RKBA Info for CA
NRA-ILA CALIFORNIA FAX ALERT
555 Capitol Mall, Ste. 455    -    Sacramento, CA 95814
(800) 392-8683 Fax: 703-267-3918
Special Alert GROOTS@NRA.org 1/28/98
LUNGREN DECIDES GUN CONTROL IS OUT,
GUN CONFISCATION IS IN

     THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, AUTHORITIES ARE CALLING ON LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS TO SURRENDER FIREARMS -- GUNS PREVIOUSLY AND SPECIFICALLY APPROVED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

     Today, Wednesday, January 28, 1998, in Rocklin, California, Mr. William Doss presented his SKS Sporter rifle to local law enforcement for confiscation -- a firearm previously and expressly deemed acceptable by California Attorney General Dan Lungren (R). The crisis was brought about when Mr. Lungren initially determined that a firearm popular with shooting enthusiasts was legal under California's Roberti-Roos "Assault Weapons Control Act" -- only to reverse course later and pronounce the guns illegal.

     IN THE WAKE OF THE AG'S DECISION, MR. DOSS IS ONE OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CALIFORNIANS WHO MAY HAVE BECOME OVERNIGHT FELONS.

      In the Spring of 1995 while a resident of Florida, Mr. Doss contacted the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to inquire whether he could bring his rifle with him when he moved to California. In a letter dated April 5, 1995, DOJ wrote him that his rifle was indeed legal and could be brought with him. After becoming a resident, Mr. Doss received a letter dated November 24, 1997, from the DOJ announcing the policy reversal. Mr. Doss, an Air Force veteran, did the only thing he could o, he surrendered his rifle to local authorities for confiscaton. "In California, the dream of the gun ban movement has been realized. California is confiscating guns and threatening law- abiding citizens with prosecution," said Mrs. Tanya K. Metaksa, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. "Who is targeted? Why, people like you. The only people who comply with gun laws. Law-abiding citizens, especially law- abiding citizens who go out of their way to remain law-abiding."

     YOUR RIGHTS SHOULD BE RESTORED. CONFISCATION SHOULD BE STOPPED. LEGISLATION THAT SHIFTS GUN CONFISCATION INTO HIGH GEAR SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE SCRAP HEAP.

      Two bills currently pending in the state legislature will make this bad situation worse. Assembly Bill 23 (Perata) seeks to expand California's "Assault Weapons Control Act" and Senate Bill 1339 (Calderon) would ban so called "high capacity" magazines. If these proposals become law not only will our rights be further restricted, but they will strengthen Mr. Lungren's hand and add an air of legitimacy to his ongoing confiscation scheme.

     "THE ANTI-GUN AGENDA IS ON DISPLAY IN CALIFORNIA," OBSERVED MRS. METAKSA, "AND IT IS A PROFOUNDLY RADICAL AGENDA. WE ARE NO LONGER DEBATING GUN CONTROL. WE ARE DEFENDING NRA MEMBERS AGAINST GUN CONFISCATION."

      "I am here to pledge the resources and commitment of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action to William Doss and thousands of Californians like him. For more than century and a quarter, the National Rifle Association of America has taught marksmanship. We serve proudly as the world authority on safety training. Indeed, NRA's bedrock principles have always been safety, responsibility and freedom. Today, California challenges our bedrock principle of freedom. Today, bad public policy threatens the private property and the liberty rights of even our most scrupulously law-abiding citizen -- the military veteran."

     PLEASE CALL GOVERNOR PETE WILSON AT (916) 445-2841 AND URGE HIM TO STOP THIS INJUSTICE.

      To get further details or to see a listing of California legislators, including phone numbers, please see NRA's web site at www.NRA.org.

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This information is provided as a service of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, Fairfax, VA.

This and other information on the Second Amendment and the NRA is available at: http://WWW.NRA.Org