KEEPING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION 

ON THE FRONT BURNER

WHAT YOU CAN DO

STORE guns safely:  unloaded and locked, with the ammunition locked separately.  Hiding guns from kids is not enough and telling them not to touch guns is not enough.  A three year old child has the strength to pull a trigger. (1)  It is the gun owner’s responsibility to ensure that the gun does not pose a hazard to others, and, in California, an adult is criminally liable if a child gains access to his/her gun. (2)

REMOVE unwanted guns from your home to protect against misuse and theft.  Most gun suicides are committed at home using the family gun. (3)   Contact your local Police Department for the proper procedure to turn in unwanted guns.

ASK if there are guns at the homes where the children in your care visit.  If there are, then make sure they are safely stored.  Visit askingsaveskids.org for more information.  About 40% of homes with children have guns, and many are loaded and unlocked. (4)

LEARN the facts about guns and gun violence.  The US leads the world in civilian gun ownership, (5) but all those guns don’t make us safer.  Guns injure or kill 100,000 people in the US every year, (6) and the gun death rate in the US is higher than all other industrialized nations. (7)

SHARE information about guns and gun violence with your family, friends, colleagues, and social networks.  Provide information and resources to those who are in a position to influence others such as health care providers, mental health providers, faith groups, educators, librarians, Democratic clubs and civic groups.  Invite one of our Chapter speakers to your next meeting to give a free presentation.

TELL your elected officials that you support legislation to strengthen state and federal gun laws.  Contact them by telephone, letter or email or by a personal visit. Contact them repeatedly at both their district and state/federal offices to voice your position. Attend Town Hall meetings. Keep the issue and your expectations before your elected officials.
Be sure to thank them when they support common sense gun laws because they will be receiving many negative comments from pro-gun activists.

SUPPORT gun violence prevention advocacy groups like OC Brady Campaign Chapter with your time and/or money.  “LIKE” us on our CHAPTER FACEBOOK PAGE, “FOLLOW” OUR TWEETS, SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHAPTER WEBSITE (BLOG),   CALL or EMAIL us to be placed on OC Brady Chapter’s E-ALERT and E-NEWS list.  REVIEW OUR CALIFORNIA WEBSITE.  SEE BELOW FOR ALL OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION.

WRITE letters to the editor of your local paper.  (letters@ocregister.com; letters@latimes.com)

IN ELECTION YEARS volunteer in the campaign for a candidate of your choice.

CELEBRATE and build on incremental successes.  Gun violence prevention activists just like you got involved and made a difference!  California has the strongest gun laws in the nation.  Between 1990 and 2010, California reduced its firearm mortality rate by 52 % - 24 percentage points better than in the rest of the nation. (8)

ACTIVISM COMES IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES.  

FIND WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU AND COMMIT TO DOING SOMETHING TODAY!

___________________________________________________________

(1)  Naureckas SM et al. Children’s and women’s ability to fire handguns. Adolesc Med 1995                                    Dec;149(12): 1318-22
(2)  http://smartgunlaws.org/child-access-prevention-in-california/
(3)  http//www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-matter/files/2012/09/MeansMatter_Brochure.pdf
(4)  askingsaveskids.com
(5)  Small Arms Survey Research Notes No. 9. Estimating Civilian Owned Firearms. Sept 2011
(6)  http://smartgunlaws.org/category/gun-studies-statistics/gun-violence-statistics/
(7)  Bangalore S and Messerli F. Gun ownership and firearm-related deaths. Am J of Med (2013) 126;873-876.  http//dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.04.012
(8)  Data source: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, WONDER online database.


************************************************************
Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Orange County Chapter:
25255 Cabot Road, Suite 115, Laguna Hills, California  92653  (949) 206-9676
Email: orangecountybradychapter@gmail.com  
Twitter: www.twitter.com/oc_brady
Chapter Website: http://orangecountybradycampaignchapter.blogspot.com      
CA Website: www.bradycampaign.org/ca

A Victory that Will Save Lives.

THE BRADY CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 4, 2014
Contact: Jennifer Fuson
202-370-8128
jfuson@bradymail.org

Law will save lives. Shows strong national momentum after Sandy Hook.

Washington, D.C. – In the only place where guns were directly on the ballot this election day, Washington state voters overwhelmingly passed Initiative 594 to expand background checks to all gun sales, including online and at gun shows. A competing initiative (Initiative 591) designed to block the implementation of background checks and sponsored by the gun lobby is trailing significantly. Washington now becomes the seventh state to require background checks on all gun sales, the fifth state since the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012 (Washington, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, and New York).

“The bottom line is this law will save lives. Washingtonians should sleep better tonight knowing that their state will be a safer place thanks to expanded Brady background checks,” said Brady Campaign President Dan Gross.

The organization issued a report, Washington State Officers Attacked, Ambushed & Killed by Armed Criminals, which showed that there are 39 percent fewer law enforcement officers killed by firearms in states with expanded background checks. In addition, states that have expanded background checks show 38 percent fewer women killed by intimate partners. Washington was the only state in the country where background checks were voted on directly by citizens this election day. The last time voters cast ballots directly on background checks was in 2000, when Colorado and Oregon citizens voted to overwhelmingly pass laws that extended background checks. Colorado’s initiative passed 70 percent to 30 percent, and Oregon’s passed 62 percent to 38 percent.

Brady President Dan Gross went on to say, “Today’s great success in Washington confirms what we already knew, that the American public, in every state of this nation, overwhelmingly supports expanding background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and other dangerous people. Now we plan to keep building on this exciting momentum, taking this issue directly to voters in more states and showing the gun lobby ‘lap dogs’ in statehouses and Congress exactly where the American people stand.” Initiative 594 was the top electoral priority for the Brady Campaign and its Washington Chapters. The Brady Campaign was pleased to partner with the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, by placing thousands of calls to turn out voters and placing organizers on the ground to help achieve this monumental victory.

