Tuesday, June 21, 2011

California Gun Sweep Nets 1200 Weapons


Local 2 KPSP reports

A recent statewide sweep found hundreds of Californians illegally in possession of firearms, officials said.

Attorney General Kamala Harris announced the results of the sweep Thursday that netted 1,209 firearms, seized from people legally barred from owning them.
I'll bet they weren't all "criminals." I'd imagine some of them were the guys who say "bad laws be damned" especially the domestic violence guys. I know they're criminals too, but I'm differentiating between them and the armed robbers and crack dealers.

Here's what I suppose is the controversial part.

In announcing the major seizure, [Attorney General Kamala] Harris called for the passage of Senate Bill 819, which would allow fees collected by gun dealers to fund additional proactive police efforts.

"SB 819 addresses a troubling blind spot in our current enforcement of existing firearms laws," said Senator Leno, D-San Francisco, author of SB 819.

State Sen. Leno also said the increased confiscation of unlawfully-possessed firearms would help prevent future crimes and save the state money due to avoided prosecution and incarceration.
Would it be a problem if the FFL gun dealers paid for this? Somehow I think gun-rights people would oppose that.

What do you think? Please leave a comment.

9 comments:

  1. Good news! You won again! The Pennsylvania Senate voted 45-5 for Castle Doctrine last night and it is heading to the Governor's desk who will sign it.

    Someone is sure to file suit to stop it so according to your theory, you win! Congratulations!

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  2. Funny, the article doesn’t say how many arrests were made. Surely they didn’t just take away the gun and say “all is well”, right?

    "SB 819 addresses a troubling blind spot in our current enforcement of existing firearms laws," said Senator Leno, D-San Francisco, author of SB 819.

    “blind spot”- when there is no possible way to call it a loophole. So now “small fees” are a “blind spot” because they are not big enough. So can we officially call BS when you say gun control is only after small registration fees that amount to a minor inconvenience? And since they are not making arrests, the thugs are free to acquire another firearm so that the state can make another sweep on them to perpetually drive up the cost. Eventually so few people will buy a firearm that the thugs won’t have any to steal. Brilliant. It is for the children.

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  3. TS: You're kidding, right?

    Criminals get their guns, at least partially, from FFLs. The rest they get from the so-called "law-abiding citizen."

    If we can agree criminals with guns are a problem--isn't it only right that those who largely contribute to the creation of the problem pay for it?

    Or are you of the opinion the population of the gulf coast ought to pay for the BP oil spill because their property was located too claose to BP's spill?

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  4. "Or are you of the opinion the population of the gulf coast ought to pay for the BP oil spill because their property was located too claose to BP's spill?"

    Actually, a more accurate comparison would be that all gas station operators would have to pay for the BP oil spill and then pas the cost along to their customers rather they had any connection to BP or not.

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  5. Jade: “Or are you of the opinion the population of the gulf coast ought to pay for the BP oil spill because their property was located too claose to BP's spill?”

    You are the one saying the consumer is responsible. Instead of BP paying for the cleanup out of their profits, you would advocate a tax be put on all gasoline. That is the direct analogy to SB 819.

    Jade, you have said all along that gun owners should pay taxes, fees, insurance, etc… And after that, pay some more. You are off the hook as far as I am concerned regarding SB 819. It is the people who swear they only want small registration fees and it is not designed to squeeze out gun ownership- they are the ones that need to answer to this.

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  6. Jade, those who buy petrol fuel contribute to “oil flow”, right? They all largely contribute to the creation of the problem, not to mention climate change. Isn’t it only right that they have to pay for it? Or is it different because you are one of the people contributing to the problem?

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  7. Listen guys, FWM and TS, you can stop whistling and looking the other way when we point out that the guns are ALL coming from guys just like you. It's time you took responsibility for this terrible sloppiness which is called "gun flow."

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  8. Its fairly common in CA for restraining orders (RO) to be placed on both parties during divorce proceedings. Common if either makes an accusation or if the judge feels its warranted.

    Unless one petitions the court for said order to be removed after the fact, it remains in place until it expires (3 years). After expiration, one is banned from firearm ownership for 10 years.

    I wonder how many of these (if any) were simply ex-husbands who never went through the process of having the RO removed after the divorce was settled?

    But for any arrests that were for 'real' domestic violations, i see no problem with enforcing laws we already have on the books.

    "If we can agree criminals with guns are a problem--isn't it only right that those who largely contribute to the creation of the problem pay for it?"

    I don't see criminals with guns as quite the problem you do. I want them killing each other as it saves us tax payer funds for schools and other worthy programs. We simply can't afford to keep building prisons for the dysfunctional. Call it social darwinism if you will.

    BTW - I take no blame for what uncivilized people do with the guns and other objects they acquire. In the same way, i don't blame all parents when a few beat their kids. This country punishes behavior, not simple possession.

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  9. Anonymous, Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I have to take issue with a couple things, though. I think you're wanting criminals to kill each other is the height of immorality. Or maybe you were referring to the worst of the worst and not just you every-day losers.

    The other thing, of course is the shared responsibility that, whether you like it or not, includes you too. You're especially guilty if you favor lax gun control laws which make it easier for those bad guys you hate so much to get guns.

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