Posted on 06/02/2005 7:30:22 PM PDT by LouAvul
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Dueling proposals to identify handgun bullets to help police solve shootings were approved by state lawmakers Thursday, despite concerns the requirements are impractical or would harm law-abiding citizens.
Ammunition manufacturers would be required to laser-cut each bullet with a serial number under the Senate bill, while the Assembly version requires guns to stamp identification numbers on bullet casings each time they are fired.
"With a simple magnifying glass (police) can read that identifying number ... and determine who purchased that ammunition," said Sen. Joseph Dunn, D-Garden Grove, who is carrying the Senate version. "This is a tremendous benefit for law enforcement."
The Senate sent the measure to the Assembly on a 21-14 vote, while the Assembly proposal by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, passed 41-37 despite heavy opposition from gun groups. Both passed by one vote.
Ammunition manufacturers said that Dunn's bill will either force them to abandon the lucrative California market or force them to install unaffordable technology to mark the 8 billion bullets they make each year.
The bill would punish anyone possessing unmarked ammunition outside their home after July 2007, though Dunn said he is working with law enforcement to amend the bill so owners could use older bullets at firing ranges.
"A law abiding citizen has nothing to fear," said Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, comparing the markings to the use of fingerprints or DNA in crime solving.
Dunn's bill would require purchasers to pay up to a halfpenny per bullet to fund record-keeping by the state Department of Justice on every handgun-caliber bullet made or sold in California. Vendors would pay up to $50 a year to register. Rifle ammunition would be exempted, though some calibers are used in both handguns and long guns.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
One more reason I wont ever return to Kalifornia
The Nazis didn't have ANYTHING on California Democommie legislators...
This is called the ACT OF GOD DEFENSE. This is the one to use when you sideswipe a parked car "Gee officer, I sneezed".
The Dems in the California legislature must use so much dope they can't think even two steps down the road anymore.
Hopefully they won't be using assault lasers.
.005 x 500 = 2.50 tax on a brick of .22 ammo.
Sounds like time for a tea party in Kalifornistan...
This is just incredibly stupid. Wonder if Arnold will sign the legislation if it passes?
"stupid is as stupid does"
Wonder how you mark the ammo on a plasma laser rifle (40 watt range)?
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
I don't know. I suggest the California Legislature look into it...;-)
This wil show the gang bangers! If they murder someone with illegal ammo they will be in big trouble!
Any gun that doesn't have the ability to self-stamp would be an unapproved firearm.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Yes it is stupid. Arnold is smart enought to see through this one. One talk show host suggested that this will usher in the era of homocide by shotgun. (Any law to mark each pellet?)
Or the possibility that criminals will all take up home loading?
Or that criminals will only use "stolen" ammo?
Of course if this is just a ploy to make guns and ammo more costly in CA it will work. However what about the ACLU and the case that could be made that this is profiling of people for income and that only the wealthy may defend themselves. (Shades of the post Civil War South?
Let me make a prediction: There'll be a compromise, they will require both!
Lunacy.
What was it the fictional Deep Throat said, "Follow the Money"?
It's never about the "criminal". As stupid as these slug legislators are, they know that criminals don't care, "unmarked ammo" will always be available. This is a poorly disguised attempt to log the names of the law abiding. Our rights to anonymous firearms possession are constantly under attack.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Unfortunately, it's showing other gun grabbing states the way to ban guns without having to go through the pain of banning guns, if you know what I mean.
I see they are still smoking crack.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
OH, NO, they're not. These are the same crowd of revenooers who are thinking up creative ways to steal your money 24/7. They appear to be planning ahead for the time when the serfs are going to finally have had enough.
You know, I just had a thought. The populace should make sure that the California National Guard is 100% compliant if this BS passes.
Yep, sounds great! Now, this is legislation that will teach those bastards of society, just what happens- when they mess with the Law!
Bullet manufacturers have already said they won't comply with this law because it's too expensive and they've made it clear they won't sell to Kali police depts because they don't want to violate state law. Either the Kali legislatures give their own police a waiver from this restriction or they effectively disarm them. If they get the waiver it leads to the ironic result that the police will have unrestricted access to unmarked ammo while the general populace will effectively be disarmed.
This will only impinge on law-abiding citizens--and in a major way, at that. Don't these dem-nuts know that a criminal will find 40 ways from Sunday of getting ammo that's not marked?
This almost makes as much sense as the SCOTUS decision on Stogner vs Calif.
The Legislature would rather register bullets than child molesters.
(Pass the Advil!)
LOL! It's so true!
Every handloader in the state would become illegal...
And bullet casters.
"Or that criminals will only use "stolen" ammo?"
DING DING DING - Johnny tell the audience what KC_for_Freedom has won...
What a wonderful way to frame someone. All ou need is a few rounds out of a box. The person might not ever even know they were missing until the police showed up at his door.
STUPID!
Personally I still have my 10 boxes of .40 Black Talons that I use in my carry weapon.
Of course the criminals, who are as a class smarter than a typical California legislator, (but then so is a typical brick) will have a brain-storm and drive to Nevada to get boxes of unmarked ammo at Wal-Mart.
The ONLY people this is going to affect are the law-abiding firearms owners.
Some of the criminals will. And another group, those who already have a distribution system for illegal drugs, will have a new product to sell. Let's see, ID-free ammo for your 'bro's'. The mark-up's almost as good, and if you get caught the penalty's lighter.
Golly Gee! It's another bad guy full employment bill!!
Yes, like all laws, this one will empty the ammo stocks of dealers as it goes into effect. I still am willing to bet the Terminator will not fall for this one.
I wonder how many pounds of ammo I can carry before my trailer is seriously over weight. Oh wait, I don't even have to go to California. my mistake. I just feel sorry for my fellow who do live in the Golden State.
Mr. Dunn, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but you are a dumb@$$!!
Exactly how do you propose we get said "unmarked" ammunition from our homes to the firing range, without it being "outside" our home.
Second, Mr. Dunn, were you aware that most, if not all ranges, do not allow the use of hollow point ammunition at their facilities? How then do you propose we comply with the law and expend our now illegal ammunition.
Mr. Dunn, if brains were leather, you wouldn't have enough to saddle a bug.
Best Regards
Sergio
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.