JUNE 1, 2009: As If Anti Gun Legislation Weren’t Enough…Now They Want The Bullets

A.B. 962 passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee last week with a vote of 12 to 5.   The bill was written by Assemblyman Kevin DeLeon (D-LA) and co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach).  

A.B. 962 would require all handgun ammunition vendors be licensed by the Department of Justice and each sale be recorded.  For each handgun ammunition sale, the vendor is required to obtain the purchaser’s personal information and a thumbprint.  The sale information would then be logged and accessible to the government and law enforcement.  

A.B 962 would require all handgun ammunition be purchased only in a “face to face” transaction.  This would outlaw Internet and mail order handgun ammunition purchases. Since the end of last summer, it’s become virtually impossible to buy bullets on demand from any source.  Local gun stores have had empty shelves for months.  Mail order and Internet bullet purchases are back ordered and generally have a 3-month waiting list to fill the orders.  Purchasing ammo on the Internet or by mail order is usually far less expensive than buying it at the range or other retail store, which make a difference if you target practice regularly.  

A.B. 962 would also make it a crime to “sell or transfer” more than 50 rounds, of handgun ammunition in any month unless they are sold or transferred by a licensed vendor.  50 rounds of ammunition is approximately 1 box of bullets and 10 minutes of range practice.  A.B. 962 would make it illegal share your handgun ammo with your family or friends.    

Assemblyman DeLeon would like you to believe this bill is about fighting gang violence.  How many gang bangers do you think purchase their ammo online, from a mail order catalog or from their local gun store?  Criminals don’t obtain their firearms legally, why would anyone think they would obtain their bullets legally.  This bill will give the government the opportunity and accessibility to track the ammunition purchases of law abiding California citizens. 

Anti-gun radicals have backed off restrictive firearm legislation.  They know it’s much easier to go after ammunition then guns themselves.  

Passage of this bill only hurts law-abiding citizens, not criminals.  Please call and email your Representative and ask them to vote NO on A.B. 962. You can locate contact info on the California State Assembly web site.