Tag Archives: gun safety

Tim Donnelly looks to Recall Sen. Norma Torres

Former self-proclaimed vigilante joins “Free California” movement in attempt to recall Pomona senator

by Brian Leubitz

Sure, I could have posted the video from the Bee of Donnelly talking about the recall campaign. But, let’s face it, this is about Tim Donnelly, so the ColbertReport video was far more appropriate. The former MinuteMan state leader is pretending to run for Governor next year, and even Abel Maldonado is getting more and better press coverage.

So, he needs some sort of stunt, kind of like the fence stunt in the video. And attempting to recall a State Senator that has been in office for about six months seems to fit the bill:

Having failed to persuade Gov. Jerry Brown to reject a wide-ranging package of gun control bills, pro-gun advocates announced on Thursday they will seek to punish Democrats who supported the measures at the ballot box.

“Every single assemblyman and state senator swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution,” Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, told reporters before speaking at the conference. “And when they violate that oath by trying to erase the Second Amendment, then I think we have a duty” to “remove that threat.”(SacBee)

This is of course from a man who claims to be a vigilante and carried a gun into the airport. Torres seems to be merely a name he chose from a list of Democrats, perhaps one with a slightly less Democratic seat. But the underlying fact is that Torres won the special election this spring, and deserves to server out her term.

Californians support these very modest gun safety changes, and Torres seems to be in little actual threat. But this is about Tim Donnelly, the “patriot not politician”, who apparently loves to play political games.

Gov. Brown Signs Nearly 90% of Bills, Vetoes Gun Safety Measures

Jerry Brown - Take TwoGovernor vetoes a few notable pieces of legislation on last weekend

by Brian Leubitz

When you have both the legislative and executive branches controlled by the same party, you would expect a pretty high percentage of legislation signed. However, while the odds have been better for Democratic legislation under Gov. Brown than the previous administration, some Democratic legislators have been a little frustrated with Gov. Brown’s vetoes of major legislation.  With that being said, the two year session that ended last year ended up with the Governor vetoing about 13% of the 1,866 bills that reached his desk.

That’s about half as many as Schwarzenegger, but his rate went down this year to 10.7%, something of a record. And some of those he signed are pretty important:

Gov. Jerry Brown on Sunday wrapped up action on bills for the year by approving a measure aimed a protecting against false confessions by minors in homicide cases and giving some non-violent felons the ability to have their records expunged.

In all, Brown acted by Sunday’s deadline on 896 regular-session bills sent him by the Legislature this year, down from the nearly 1,000 bills that landed on his desk last year. He vetoed 10.7% of the bills, the lowest rejection rate for any of his three years this term. (LA Times)

He also acted on a few other bills of note. He signed Sen. Hancock’s SB 54, which had caused a dustup in the labor community (including a “Save Our Jobs” campaign), however he vetoed some of the so-called “LIFE Act” gun safety legislative package. Needless to say, many progressives are disappointed.

Their key issue: the veto of SB 374 by Senator Darrell Steinberg,” which conservatives called called “draconian” – but which progressives supported for its ban on future sales of most semi-automatic rifles.

We just talked to Paul Song, head of the progressive Courage Campaign, who told us that his group was “devastated” by Brown’s actions.

“We expected that in a solidly blue state, where he doesn’t have to worry about recall, he would have shown a little bit of courage or backbone – and set an example for the test of the country. He let us down,” Song said. “And just like the prison expansion (issue), he’s been to the right of a lot of Republican governors.” (SF Gate)

He did sign some of the package, including banning kits that enable magazines to hold more than 10 bullets, but the vetoes gathered more attention. While this does move the ball forward, ultimately we need federal gun legislation in order to really be effective.

You can find more information on the status of specific bills at the Legislature’s bill information site.

