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Schwarzenegger gets tough on California's guns
The Telegraph ^ | 10/16/07 | Catherine Elsworth

Posted on 10/16/2007 6:13:35 PM PDT by bruinbirdman

Arnold Schwarzenegger has angered America's powerful gun lobby by backing legislation requiring semi-automatic handguns to mark bullets with serial numbers to help police identify casings found at crime scenes.

The former Hollywood action hero, who played trigger-happy characters in violent films such as The Terminator, approved the crime-fighting technology despite opposition from the National Rifle Association, which said it could be used to implicate the innocent.

The law, the first of its kind in the US, will require all semi-automatic guns made or sold in California to "microstamp" every bullet fired with the weapon's make, model and serial number.

America's most populous state, parts of which are plagued by gang violence and lead the nation in drive-by shootings, already has some of its toughest gun laws.

The Republican governor, who has broken with his party on issues such as gun control, the environment and stem cell research, has backed previous landmark measures such as a 2004 ban on a particular type of machine gun.

Gun makers and sellers have until 2010 to comply with the Crime Gun Identification Act. The measure was supported by the California Police Chiefs Association, which said it would help them trace the guns used in crimes and connect offences where the same weapon was used.

According to the Brady campaign against gun violence, no arrests are made in nearly half of killings in California because police lack evidence to identify suspects. The group claimed the law "set a new national standard".

Opponents, however, argued that the technology was unreliable, and could be tampered with or used to mislead police. They suggested criminals could sprinkle bullets from another weapon at a crime scene.

The governor, who last week discussed issues including gangs and gun crime with the Tory leader David Cameron, also backed a law banning lead ammunition in certain areas of the state where lead bullets are believed to be poisoning endangered condors.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: ab1471; ab821; banglist; bradywatch; callegislation; microstamp; microstamping; schwarzenegger
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To: Brilliant
I’m trying to figure out what ever qualified this fool to be a Republican? He’s not.

He NEVER was!!! He is married to a Kennedy clan member. I believe he is actually a plant of some kind. Too make people THINK he was a Republican. He marches to the sound of the Kennedy Klan Talk, he does not march to any conservative values. Maybe he will be soooooooo proud when his kids grow up to be homo's.

61 posted on 10/17/2007 6:59:49 AM PDT by RetiredArmy (The Marxists Dimocrats & Bush are destroying America. America is dying slowly, but surely.)
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To: Brilliant

He is foreshadowing a Guiliani administration.


62 posted on 10/17/2007 7:00:28 AM PDT by stevio ((NRA))
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To: robertpaulsen
The plan is to etch the serial number on the firing pin, “stamping” the primer when fired.

I read they are only good for a few thousand impressions. My IDPA match guns go through that in a few months.

63 posted on 10/17/2007 7:13:26 AM PDT by TC Rider (The United States Constitution ? 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: EGPWS
Didn't Arnold run for Governor on the platform of saving California money by cutting spending and defeat a "true" conservative Tom McClintock in the primaries?

There were no primaries. Arnold entered the recall open race at the last minute in '03, and the CAGOP, breaking with all tradition, endorsed him before the primaries even began in '06. In '06, his people were given charge of the Republican GOTV apparatus, which they used to undercut conservatives who opposed Arnie's slate of budget buster initiatives.

McClintock ran for Lt. Gov. in '06. The Saturday before the election, Arnold dissed his soi-dissant running mate, and all but endorsed his Dem opponent. McClintock lost by a few %, the following Tuesday.

64 posted on 10/17/2007 7:27:44 AM PDT by LexBaird (Behold, thou hast drinken of the Aide of Kool, and are lost unto Men.)
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To: hawkboy
I hope the firearms mfrs. follow Barrett’s lead and refuse to sell to California LE agencies.

Including ammo manufacturers. A six month boycott, where no CA LEO's could buy ammo might get some notice.

65 posted on 10/17/2007 7:30:41 AM PDT by LexBaird (Behold, thou hast drinken of the Aide of Kool, and are lost unto Men.)
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To: Constitutional Patriot
"And what, praytell, will they do with taht info? It’s not going to prevent or reduce crime. Gang bangers will not use these newly updated weapons. This is just more of the socialist/marxist left trying to destroy our second amendment one slice at a time."

1. Back door confiscation.
2. Huge increase in price of any new firearms.
3. Probably grounds to test or 'examine' any firearm, any time, for as long as the bureaucracy needs to get around to it...

66 posted on 10/17/2007 7:36:59 AM PDT by norton (Go ahead, vote for Hunter, you know you want to.)
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To: KoRn
Are the birds being shot, or is the existence of lead ammo killing them off?

Condors are carrion eating vultures. They are supposedly eating bullets from dead varmints and such, which collect in their gizzards. I dunno if anyone has actually autopsied a dead one to see if it is the truth or if it's just over stimulated speculation. A few years ago, they were being poisoned by drinking antifreeze from overheated cars. Some animals are just meant to be extinct.

67 posted on 10/17/2007 7:39:30 AM PDT by LexBaird (Behold, thou hast drinken of the Aide of Kool, and are lost unto Men.)
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To: dblshot
Shotguns and revolvers will quickly replace the 9mm semi as ganglands weapons of choice. Heck they might even have to learn to shoot.

Why would that be?

No gang-banger is going to turn their current weapons in......

Just another stupid law...that won't impact the criminals one bit.

Another classic MarxistSocialistLiberalDemocrat "SYMBOLISM BEFORE SUBSTANCE" moment....

68 posted on 10/17/2007 7:40:21 AM PDT by Osage Orange (“911 is government sponsored Dial-A-Prayer.”".)
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To: telebob

What will happen to semi-automatic guns sold before this goes into effect?

What about reloading? If you pick up brass at the range? How will that work? Does this technology stamp over the previous stamp? What if you reload and use guns that do not have this technology, you would be firing bullets with someone else’s stamp on them?

What a mess.


69 posted on 10/17/2007 7:50:07 AM PDT by diotima
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To: diotima

Any handgun currently on the CALDOJ approved list will remain on the list. There are no retro provisions in the bill.

As for reloading, as far as I’m aware, the stamping would be done on the primer. If you reload you will replace the primer so no issues there.


70 posted on 10/17/2007 9:01:38 AM PDT by telebob
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To: robertpaulsen

And someone who is gun savvy cannot replace that firing pin, right?


71 posted on 10/17/2007 3:24:18 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a 2nd BCT 10th Mountain Division Soldier fighting terrorists in the Triangle of Death)
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To: SoldierDad
"And someone who is gun savvy cannot replace that firing pin, right?"

Replace it. File it down. Normal wear and tear. Bag the spent casings. Use a revolver instead. Use a stolen gun. Scatter shells from a firing range around the crime scene (reasonable doubt).

There is so much wrong with this law, it's ridiculous.

72 posted on 10/17/2007 4:04:53 PM PDT by robertpaulsen
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To: robertpaulsen

Makes one wonder how these people were possibly intelligent enough to get elected when they cannot see how ignorant laws like this are.


73 posted on 10/17/2007 5:31:43 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a 2nd BCT 10th Mountain Division Soldier fighting terrorists in the Triangle of Death)
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