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Jun 30, 2000 - 05:06 AM
California Supreme Court Upholds 1989 Assault Weapons Ban
By Anne M. Peterson
Associated Press Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The state Supreme Court has upheld a key provision of California's 1989 assault weapons ban, clearing the way for the attorney general to expand the list of prohibited guns.
The court Thursday overturned a lower court ruling that a provision allowing the attorney general to seek a judge's approval to add weapons improperly gave judges legislative authority.
Attorney General Bill Lockyer called the decision a "major victory for gun safety and public safety in California."
He said 120 additional weapons, including the "AK" series, will likely be added to the list of outlawed guns as a result of the decision.
The law bans the sale, manufacture, distribution and, in most cases, possession of more than 50 military-style semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns. It was enacted after a gunman fired a semiautomatic weapon into a Stockton schoolyard in 1989, killing six people and injuring 30 others.
The Legislature amended the law in 1999, adding provisions designating assault weapons by generic characteristics to prevent the sale of "copycat" weapons under different names.
"The tragedy is that for 10 years illegal copycat assault weapons, like the Tec-DC-9 and the Colt Sporter, flooded California streets because the gun lobby's phony legal arguments prevented this law from being enforced," said Luis Tolley, western director of Handgun Control. "How many innocent people would be alive today if the gun lobby had not fought to prevent enforcement of this law?"
Opponents who challenged the law said it was arbitrary because it banned some guns while leaving more powerful weapons on the market. They also claimed weapons could be banned without properly notifying people that they were illegal.
"Hopefully, this will at least clear up the confusion and prevent the accidental felons created by people owning guns that they did not know were assault weapons," said Chuck Michel, co-counsel for the plaintiffs.
He said attorneys planned to challenge the law on other grounds.
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Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...
"That which binds us together is infinitely greater than that on which we disagree" - Neal Knox
Jun 30, 2000 - 05:06 AM
California Supreme Court Upholds 1989 Assault Weapons Ban
By Anne M. Peterson
Associated Press Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The state Supreme Court has upheld a key provision of California's 1989 assault weapons ban, clearing the way for the attorney general to expand the list of prohibited guns.
The court Thursday overturned a lower court ruling that a provision allowing the attorney general to seek a judge's approval to add weapons improperly gave judges legislative authority.
Attorney General Bill Lockyer called the decision a "major victory for gun safety and public safety in California."
He said 120 additional weapons, including the "AK" series, will likely be added to the list of outlawed guns as a result of the decision.
The law bans the sale, manufacture, distribution and, in most cases, possession of more than 50 military-style semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns. It was enacted after a gunman fired a semiautomatic weapon into a Stockton schoolyard in 1989, killing six people and injuring 30 others.
The Legislature amended the law in 1999, adding provisions designating assault weapons by generic characteristics to prevent the sale of "copycat" weapons under different names.
"The tragedy is that for 10 years illegal copycat assault weapons, like the Tec-DC-9 and the Colt Sporter, flooded California streets because the gun lobby's phony legal arguments prevented this law from being enforced," said Luis Tolley, western director of Handgun Control. "How many innocent people would be alive today if the gun lobby had not fought to prevent enforcement of this law?"
Opponents who challenged the law said it was arbitrary because it banned some guns while leaving more powerful weapons on the market. They also claimed weapons could be banned without properly notifying people that they were illegal.
"Hopefully, this will at least clear up the confusion and prevent the accidental felons created by people owning guns that they did not know were assault weapons," said Chuck Michel, co-counsel for the plaintiffs.
He said attorneys planned to challenge the law on other grounds.
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Slowpoke Rodrigo...he pack a gon...
"That which binds us together is infinitely greater than that on which we disagree" - Neal Knox