End of Session Marathon brings big progress

Last minute legislation is pouring through both chambers

by Brian Leubitz

Session is technically scheduled to start at close of business tomorrow. However, with Yom Kippur starting tomorrow at sunset, legislative leaders are hoping to close up shop tonight. There are a number key piece of legislation in play today. Here are a few highlights:

  • Gun safety – You can find a quick summary of the gun safety legislation in this WaPo article. Forgive the journalist his folly saying that the legislators could face political blowback. Apparently he thinks that the politics in Colorado is somehow a reasonable analog for California. It is not. However, here are a few highlights from the “LIFE ACT” (PDF):

    • require gun owners to report stolen guns within a week
    • further limits who can own a gun, and requires gun owners lock up their guns around people who aren’t eligible
    • limits assault rifles: semi-automatic magazines limited to ten rounds, increases registration requirements
  • Minimum wageLuis Alejo’s AB10 to increase the minimum wage to $10 by 2016 has the support of both legislative leaders and the Governor.
  • Domestic workersAsm. Tom Ammiano’s AB 241 domestic workers bill of rights would provide all domestic workers who care for California’s homes and families with some of the basic labor protections they have been denied for decades. The Senate passed it yesterday, but the Governor has not said anything about the bill. Which way he will go is unclear.
  • CEQA – It looks like at least some reform will get done. Sen. Steinberg’s SB 743 doesn’t completely overhaul the system, but it does ease restrictions on infill projects, especially ones close to public transit.
  • Bay Bridge – The Legislature passed a resolution to rename the Bay Bridge in honor of Willie Brown. The governor opposed it, on the basis that our names for the bridges are good enough as they are. However, as it is a resolution, the Governor doesn’t have a veto.

As somebody who uses the Bay Bridge frequently, I tend to agree with the Governor on this last one. It isn’t a new road, the name has been the same for the better part of three generations. While Willie Brown is certainly a legend to the state and the region, I liked the name Bay Bridge. I have to imagine that the old name won’t go away quickly.

There will surely be more to come as the legislative session wraps up this evening; I’ll try to update with anything major.

Gun Control Measures Move Forward

Gun Control photo Gun-Control_zpse13fc312.pngGroup of measures would increase gun safety in California

by Brian Leubitz

The optimal result on gun safety legislation would be sweeping reform at the federal level. However, the NRA has put the hammer down on that, so the California “LIFE Act” becomes what we can do today to make our communities safer.  The Lifesaving Intelligent Firearms Enforcement (LIFE) Act is made up of seven bills each based on scientifically proven strategies to reduce gun violence. Each bill is compliant with Supreme Court rulings on the 2nd Amendment, however backward they may be.

The Assembly Committee on Public Safety hearing offered a preview of that battle, as dozens of gun-control advocates — including some who have lost loved ones to violent crime — faced off against gun-rights supporters who believe that a basic freedom is threatened.

“This entire package is not focused on trying to prohibit or limit law-abiding citizens from having guns,” state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, told the committee. “It seeks to close loopholes that were never supposed to exist.” But National Rifle Association lobbyist Ed Worley scoffed at that notion.(Josh Richman / BANG)

The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted to pass Senate Bill (SB) 47 today, prohibiting the future sale of assault rifles with a “bullet button,” which allows for the easy removal and replacement of magazines.

Currently, many assault rifles sold in California have a feature known as a bullet button that allows a magazine to be replaced in mere seconds. Yee’s SB 47 will prohibit the use of the bullet button and other devices that allow for easily changeable magazines on all military-style assault weapons, such as AR-15s. Under SB 47, featured weapons would only be allowed to have 10-round ammunition magazines that could not be changed without dissembling the weapon. Essentially, bullets could only be loaded one-by-one from the top of the gun.

“California’s Assault Weapons Ban has protected the public for decades,” said Yee. “SB 47 will allow it to continue to keep Californians safe from military-style weapons.”

Six of the seven LIFE Act bills have now made it through the public safety committee, with the seventh expected to get a full floor vote as well. The NRA and their allies are not giving up on weakening or killing these bills. You can contact your legislators through the Courage Campaign’s Life Lantern website.