[Yellowfin]

We all need to act on this. Call these state Assembly members and tell them to OPPOSE AB2062. THIS BILL MUST BE STOPPED. It was supposed to be dead, but it was taken off suspension...apparently as a sort of sneak attack to catch us off guard.

They are voting on this on the 22nd! Call as many as you can as often as you can. It's just a few minutes of your time which can make a huge difference.
------------------------------------
Mark Leno(D) - Chair 13 – San Francisco (916) 319-2013

Mimi Walters(R) 73 – Laguna Nigel (916) 319-2073

Anna M. Caballero(D)28 – Salinas (916) 319-2028

Mike Davis(D) 48 – Los Angeles (916) 319-2048

Mark DeSaulnier(D)11 – Martinez (916) 319-2011

Bill Emmerson(R) 63 – Redlands (916) 319-2063

Jared Huffman(D) 06 – San Rafael (916) 319-2006

Betty Karnette(D) 54 – Long Beach (916) 319-2054

Paul Krekorian(D) 43 – Burbank (916) 319-2043

Doug La Malfa(R) 02 – Biggs (916) 319-2002

Ted W. Lieu(D) 53 – Torrance (916) 319-2053

Fiona Ma(D) 12 – San Francisco (916) 319-2012

Alan Nakanishi(R) 10 – Lodi (916) 319-2010

Pedro Nava(D) 35 – Santa Barbara (916) 319-2035

Sharon Runner(R) 36 – Lancaster (916) 319-2036

Jose Solorio(D) 69 – Santa Ana (916) 319-2069

[pbhome71]

I have just sent e-mails to them. I will follow-up tomorrow with
a) postcards
b) calls

[MarcusWendt]

I called them all. It really doesn't take much time.

[Yellowfin]

Keep hitting em, folks!

[Yellowfin]

The committee approved it anyway because too many are rank and file cowards.

[Oana]

I log off for a few days and look what happens. :fire:

[nicki]

I know that many of you are not from California and many of us who do reside in California have the attitude that as quick as I can, I'm going to leave.

What happens here in California does effect the rest of you.

When gun control is squashed here in California, the rest of you don't have to deal with it in your part of the country.

The problem here in California is that we have been defending gun rights where what we need to do is go on the offense.

I don't have the answers, but what I do know is what we need new tactics and we need to expand our support base.

What will need to be developed is a "liberal angled gun rights" support movement.

Conservatives generally are great on guns, but need improvement in supporting other parts of the bill of rights.

Liberals are strong on the 1st amendment, privacy rights, but are terrible on guns.

A gun rights movement whose focus is that the real is that if we lose our guns, all of our other rights are gone and do so in such a way that anyone who hears our message will "get it" will be most effective.

The other side won't go for a "all out ban" because they know they would fail so what they try doing is slipping in these laws that non gun owners think are reasonable.

The people voting for these bills have tuned us out. When they get nailed by their constituents not for voting against gun rights, but voting against the whole bill of rights, that is when we will nail them.



Nicki

[BullpupBen]

I totally agree with your post Nikki, check out this article I was reading today:

http://www.socialistaction.org/bills1.htm

real socialists have every reason and more to be pro-gun as we do, that seems to be the way California is heading in many respects, so try that argument.

[KenpoProfessor]

Well, I moved from that prison of a state, and to be honest, I hope they pass the bill. The gun owners in CA will not step up to meet the antis on their own ground. Everytime someone suggests an open holster protest at the steps of the Capital, voices keep chiming in telling them it's the wrong time, wrong place, whatever to keep them from doing so. Put a thousand people on their doorstep, they'll listen. CA's cannot just keep abdicating their responsiblity to the NRA, they have to make the effort themselves.


As soon as it's passsed, I'm looking for a van and getting a business license. I'll sit at the Pilot station on the weekends selling ammo, laughing my way back to the bank.

Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde

[Librarian]

Well, I moved from that prison of a state, and to be honest, I hope they pass the bill.
Gee, thanks Clyde.

You left.

'Nuf said.

[wolf13]

Well, I moved from that prison of a state, and to be honest, I hope they pass the bill.

And that right there shows part of the bigger problem... Even people who are pro-gun are against CA.

[KenpoProfessor]

Gee, thanks Clyde.

