In case a rock is living above you

There is a new bill going around that is threatening our way of life as well as the foundation on which this country was made possible, guns (yes, guns founded this nation, every founding father had a pen in one hand and a pistol in the other) SB798 is a bill that will basically make it illegal to own anything that resembles a gun or fires a projectile (airsoft, paintball, or... even a slingshot)

WTF MATE!?

Not just from a consumer perspective, but what about the seller's stance, there are going to be a GIGATON of jobs lost because of this bill. I know this doesn't affect everyone but WHERE WILL IT END! Give a man the power to take a dollar, what's to stop him from trying for one more? This bill will shape the future of California, this state is going to suck if this bill passes. Too many of the citizens (in-state and out) agree that this is just too much BS, most of the committee know this bill will do nothing, but the bill is still under debate because of a few stingy bastards that are trying to get this passed to have a bill under their belt.

Long read from Airsoft GI, to help give you some perspective on the bill.

"THE CONSEQUENCES OF SB 798

Scenario One:

You answer a knock at the door to your house and you see two uniformed police officers there. They politely ask if they can inspect your backyard as they are combing the neighborhood for some robbery suspects that were seen running the area. As a law abiding citizen, you of course allow them access. During their inspection, one of them spies your Airsoft gun through a window, propped against your bedroom wall. It has an orange tip. The officer beckons to you, politely asks the nature of the item, and then proceeds to write you a citation for $1000 because you just unknowingly violated a city ordinance that bans Airsoft gun possession within city limits. To add insult to injury, they confiscate your gun as they leave and you have no hope of ever getting it back again…

Scenario Two:

You drive into town to buy an Airsoft gun at Airsoft Gun Supermart, whose friendly and knowledgeable sales clerks tell you the ins and outs of operating your exciting new purchase, how to maintain it, brief you on all the safety rules for you and your kids. You throw the box in the backseat and proceed to drive home, about 30 minutes away. Near your home, you are pulled over by a patrolman who notices you have a tail light out. He notices the box in your back seat and you confirm it’s just an Airsoft gun. He asks you to get out while he calls for backup. Back up arrives, they inform you that you live in a jurisdiction that bans the possession of Airsoft guns, and they have to confiscate the item and cite you a $1000 fine.

The two scenarios I presented above are EXACTLY what will happen if SB 798 comes to pass and local cities and counties are allowed to enact their own anti-airsoft ordinances. This creates a nightmare scenario for our customers and for us. It potentially criminalizes those who ALREADY own an Airsoft gun and opens us – the Airsoft industry – up to numerous lawsuits from irate customers and greedy cities and counties. California will become the worst possible state in which to operate an Airsoft company, and be an Airsoft enthusiast.

Some of you may think I am exaggerating, but I am not. San Francisco has in place an ordinance since 2004 that BANS the POSSESSION of Airsoft guns.

SEC.602. SALE OR POSSESSION OF SLING SHOTS OR TOYS PROJECTING MISSILES BY AIR OR GAS PROHIBITED.

It shall be unlawful for any person, except for a peace officer authorized under California Penal Code Section 12600, to buy, sell, offer or expose for sale, barter or exchange, have in his possession or use any sling shot.

It shall also be unlawful for any person to buy, sell, offer or expose for sale, barter or exchange, have in his possession or use any toy by which, whether used singly or in combination of units, missiles may be projected by force or compressed air, carbon dioxide, or any other chemical, gas, or other element, or combined thereof. Nothing in this section is intended to be inconsistent with Government Code Section 53071.5 or any successor statute regulating imitation firearms, BB guns or air rifles.

Note the italicized section: this law is held in check by the very State law that SB 798 will repeal! Once SB 798 passes, Los Angeles will follow San Francisco’s example and every other major city in California will likely follow suit.

TIMETABLE

SB 798 can be voted on by the Assembly at ANY TIME between now and September 5, except for July 14 to August 14 when the Legislature is in summer recess. This means this bill may come up for a vote next week…or it may come up for a vote in late August.

After the Assembly votes on it, it will go back to the Senate Public Safety Committee, and then on to the Senate for a full vote. After that, it will go to the Governor for a signature.

ACT NOW

We’ve all taken a little breather from our brief victory on June 22. Now, it is time to fight again.

You must write every State Assembly-person and Senator about your opposition to SB 798. We want/need Californians to write these letters. Out of state letters do NOT help. In fact, flooding the politicians’ inboxes with out of state letters and calls will hurt us."

I AM NOT ENTERTAINED!
-J.frosty

In Case You've Been Living Under a Rock...

There was a trial case where a mother (25 year old Casey Anthony) who allegedly murdered her two year old daughter and hid her body for at least a month. And yesterday she walked away with not guilty on all counts against her except for lying to the police. The interesting thing about our jury system is that they don't declare anyone innocent, they can only declare the defendant not guilty. The prosecution either sucked or didn't have enough conclusive material to get the verdict. I've read alot of the proof that was provided, and I am 99% sure Casey Anthony killed her daughter, stemming mostly to how she behaved after her daughter went missing (went partying, entered a "hot body" contest... etc) But the thing is, the defense claimed that her daughter accidentally drowned herself in the pool, and that the mother did irrational things to conceal her pain, due to the dysfunctional family and upbringing that she had. I'd like to call bullshit, and I'm sure the jury did too. But the jury was given direct instructions from the judge, and those instructions are that you can only give someone a "guilty" verdict if the evidence leaves no room for reasonable doubt. The problem here as I said was that the hard evidence was lacking, and the prosecution could only make a shoddy attempt at motive. So there was indeed room for "reasonable doubt".

Anyway, I believe a murderer walked away free. It's one of the downsides of our Bill of Rights. But it's still better for criminals to have these rights than to not. But I am of the opinion that it's better to let a murderer walk free than an innocent get the death penalty. These laws do their best to prevent wrongful convictions. An innocent who is sentenced to death is horrible. But for the other case, no one who is guilty can ever walk away free, they will be judged by the one who knows all. As much as I think Casey Anthony to be guilty, I don't really know for sure. All I know is that if she's innocent, that's great, the right call was made! But if she is guilty, she will have her day in court. The court with the Almighty Judge. *DEAAATTHHHH*

*disclaimer* I do not wish that guilty people be damned, but I believe God provides justice. Even if murderers convert and are saved, I believe God provides justice in purgatory and/or on Earth. Except for San Dimas (the thief on the right of the cross). Lucky dude got a get out of jail card haha.