September 26, 1997

CALIFORNIA

                 GOVERNOR WILSON VETOES GUN BAN 

     Rejecting the elitist contention that riches determine
rights, Governor Pete Wilson today vetoed legislation that would
have banned outright affordable self-defense handguns and could
have led to a ban on all handguns.  The Governor's veto came
after months of intense lobbying by NRA-ILA and a coalition of
other groups concerned about the rights of law-abiding
Californians, including the California Rifle & Pistol
Association, the Peace Officers Research Association, and the Law
Enforcement Alliance of America.  The measure, sponsored by State
Senator Richard Polanco (D-22), would have required that all
handguns, prior to manufacture or sale in California, undergo
safety testing by a state approved laboratory.  As no labs
currently exist to perform this testing, and no funding was
provided in the bill for the labs to be established, this
proposal had the very real potential to ban ALL handguns.  "We
congratulate the Governor for a decision that is both safe and
smart," said Tanya Metaksa, NRA-ILA Executive Director.  In his
veto message Governor Wilson said that SB 500 not only fails to
keep guns out of the hands of criminals, but that it would
deprive law-abiding, legitimate gun users the needed protection
of handguns. Tonight's veto is an unmistakable signal to
freedom's opponents that the fundamental right to self-defense
belongs to all Californians.   

                        ALSO IN SACRAMENTO

     An NRA-backed measure designed to protect established
shooting ranges from being forced to close due to nuisance
actions or noise control ordinances, SB 517 (Haynes), is still on
Governor Wilson's desk.  Measures signed into law by the Governor
include AB 491 (Keeley), which makes minor changes to
California's "criminal storage of a firearm" statute, and AB 991
(Shelley), which requires people moving into the state to
register their handguns.  Please contact Governor Wilson to not
only thank him for his veto of SB 500 but to urge his signature
on SB 517!

                       DINGMAN CASE UPDATE

     In 1993, James Dingman was convicted of a felony in Santa
Clara County for possession of an unregistered Chinese SKS rifle
with an "aftermarket" detachable magazine. The Attorney General's
office has maintained since 1989 that such a rifle/magazine
combination is not covered by the AWCA. In spite of this fact,
Mr. Dingman's conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeals. In
September 1996 the California Supreme Court decided not to review
Dingman's case.  NRA strongly encouraged the AG to take a
leadership role in this case and later that month, realizing how
serious the problem had become, Chief Deputy Attorney General
Stirling wrote Chief Justice George requesting "that the Supreme
Court, on it's own motion, order review of the Court of Appeals
decision in the above entitled case...."  In his letter Stirling
stated, "the impact of the courts' opinion cannot be over stated
because of the millions of SKS rifles and after-market magazines
currently in circulation.  Tens of thousands of California
citizens may become criminals simply by using a perfectly lawful
rifle with a lawfully purchased magazine...."  In October of last
year, the court finally agreed to review the case.   Here we are
one year later and we've just learned that the amicus brief filed
in February of 1997 by the Attorney General on behalf of James
Dingman has been withdrawn.   The brief stated that the
rifle/magazine combination Dingman was arrested for possessing
was not covered by the Assault Weapons Control Act.   The
withdrawal of the brief may be due to pressure the Attorney
General was under because a series recently run in the L.A.Times. 
We'll keep you posted as this story continues.                   

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