You left.

'Nuf said.

I left because it became unbearable to watch my rights slip away and not be able to do anything about it by myself. Just try to organize a thousand gunnies to march on Sacramento and see what you're met with, and how such a task is near impossible. The people there will continue to take it because they can't be bothered to pull their faces away from the internet or American Idol, and would rather abdicate to the NRA or some other gun org. to say they did their part.

And that right there shows part of the bigger problem... Even people who are pro-gun are against CA.


We live in the age of instant communication and world access in a moment. It really shouldn't be difficult to get a thousand or more people to Sacramento, but they all have an excuse.

Step up or step away, that's your choice. All the phone calls, faxes and near non existent NRA presence in the capital will do nothing, and that's a fact. Arnold will sign whatever bill comes across his desk, the Ammo bill, the biometric sensor bill, all in the name of saving just one child. You are best seen and heard, not just electrons flowing thru the lines to the legislators.



Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde

[brighamr]

Californian's, here is my question to you:

What can people from other states do to help your movements? How many protests have you organized/attended in the last 5 years?

I'm with Clyde on this. I lived there for a few years when a lot of bad laws were passed. Everytime I mentioned "active" activism, the pro-gun people would jump down my throat "not now" "its too early" "don't jump the gun".

Organize a protest, I'll drive 1500 miles to support you. There's not much else people can do from out of state (we can't contact your senators/legislators as we don't live there). And the people who still live there need to step up and DO something IMO.

[TAB]

Well, I moved from that prison of a state, and to be honest, I hope they pass the bill.

For all of you, if it just happnes in CA, "I'm ok with that".

You might want to look into the history about laws being passed in CA 1st... we tend to be the 1st, but then other states/feds adopted those laws. Just something to think about. We are also have the largest population, hell I'd be willing to bet we have more gun owners then some states have population.

[bannockburn]

TAB

You're right about that California connection when it comes to other states taking their lead from them. I remember years ago one of my college professors telling me that typically California and Florida were looked to by other states when it came to new and defining state legislation on any number of issues.

[Oana]

Caveat: I'm a relative newbie, and without any experience in the CA gun activism realm, but what about the simple fact that California is BIG? Other states can get lots of people to the capitol because it only takes 1-3 hours to drive there. With California, you're talking about (for many people) 4-8 hour drives, making a protest more than a day trip. Include gas prices and traffic...I'm sure you can see the problem.

[TAB]

Even for us that are with in 50 miles of the capitol its not easy to get too.

For me its 33 miles from my house( I do alot of work in that area), It takes me alteast a hour, at rush hour its 2.5 hours... then there is parking and other crap... for me to take a half day off and go to the capitol, it cost me around $500. I'm lucky enough that I can do that, most people I know can not.

[KenpoProfessor]

Caveat: I'm a relative newbie, and without any experience in the CA gun activism realm, but what about the simple fact that California is BIG? Other states can get lots of people to the capitol because it only takes 1-3 hours to drive there. With California, you're talking about (for many people) 4-8 hour drives, making a protest more than a day trip. Include gas prices and traffic...I'm sure you can see the problem.




Even for us that are with in 50 miles of the capitol its not easy to get too.

For me its 33 miles from my house( I do alot of work in that area), It takes me alteast a hour, at rush hour its 2.5 hours... then there is parking and other crap... for me to take a half day off and go to the capitol, it cost me around $500. I'm lucky enough that I can do that, most people I know can not.

And this is why your rights are being pilfered at every oppurtunity by the CA government. Is it not worth $500, or is there only a certain amount your rights are worth? Your statement is why no one wants to show up, because there's some monetary value associated with the action. Are you a member of the NRA, do you give generously to them? How about any other orgs., do you give to them as well? That money could be of more use by org. a march to restore all your rights, not just the second, but as the 2nd provides the teeth to the rest, it will take the highlight issue.

Excuses like yours are exactly why I left, because no one thinks it's worth the effort, literally.

Oh, and the whole "it spreads from CA" thing. No, it doesn't, look at the states that are doing something about our immigration problem where San Franfreakshow welcomes them. We'll keep sending them running to CA and happily.

Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde

[SCPigpen]

I left California when I got out the USMC. I could not see myself living, raising a family and growing old in such a retched hive of scum & villiany

[TAB]

And this is why your rights are being pilfered at every oppurtunity by the CA government. Is it not worth $500, or is there only a certain amount your rights are worth? Your statement is why no one wants to show up, because there's some monetary value associated with the action. Are you a member of the NRA, do you give generously to them? How about any other orgs., do you give to them as well? That money could be of more use by org. a march to restore all your rights, not just the second, but as the 2nd provides the teeth to the rest, it will take the highlight issue.

Excuses like yours are exactly why I left, because no one thinks it's worth the effort, literally.

Oh, and the whole "it spreads from CA" thing. No, it doesn't, look at the states that are doing something about our immigration problem where San Franfreakshow welcomes them. We'll keep sending them running to CA and happily.

Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde



and thats why I was at the last protest about the ammo serailization crap...

While I can aford to lose $500, most people can not. For many familys thats the diffrence between eating or starving. I honestly don't think you read my post. I'm sure when it came right down too it, you losing a right and feeding your kids of a month, you would chose your kids every time.


If you really don't think it spreads from CA...Takes those blinders off that high horse of yours.

[Librarian]

Just try to organize a thousand gunnies to march on Sacramento and see what you're met with,

May 2, 1967.

Want to tell us what happened in Sacramento that day, and the result?

[KenpoProfessor]

and thats why I was at the last protest about the ammo serailization crap...

And how many gunnies showed up, from what I understand, less than 50?

While I can aford to lose $500, most people can not. For many familys thats the diffrence between eating or starving. I honestly don't think you read my post. I'm sure when it came right down too it, you losing a right and feeding your kids of a month, you would chose your kids every time.

In this age of carpooling, I wouldn't have found it difficult to put 3 more in my car from my area of Riverside. Hooked up at a motel and all 4 sharing the cost of fuel and lodging. Sacramento was about 7 hours from where I lived, and I drove there all the time when I worked in the cell tower industry, so the roads were familiar.

What will you have left for your children if you don't spend the money now? Of course you're going to have to budget it in, but at some point, you're going to have to decide if you can afford the fight or just stay to be comfortable and accept the consequences.

I don't think there is a fight left, I think it's already to the point of no return, but according to most, It's still too early. I moved, yippeee for me I'm freee again.

Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde


If you really don't think it spreads from CA...Takes those blinders off that high horse of yours.

[TAB]

Getting there is not what costs you, its the loss of wages... not every one has paid vacation or sick days.

[KenpoProfessor]

Getting there is not what costs you, its the loss of wages... not every one has paid vacation or sick days.

See, you're doing it again with the whole money thing. There's this thing, you know, what our Forefathers did, it's called sacrifice. I spend way too much money on causes I believe are just, and I sacrifice monetarily as well as physically with my time and labor (which is money) for my beliefs.

Do you want to protect your children, then leave them a legacy they can be proud of. If someone can't afford it, offer your own so they can help your cause.

Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde

[TAB]

So if the choice was between feeding your family for a month or going to a rally that only minorly hindered your "rights"

you would go to said rally?

[KenpoProfessor]

May 2, 1967.

Want to tell us what happened in Sacramento that day, and the result?

Yep, Black Panthers led an armed protest.

Attracting new members through their high visibility, the Panthers sprang to national attention in 1967. Antagonism toward the party by law enforcement officials had prompted California lawmakers to consider GUN CONTROL. In May 1967, legislators met in Sacramento, the state capital, to discuss a bill that would criminalize the carrying of loaded weapons within city limits. To Seale and Newton, chairman and minister of defense of the BPP, respectively, the proposed law was unjust. Governor RONALD REAGAN was on the lawn of the state legislature as 30 armed Black Panthers arrived and entered the building. TV cameras followed the group's progress to the legislative chambers, where they were stopped by police officers, Seale shouting, "Is this the way the racist government works—[you] won't let a man exercise his constitutional rights?" He then read a prepared statement:

The Black Panther Party calls upon American people in general and black people in particular to take full note of the racist California legislature which is now considering legislation aimed at keeping the black people disarmed and powerless, at the very same time that racist police agencies throughout the country are intensifying the terror, brutality, murder and repression of black people.

