According to the national blog PoliticalWire.Com, announcing “news” on a Friday is nothing more than an “attempt to avoid media scrutiny” which media insiders refer to as a “Friday news dump.” It’s such a “thing” that the popular television show The West Wing devoted an episode to the technique called “take out the trash day.” It was a “thing” back during the show’s heyday and in spite changes in how news is transmitted today, it’s still a “thing” in real-life 2019.
Understanding this bit of broadcasting know-how, why then would anyone as media-hungry as Gavin Newsom plan a news conference on a Friday? Anyone who wants top-of-the-line press coverage knows the best results come from a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday announcement – the premier days to get a story out. Given that the media is more than eager to lap up Newsom’s “gun violence” hokum, this is curious. Our governor has been on an anti-gun rant for as long as he’s been in the public eye (notice the term “public service” was not used) – he’s done a good job elbowing his way to the front of the gun-grabber line. He’s been able to bump aside such fellow leftists as State Senators Kevin De Leon (former) and Anthony Portantino.
That said, the Friday news dump is interesting. His poll numbers aren’t what he expected, so that may be why, but who knows for certain. Jerry Brown had a tendency to do the same thing. That being said, however, even if some are under the naive illusion that Newsom is waiting to sign (or veto) these bills because he’s been engaged in some deep policy thought, think again. We are under no such misconception. He’s in an eternal partnership with a a rabid legislature that is keen on destroying the 2nd Amendment. We are waiting to hear what action he will take (see list and our commentary below), but fervently believe with each signature, Newsom will have busted the door open for more legal challenges. His unquenchable drive to drown the Constitution and the Bill of Rights will not happen without a robust fight from Gun Owners of California.
AB 879 / Gipson [D]
Requires the sale of firearm “precursor parts” (individual parts that can be used to assemble a complete firearm) to be conducted by or processed through a licensed firearm “precursor part vendor.” This bill will have no conceivable impact on gun crimes; it will simply make it more difficult for law abiding gun owners to acquire the parts needed to update, customize or repair the guns they legally possess.
AB 893 / Gloria [D]
Prohibits the sale of firearms and ammunition at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego; in signing this bill the Governor is defying the court that ruled public venues cannot be selective in deciding which legal activities can be allowed to use state owned facilities. Plus, there is zero evidence that violence is escalated at gun shows.
AB 1297 / McCarty [D]
Requires the local licensing authority to increase fees on the issuance for CCW permits. This is a punitive and very specific personal jab at local sheriffs who are willing to issue CCW permits without charging a fortune or (rhetorically speaking) requiring applicants to surrender their firstborn.
AB 1669 / Bonta [D]
Doubles the fee for purchasing a firearm; funds can be used for purposes not related to background checks – the reason the fee was initially established.
SB 61 / Portantino [D]
This bill prohibits individuals from purchasing more than one gun (of any kind) per month. Without question, this bill will have the most adverse impact on California’s gun owners and will have the least impact on gun crime in California. Gun Owners has consistently supported efforts to prevent the flow of illegal firearms, but there is no data suggesting someone who purchases two guns a month – or three guns for that matter – is a danger to society or engaging in illicit activity.
SB 136 / Wiener [D]
This bill deletes the law which imposes an additional one‑year term for each prior separate prison term or county jail felony term. This is one bill that reveals just how hypocritical the Legislature is: they want to curb so-called “gun violence” yet are more than willing to reduce the sentences of felons who commit crimes with you guessed it: a gun.
SB 172 / Portantino [D]
SB 172 mandates that anyone convicted of the unsafe storage of a gun to lose their rights to possess a firearm for a period of ten years; also places unreasonable standard for senior health care facilities regarding resident firearm storage. This is a clear Constitutional violation of one’s 2nd Amendment rights.
SB 376 / Portantino [D]
This bill places unwarranted restrictions on how many firearm transfers an individual can conduct per year before being classified as a dealer. This is yet another obstacle thrown in the path of the law abiding.