Randy Davis
New member
Wednesday, July 5, 2000
The Right Road for Gun Control
The California Supreme Court decision last week upholding the state's assault weapons ban is a positive signal that the Legislature's efforts to cut gun violence are on track.
The unanimous ruling should spur legislators and Gov. Gray Davis to embrace measures requiring handgun registration and the licensing of owners.
The ruling centered on California's 1989 assault weapons ban, the first prohibition of semiautomatic assault weapons in the nation. The law bars some 75 specific firearm models and allows judges to add new ones to the list as gun makers design modifications.
Gun manufacturers challenged the law on three grounds--that it violated constitutional equal protection guarantees because it banned some weapons and left similar guns untouched; that it improperly delegated legislative authority to the courts, and that it violated due process rights because it was vague about which guns were banned.
The court disagreed with each claim, noting, "No mention is made [in the state Constitution] of a right to bear arms."
Since the 1989 ban took effect, the Legislature has passed a new assault weapons ban, targeting guns with certain generic features, such as a detachable ammunition clip or a pistol grip, rather than naming specific models.
By upholding the older law, the court has cleared the way for restriction of assault weapons on the basis of generic features and specific models too.
That's important because some gun makers have evaded the state's ban simply by making minor alterations.
With this issue seemingly settled, the Legislature now needs to enact meaningful registration and licensing laws.
Californians have a right to insist that gun owners be properly trained in firearm handling and storage and pass a more comprehensive background check.
Moreover, authorities should be able to more easily trace weapons used in crime; gun registration would permit that.
A bill now before the Legislature, AB 273, would enact a modest, prudent licensing scheme for owners of new handguns. The measure, by Assemblyman Jack Scott (D-Altadena), faces a tough legislative road.
Gov. Davis, who won widespread praise for signing key gun laws last year, including the new assault ban, announced earlier this year that he's done enough in this area for now.
We don't agree.
The Supreme Court's unequivocal ruling should prompt the governor to reconsider and champion Scott's bill.
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Copyright 2000 Los Angeles Times
The Right Road for Gun Control
The California Supreme Court decision last week upholding the state's assault weapons ban is a positive signal that the Legislature's efforts to cut gun violence are on track.
The unanimous ruling should spur legislators and Gov. Gray Davis to embrace measures requiring handgun registration and the licensing of owners.
The ruling centered on California's 1989 assault weapons ban, the first prohibition of semiautomatic assault weapons in the nation. The law bars some 75 specific firearm models and allows judges to add new ones to the list as gun makers design modifications.
Gun manufacturers challenged the law on three grounds--that it violated constitutional equal protection guarantees because it banned some weapons and left similar guns untouched; that it improperly delegated legislative authority to the courts, and that it violated due process rights because it was vague about which guns were banned.
The court disagreed with each claim, noting, "No mention is made [in the state Constitution] of a right to bear arms."
Since the 1989 ban took effect, the Legislature has passed a new assault weapons ban, targeting guns with certain generic features, such as a detachable ammunition clip or a pistol grip, rather than naming specific models.
By upholding the older law, the court has cleared the way for restriction of assault weapons on the basis of generic features and specific models too.
That's important because some gun makers have evaded the state's ban simply by making minor alterations.
With this issue seemingly settled, the Legislature now needs to enact meaningful registration and licensing laws.
Californians have a right to insist that gun owners be properly trained in firearm handling and storage and pass a more comprehensive background check.
Moreover, authorities should be able to more easily trace weapons used in crime; gun registration would permit that.
A bill now before the Legislature, AB 273, would enact a modest, prudent licensing scheme for owners of new handguns. The measure, by Assemblyman Jack Scott (D-Altadena), faces a tough legislative road.
Gov. Davis, who won widespread praise for signing key gun laws last year, including the new assault ban, announced earlier this year that he's done enough in this area for now.
We don't agree.
The Supreme Court's unequivocal ruling should prompt the governor to reconsider and champion Scott's bill.
-----
Copyright 2000 Los Angeles Times