Second Amendment backers arm up with ink and paper to battle California's 'Gunmageddon'

[The Legion]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/08/24/second-amendment-backers-arm-up-with-ink-and-paper-to-battle-californias-gunmageddon.html

By Hollie McKay

Published August 24, 2016

FoxNews.com

Barry Bahrami went from incredulous to angry last month when California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a batch of firearms control laws known collectively as “Gunmageddon.”

Then, the San Diego-based CEO became determined to fight back against the laws, which take aim at so-called assault weapons, enforce ammunition background checks, mostly take effect Jan. 1 and outlaw the possession of high-capacity magazines and ban the "bullet buttons" that already require a tool to release the magazine, instead advocating that the rifle is partially disassembled, and that any rifle with a detachable magazine will be defined as an assault weapon.  

"These laws are completely insane to almost anyone with a real knowledge of firearms, and I did not think Gov. Brown would sign them," Bahrami told FoxNews.com. "Many California gun owners are still unaware they will be criminals soon."

The all-Democratic team of bill sponsors proudly christened the new legislation with its apocalyptic moniker, but Bahrami vowed that voters will have the final word. He and other Second Amendment stalwarts have organized 1,600 volunteers across the Golden State with the goal of garnering 365,880 signatures -- although ideally they would like to get far more than that to ensure validity before submitting -- for each of seven referendum petitions to get on the Nov. 8 ballot.

 If they succeed, and they must have the signatures by the end of next month, they will put gun rights in the center of the presidential election. And if they win at the ballot box, they will overturn the nation’s newest and most far-reaching gun control laws and negate a somewhat redundant set of gun control measures already set for a referendum even though the laws they provide for are largely in effect.

"It comes down to this: get enough signatures on paper from registered voters in an insanely short period of time and the law will go on the ballot for voters to decide,” Bahrami said. “It is a simple 'yes' or 'no' and majority wins. To my knowledge, the option has never been exercised to this scale before... I had to get the ball rolling."

“Veto Gunmageddon” activists have so far set up hundreds of tables outside supermarkets, along busy sidewalks and at gun stores and shooting ranges. They have placed signature collection boxes at local stores, tattoo parlors and dental offices. In addition to thousands of autographs, they collected nearly $60,000 to cover printing and other costs and seen their volunteer ranks swell.

Already set for the Nov. 8 vote is a set of gun control proposals from a group headed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom that basically mirror the laws Brown signed. Critics say Brown and legislative leaders on one side, and Newsom on another, were trying to get their anti-gun measures enacted first, and Newsom’s group carried on with Proposition 63, known as “Safety for All,” even after Brown signed the bills.

Supporters of Newsom’s initiative -- which include groups such as Women Against Gun Violence, California Federation of Teachers and the California American College of Physicians -- contend that the proposition would keep guns and ammunition out of the wrong hands by closing loopholes in existing laws and protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to own guns for self-defense, hunting and recreation.

"Safety For All" spokesperson Dan Newman said they "welcome a vote of the people on the issue of gun safety."

"That is why Lt. Gov. Newsom took Prop 63 to the ballot -- it's the best way to make serious progress to save lives," he told FoxNews.com. "The veto movement only underscores how important it is to give voters a chance to stand up to the NRA and take bold action to reduce gun violence."

As many as one-fifth of California's 35 million citizens are believed to own at least one firearm, although estimates vary. The sweeping new laws – both those signed by Brown and those proposed by Newsom’s group – puts them in the crosshairs, according to Sam Parades, executive director of Gun Owners of California.

"The end game is to disarm everyone -- rich, poor and those in-between,” Parades said. “It is easier to go after an inanimate object than human behavior."

A representative for Gov. Brown declined to comment on the Veto Gunmageddon campaign.

Bahrami declined to give specifics on how many signatures they have acquired to-date. The group is confident, he said, but added, "we don't have it in the bag until it is in the bag."

[mikegideon]

I love liberals

[Erik88]

I've been in CA the last 10 days and I've been surprised at the number of NRA stickers out here. Hopefully they can get this overturned.

[Grand Torino]

Good luck to them....once again a lot of good people getting screwed due to the liberal stupidity of a few.

[Esko 270]

This crap is getting crazy. I seen my first Hillary Yard sign today! 

[MP5_Rizzo]

5 hours ago, Erik88 said:

I've been in CA the last 10 days and I've been surprised at the number of NRA stickers out here. Hopefully they can get this overturned.

My first thought when you said you were surprised by the number of NRA decals yo saw was that you must be in Northern Kali. I tried to find the number of NRA members by state as I became curious.  This number may be on the web somewhere but I did not find it.  What I did find sort of surprised me.

I copied and pasted what I did find below with a link to it.  I wonder how many of the 23% live in the left coast state?

 

The NRA is 23% democrat! Only slightly less than the national average for the general population! (The national average is 29% democrat.) The NRA supports ANY politician who respects the 2nd Amendment and the Constitution. They are not a left or right organization. Most of the NRA support goes to the GOP because the GOP supports the 2nd Amendment, not the other way around.

Read more: http://www.ammoland.com/2016/01/the-demographics-of-the-nra/#ixzz4IO5dZWET
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Follow us: @Ammoland on Twitter | Ammoland on Facebook

[Oh Shoot]

21 hours ago, The Legion said:

....

The all-Democratic team of bill sponsors proudly christened the new legislation with its apocalyptic moniker, but Bahrami vowed that voters will have the final word. He and other Second Amendment stalwarts have organized 1,600 volunteers across the Golden State with the goal of garnering 365,880 signatures -- although ideally they would like to get far more than that to ensure validity before submitting -- for each of seven referendum petitions to get on the Nov. 8 ballot.

 ....

Assuming they do indeed get all this stuff on ballot as referendums, I'd be surprised if the vote overturns anything.

- OS

[Scorpion Equalizer]

21 hours ago, mikegideon said:

I love liberals

Yep, they really are full of crap.

Edited August 26, 2016 by Scorpion Equalizer

[300winmag]

Most of the population in that state is highly urbanized and unfortunately anti gun.  I have a feeling the only thing to keep some of those crazy laws from happening would be court cases.  You have no hope there with the legislature or the voting population when they can do ballot initiatives.  If you could get a carry license, the carry restrictions used to be pretty good.  You could carry just about anywhere legally, including school property.  That got messed up starting this year by the bed wetters in the legislature making school carry pretty much illegal without permission of the school.  I bet some more carry restrictions will be added to those licenses in the future similar to how it used to be a pain to carry here legally at the grocery stores, restaurants, and parks.  

[Sunfish]

They don't call it the left coast for nothing.

[SquidBilly]

There are quite a few gun owners out here. Mostly inland valley, Northern state, in the Sierra and a few places down south. Basically the conservative places. 

Every gun store has the petitions and guys running the campaign on Calguns are saying the estimates are close to a million signatures. 

But Prop 63 is already on the ballot and will negate anything done anyways. Brown basically doubled down and signed these laws in case 63 didn't pass.

Also, everyone already expects Newsom to be governor next so these proposals will eventually be law regardless. Fighting now is just buying time. 

The wife and I have already decided to leave by next summer.Hence why I'm here. I'd rather not give my taxes to the communists anymore. They can have this state. It's going down hill fast out here.