Gun guys,

The legislature will go back into session on January 4th,
and I expect to start producing my regular legislative updates
shortly thereafter.

In the meantime, I have attached below an article from the
Sacramento Bee that discusses the disagreements between
the Governor (wearing the white hat this week) and the
Democrat leadership in the legislature over what gun control,
if any, should be pushed in this next year. The article
describes the main issues we expect to be fighting this
year and is worth reading.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free
to contact me at Senator Haynes’ office–(909)782-4111
or via e-mail.

(See below)

JTG
[email protected]
“No government is better than our government”

Copyright ? The Sacramento Bee

Gun bills in works despite warning: Davis wants to wait — legislators
disagree

By Patrick Hoge
Bee Capitol Bureau
(Published Nov. 30, 1999)

Despite Gov. Gray Davis’ warnings that he doesn’t want
big new gun-control laws next year, at least five lawmakers are
jockeying to carry far-reaching bills on the subject,
including measures requiring gun licensing and registration.

State Sen. Don Perata, D-Alameda, also says he may propose
an initiative for the November 2000 ballot if the Legislature
does not act on licensing and registration requirements,
which handgun-control groups say are their No. 1 legislative
priority.

“I’m going to operate on both tracks,” said Perata, who
praised Davis for signing his assault-weapons ban bill this year.

“I will introduce a licensing-registration bill,” Perata
said. “But part of me thinks that this is the kind of
legislation that deserves to be done by initiative.”

Earlier this fall, Davis urged the Legislature to hold
off on any “significant” new gun-control legislation through
next year while the impact of five new gun laws he signed
is analyzed.

But the man expected to become Assembly speaker next spring,
Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg, D-Sherman Oaks, is
considering carrying a measure to require ballistics testing
of guns before sale, with each gun’s characteristics kept on
file for future criminal investigations. Perata said his licensing and registration bill will also require ballistics testing of handguns.

“I will support legislation on gun control,” said Hertzberg, who
is working with Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks.

“I do know what his (Davis’) statement was, and I do intend to
sit down with him at an appropriate time,” Hertzberg said. “He’s
a reasonable fellow. He’s very smart, and I have no doubt we
will reach an accord on these issues.”

Garry South, Davis’ chief political adviser, said he did not
expect Davis to be so agreeable.

“(For) anybody who reads English, the message couldn’t be more
clear,” said South, citing Davis’ message after vetoing three
gun-control bills and signing five new gun laws, in which the
governor said law enforcement needs a chance to implement the
new laws.

In addition, South warned, “Democrats can push this issue too
far” because “the public does not have an unlimited appetite for
gun control.

“Going to the ballot with gun measures is a very, very bad idea.
All it does is gin up opposition from gun lovers, and seriously
jeopardizes Democrats in swing areas.”

South cited a recent poll conducted for Davis that showed 57
percent of voters favored a “breathing spell” on new gun controls
once they were told about the laws Davis signed, which he said
were “the most comprehensive and stringent in the nation.”

Those laws include Perata’s expanded assault weapons ban and
laws prohibiting so-called Saturday night specials, limiting the
frequency of handgun purchases, requiring trigger locks, and
increasing regulation and oversight of gun shows.

Assembly Majority Leader Kevin Shelley, D-San Francisco, who
carried a licensing and registration bill that quickly died three
years ago, pointed out that he introduced his latest version
in September, before Davis made his pronouncement.

“He has his view, and I respect his point of view. But we have
our point of view as well,” said Shelley, who is eager to push
ahead with the idea.

Ultimately, of course, Shelley and the other legislators
acknowledged that they will likely need Davis’ support.

“Clearly, we’ve got to work it out with the governor,” Shelley said.

Assemblyman Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, an ardent gun-control
proponent who lost a son to an accidental shooting in 1993, said
he understands Davis’ desire to wait but that circumstances
may demand action.

“Naturally, we will be cognizant of the governor’s statement.
I don’t know whether that is absolutely hard and fast,” Scott said.

“I don’t want to close the door on some issue that is really
pressing where some action is needed to be taken. Frankly, the
tragedies on occasion seem to highlight that more gun legislation
is needed.”

On Wednesday, Scott will preside over a Glendale hearing of the
Assembly Select Committee to Control Gun Violence on the issue of
handgun licensing and registration.

The next day, Assemblyman Mike Honda, D-San Jose, will hold a
hearing of the Public Safety Committee, which he chairs, on
a licensing and registration bill he introduced in February.

Stephen Helsley, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association,
said that without Davis’ support, it is likely that many rural
Democrats will oppose such legislation.

“I could see the (Democratic) caucus being split on this one,
particularly in an election year,” Helsley said.

Licensing and registration has been embraced by U.S. Sen. Dianne
Feinstein and President Clinton.

Helsley, however, says it and ballistics testing would be enormously
expensive and provide little benefit in crime prevention.

The vast majority of crimes, he said, are committed by a very
small percentage of gun owners.

“You’re talking about a staggering workload for a very, very
low return on investment,” Helsley said. “You’re looking at
something on the scale of Department of Motor Vehicles. What’s
the need for it? This is a solution in search of a problem.”

Helsley said that current law already requires registration of
new handguns as well as handguns that are sold or transferred.
Some purchasers must also complete a brief safety course, and
sales of five or more guns must be reported to the federal
government.

“Nothing California has done regarding registration has affected
crime rates,” Helsley said.

Perata countered that the current dealer registration documents
are not computerized and accessible to local law enforcement.
The required safety training involves watching a video and answering rudimentary questions, he said.

Eric Gorovitz, policy director at the Bell Campaign in San
Francisco, said the state’s gun-control groups are united around the
licensing and registration idea, and he likes the
ballistics-testing notion. “The issue is simply not going
away,” Gorovitz said.”And the legislators are not easily
giving up the idea.”

You can see this story at: http://www.capitolalert.com/news/capalert01_19991130.html

Copyright ? The Sacramento Bee