedule due to the external pressure created by phone calls, faxes and e-mails from NRA members (thank you!), the Assembly`s Appropriations Committee has rescheduled a hearing on the bill Wednesday, May 2nd. AB 35, one of two handgun licensing bills up this session, is a measure that would mandate that all handgun purchasers, as of January 1, 2002, obtain a license before taking possession of the firearm. In order for the license to be issued, applicants must have their thumbprint taken during the application process and undergo a written and shooting proficiency test as administered by their local law enforcement agency.

As that there are no funding mechanisms built into the bill, the financial burden placed on the licensees and law enforcement agencies will be tremendous. That means officers who are currently assigned to protect our streets will be pulled from duty to administer written tests to law-abiding citizens who seek a license!

Another important component of this expensive and discriminatory measure is that only those individuals who speak English will be able to understand the application, written test, and/or testing procedures. The fact that California`s citizens can currently obtain a drivers license in thirty-one languages but cannot obtain a handgun license in more than one is blatantly ignoring the diverse complexity of this state.

This is why it`s vital that, again, you contact the members of the Assembly`s Appropriations Committee today and voice your opposition to AB 35 on the grounds that it`s too costly, too prejudicial, and turns our cops into "clerks"! All area codes (916) - voice and fax numbers included.

For more information on AB 35, and other CA bills , please go to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html.