Ewok
Member
To the Members of the California State Senate:
I am returning Senate Bill 1152 without my signature.
This bill proposes an ammunition registration process that has already been considered
and rejected by the federal government when they repealed a substantially similar law
citing it was simply unworkable and offered no public safety benefit. In addition, no
other state collects information on ammunition sales or purchasers. Forensic testing of
ammunition used in a crime is the most effective way of tracing criminal activity.
For these reasons I am returning this bill without my signature.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
-----
To the Members of the California State Senate:
I am returning Senate Bill 1140 without my signature.
California’s laws already impose strict liability on gun owners who allow a child to
access their firearm. Ensuring firearms are stored properly is an important public health
goal and that is why I support the current criminal storage laws. The additional firearm
storage restrictions proposed by SB 1140 are vague and unnecessary to our criminal
justice system.
Strict liability is the most stringent legal liability theory available and only five other
states beside California currently impose such a harsh penalty. This bill would further
expand the liability to situations that cannot be easily defined and thereby provides no
guidance to a person as to how to avoid criminal penalties. Such ambiguity in the law
invites arbitrary enforcement and judicial review.
Unfortunately, this bill does more to confuse an already complicated area of the law than
to protect children. Before a government exercises its power to take away one’s liberty,
it should be clear to every person what actions will cause them to forfeit their freedom.
Instead of adding to the lengthy and complex area of firearm laws, a reorganization of the
current laws should be undertaken to ensure that statutes that impose criminal penalties
are easily understandable.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
I am returning Senate Bill 1152 without my signature.
This bill proposes an ammunition registration process that has already been considered
and rejected by the federal government when they repealed a substantially similar law
citing it was simply unworkable and offered no public safety benefit. In addition, no
other state collects information on ammunition sales or purchasers. Forensic testing of
ammunition used in a crime is the most effective way of tracing criminal activity.
For these reasons I am returning this bill without my signature.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
-----
To the Members of the California State Senate:
I am returning Senate Bill 1140 without my signature.
California’s laws already impose strict liability on gun owners who allow a child to
access their firearm. Ensuring firearms are stored properly is an important public health
goal and that is why I support the current criminal storage laws. The additional firearm
storage restrictions proposed by SB 1140 are vague and unnecessary to our criminal
justice system.
Strict liability is the most stringent legal liability theory available and only five other
states beside California currently impose such a harsh penalty. This bill would further
expand the liability to situations that cannot be easily defined and thereby provides no
guidance to a person as to how to avoid criminal penalties. Such ambiguity in the law
invites arbitrary enforcement and judicial review.
Unfortunately, this bill does more to confuse an already complicated area of the law than
to protect children. Before a government exercises its power to take away one’s liberty,
it should be clear to every person what actions will cause them to forfeit their freedom.
Instead of adding to the lengthy and complex area of firearm laws, a reorganization of the
current laws should be undertaken to ensure that statutes that impose criminal penalties
are easily understandable.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