The Panthers kept their guns, left the building, and were subsequently disarmed by the police.

http://law.jrank.org/pages/4775/Black-Panther-Party.html

The legislators were already going to pass that bill.



Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde

[KenpoProfessor]

So if the choice was between feeding your family for a month or going to a rally that only minorly hindered your "rights"

you would go to said rally?

More of the CA rationale. Minorly hindered rights ? Is that like being just a little bit pregnant? And at this point, I refuse Godwin's law.

Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde

[TAB]

So why not answer my question?

[Oana]

Now that we're thoroughly off topic...

I get what KenpoProfessor is saying. I also get what TAB is saying. It's true, we could all probably use a good kick in the pants to get us up and active, especially for huge issues. But seriously...$500...it's not like some of us have that kind of money available for such a trip. In many cases, it IS literally a matter of do we eat this month or do we go to the rally. So throwing around accusations is a pointless exercise.

I don't know how much legislators are going to care about a 1,000-man march on the capitol. Really. In lieu of that, perhaps instead of organizing one big super-duper protest, there could be regional protests - say, three or four in designated cities - so people wouldn't have to drive so far. It's not an all-or-nothing proposition. And getting people to simply call or write can matter.

For that matter, it's also who you put into office, not just the legislation. Get a governor who won't sign those bills into law, and you'll deal with half the problem right there. It's pathetic how few people vote. And it's amazing how many people will vote for a compromising candidate and then wonder why they get a Republican/Democrat hybrid.

I still think the biggest issue is education. Getting people interested in firearms & gun rights. Too many in CA aren't aware of how to even use a gun for sport, let alone the regulations that are coming down. Take that $500 and invest it in the next generation.

[Librarian]

The Panthers kept their guns, left the building, and were subsequently disarmed by the police.

The legislators were already going to pass that bill.

In 1967, the California legislature was relatively sane. (Irrationally frightened in this narrow area, but usually sane.) (Note that California has had predominantly Democratic voter registration since 1934.)

We did not yet have the Gun Control Act of 1968.

We did not yet have the Vietnam-ized Democratic Party. We did not have Brady and Soros funding politicians, and Joyce funding quasi-research.

In short, a small number of gun owners, demanding their rights, caused a relatively sane legislature to act precipitously and unwisely.

Today, on almost any issue, the California Legislature has forgotten any possible reasonable role for government. I submit your suggestion of a gun-owner's rally in Sacramento would produce a far quicker, far more deleterious result than the Panthers drew forty years ago.

We've got enough problems without folks encouraging us to shoot ourselves in the foot.

[MarcusWendt]

Hmmm, what can you do to help. Well, look up the name of some cities in California, pick your favorite, find the assembly person for that area and call them. Tell them you are from there. THEY DON'T CHECK!!!!!!! All they want to know is what bill what's your position, and where you are calling from.

Kenpo Professor, if you aren't part of the solution..... know what I mean?

Lately you seem like a Brady plant around here.

[Yellowfin]

^ Hmm...the Bradys are plants? Let's all go buy some Roundup then! Heck, I've been wondering what's a way to get rid of them for a long time!

[mojohand]

Clyde seems to think that if a thousand people show up at the steps of the capital, that suddenly everything will change. How many tiomes have you seen a bunch of protestors at the capital yelling, screamiong, and chanting their slogans? The answer is a lot. But those efforts are of little value. Sure you get your name on the news for that day, but the next day it is forgotten. The true change happens behind the scenes. Not at some dog and pony show on the steps of the capitol. Also, if a march was organized, think of all the "fringe" characters that would come out in their cammo and garb and steal the show form the real story. They would get on the news and that would be the story, not whatever legislation is being protested.

A march is a tool, not the tool

[mojohand]

Oh, and just to keep on the original thread, I have called and emailed my assemblyman and senator

[Harley Quinn]

Some have children to feed, some don't. The idea to show up and protest is one that has been around for some time. As in the past the families were the ones that suffered, and still do.

The Movie "Joe Kidd" shows you what happens if you step out of line.

I believe CA is a lost cause. The new laws in July show that to be true.

Do what you can, and continue to try and survive, if moving makes you happy do it. I know a lot of people who moved out of the state of CA, no one moved because they wanted to carry a gun on their hip in public.

;)