Ca. insanity

[das]

(10-12) 18:28 PDT SACRAMENTO -- People buying ammunition in California will soon have to be thumbprinted and dealers will have to keep records of sales, under legislation that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law.
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After vetoing similar bills three times since 2004, Schwarzenegger signed AB962 by Assemblyman Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, on Sunday, saying he now believes it will promote public safety.

The measure is California's first statewide regulation of ammunition sales. It survived close votes in both the Assembly and state Senate and strong opposition from gun-rights organizations, which succeeded in stripping a provision that would have required sellers of more than 50 rounds of ammunition a month to be licensed by the state.

Starting in July, the law will require dealers to keep records of handgun ammunition sales for at least five years, and store the bullets securely out of customers' reach.

Like gun transactions, all ammunition sales will have to be face-to-face, a requirement that will force online buyers to arrange delivery of ammunition to a seller in California. Another provision makes it a crime to knowingly sell or give ammunition to someone who cannot possess it legally, including felons, gang members and the mentally ill.

As of February 2011, all ammunition buyers will have to provide a driver's license or other state identification and a thumbprint.

De León said Monday that the bill gives police "a valuable tool to crack down on armed, dangerous criminals and gang-bangers in our communities."

Opponents said the restrictions would burden gun owners and dealers without impeding criminals.

"Ammunition or ammunition purchaser registration, in any form, serves only to infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens," Gun Owners of California said while the bill was before the Legislature.

In signing the bill, Schwarzenegger said local governments that require record-keeping for ammunition sales have enabled police to arrest many illegal purchasers. Governments that regulate ammunition sales include San Francisco, Oakland, Tiburon and Contra Costa and Marin counties.

"Utilized properly, this type of information is invaluable for keeping communities safe," Schwarzenegger said.

E-mail Bob Egelko at begelko@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page C - 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle
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Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/13/BA551A4M82.DTL#ixzz0jS5beJSM

[diving dave]

Just one of many reasons I'm retiring in Montana. Screw this state.

[motorolahamm]

Sounds like another way to arrest people in cali as stated . cali can't afford to keep the prisoners they have in jail now . the state is broke

they should do some type of a permit card for this so you can just walk in show it and walk out with more than 50rds per month

[badboy522]

What about all of us law enforcement officers that have to purchase our own ammo to train with, is there any exception to this bull shit law. The state of the buget with most local law enforcement agencys have limited that amount of ammo an officer can get. Hell, most agencys hardly have enough money to allow there officers to qualify on a regular basis....

[badboy522]

As far as arresting people... we cant even get DA's in this state to file charges on serious crime let alone crime that they are not familiar with. I have arrest several subjects for weapons violations that never been filed because the DA's office is not unsure of the out come if the case goes to trial.

[markm]

And yet those ass wipes want to legalize reefer for tax revenue. Any more proof that liberalism is a mental disorder needed?

[Abraxas]

they should do some type of a permit card for this so you can just walk in show it and walk out with more than 50rds per month

That is just stupid. These control laws never have any actual impact on bad guys. They just screw with everyone else

[ForTehNguyen]

in before black market on ammo

[Mike91A]

Why not just drive to another state ,buy quantity and drive back home? Or is the Terminator going to have every vehicle entering California searched?

[SIGguy229]

Why not just drive to another state ,buy quantity and drive back home? Or is the Terminator going to have every vehicle entering California searched?

Hey....it will create jobs, right?

Keep ammo out, let illegals through....

[Nathan_Bell]

What about all of us law enforcement officers that have to purchase our own ammo to train with, is there any exception to this bull shit law. The state of the buget with most local law enforcement agencys have limited that amount of ammo an officer can get. Hell, most agencys hardly have enough money to allow there officers to qualify on a regular basis....

Why should there be an exception? LEO's all pass backgrounders and most have updates every few years, so you all would be able to fly through. Show your badge, put down your thumbprint and roll.
Your larger concern should be that this is going to make your ammo much more expensive and harder to find, as I do not see the big box stores wanting to deal with this shit. They will likely phase out pistol ammo, leaving you only the smaller (relative to a box store) sporting goods or police supply shops.

[decodeddiesel]

Why not just drive to another state ,buy quantity and drive back home? Or is the Terminator going to have every vehicle entering California searched?

That's what I was thinking.

[Alpha Sierra]

What about all of us law enforcement officers that have to purchase our own ammo to train with, is there any exception to this bull shit law. The state of the buget with most local law enforcement agencys have limited that amount of ammo an officer can get. Hell, most agencys hardly have enough money to allow there officers to qualify on a regular basis....

Why should LE be treated differently? Suffer with the peons.

[xrayoneone]

Why not just drive to another state ,buy quantity and drive back home? Or is the Terminator going to have every vehicle entering California searched?

California does have "AGRICULTURAL CHECK POINTS" when entering the state. I could see them using these as a premise to attempt to search vehicles for other contraband. This state is so screwed up you'd be years in appeals trying to fight an illegal search. But bullshit aside law abiding citizens shouldn't be forced to travel hours out of state to exercise their rights.

A bill introduced to repeal this BS was struck down in commitee.

[Iraqgunz]

This has been discussed already.