“Make no mistake, this is a huge victory for the gun violence prevention movement and for every American who wants to live in a safer nation. It is the first direct vote in years to show exactly where the American people really stand on the gun violence issue. Most importantly, it is an inspiring indication of things to come, as we work to ‘finish the job’ and expand lifesaving Brady background checks to all gun sales nationwide,” said Gross.

# # #

VICTORY!

GOVERNOR BROWN SIGNED AB 1014 INTO LAW

AB 1014 (Skinner) advances the Brady Campaign’s core mission of reducing firearm injury and death by keeping firearms out of dangerous hands. The law establishes a process for law enforcement or immediate family members to obtain a Gun Violence Restraining Order from a court in order to temporarily limit an individual’s access to firearms when there are warning signs or indications that the person is at risk for violence. The court order would prohibit the purchase or possession of firearms while the order is in effect. AB 1014 provides a way to prevent homicide, suicide and injury by removing firearms before a tragedy occurs.

There are many people who may be in a state of dangerousness but do not have a firearm prohibition. Heightened anger, despondence, substance abuse, or a mental or emotional crises combined with access to firearms can be a deadly combination. Family members or law enforcement often know when a person is at severe risk of harming him or herself or others and AB 1014 gives them a legal means to petition the court for a temporary firearm prohibition. The mass shooters in Tucson, Aurora, and Isla Vista did not have a criminal or mental health prohibition from owning a firearm; family members and others were concerned, but without a law like AB 1014, they had no legal tool to enable disarming the men before the shootings.

The consistent presence of the California Brady Campaign in the state capitol, along with their well-established relationships and reputation for respect, hard work, and policy knowledge made the California Brady Campaign instrumental in the passage of AB 1014. Their lead-off testimony was critical for getting AB 1014 out of the first policy committee. Key legislators were lobbied throughout the summer. The 25 California Brady Chapters garnered endorsements from a broad and diverse group of supporters and mobilized advocates in their own communities to contact legislators and Governor Brown, helping to secure the ultimate passage and signing of the bill.

                 PLEASE CALL THE GOVERNOR AT 916-445-2841 

                                   TO ASK HIM TO SIGN AB 1014.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

August 30, 2014
Jennifer Fuson
202-370-8128
jfuson@bradymail.org 

Shikha Hamilton
CA Campaign Manager
650-863-3360
shamilton@bradymail.org 

California Legislature Passes Gun Violence Restraining Order, Gov. Brown Signature Needed  

Sacramento, Calif. – California’s state legislature passed the “Gun Violence Restraining Order (AB 1014),” legislation that would allow family members or law enforcement to petition a court to remove firearms from someone temporarily if they believe there is a risk of injury or death. The bill now goes to the desk of Governor Brown for his signature. This legislation has been a priority for the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign and is supported by a large and diverse list of supporters including the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, the California State Sheriffs Association, Disability Rights California, the City of Los Angeles, Attorney General Kamala Harris and the California Psychiatric Association. A similar law is in place in Connecticut and Indiana.

The legislation was introduced in the wake of the attention after the Isla Visa shooting in May. Before the Isla Vista shooting, the parents of the shooter contacted law enforcement because they felt their son posed a serious risk to himself. Law enforcement could not act because he didn't meet the criteria for any further intervention. Current state law allows police intervention if a subject meets the criteria for an involuntary civil commitment to mental health treatment.

A “Gun Violence Restraining Order” would allow families in similar situations to seek a court order to temporarily restrict a person’s access to guns. The issue would later go to a noticed hearing where future access to firearms would be ruled on.

“While we hope this restraining order would rarely be necessary, when a family member shows certain warning signs of a potential for violence, this legislation will prevent shootings before they happen and save lives,” said Nick and Amanda Wilcox, legislative co-chairs of the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “The passage of the ‘Gun Violence Restraining Order’ legislation gives families and law enforcement a tool to reduce the risk of mass shootings and gun violence both in the home and on our streets. With overwhelming support in both chambers, Governor Brown needs to sign the bill into law now.” 

# # #

Parent of Isla Vista shooting victim advocates for gun restraining orders

AB 1014 - GUN VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER PASSED THE SENATE

You did it! Thanks to your calls and your tireless support, the California State Senate recently passed AB 1014. This life-saving legislation will help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and prevent shootings BEFORE THEY HAPPEN in California.

But our work isn’t done yet. AB 1014 still needs to pass the California Assembly Public Safety Committee before it goes to the Assembly floor for a full vote. We need your help to make it happen!

Email or Call CA Assembly Public Safety Chair Tom Ammiano at 916-319-2017  and urge HIM to pass AB 1014 to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people BEFORE they hurt

others.

As you know, AB 1014 is legislation that will SAVE LIVES. Women, children and entire families in California will be better protected from gun violence in their homes.

The legislation establishes a process to limit firearm access to people who have been identified as a danger to themselves or others.

Let’s take AB 1014 to the finish line and protect our families from the danger of gun violence!

Email or Call the California Assembly Public Safety Committee Chair and urge them to support this important, life-saving bill today.

With appreciation,

Dallas M. Stout, Psy.D.
President, California Brady Campaign Chapters

AB 1014 Yes! This will SAVE lives!

CA Chapters of the Brady Campaign Support Effort Aimed at Preventing Future Gun Violence.  AB 1014 is expected for an Assembly Floor Vote Monday, August 25th.  

Call you State Senators Now.  (See Elected Contacts in this blog)  

Sacramento, CA 

The California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence announced their support for a legislative concept aimed at preventing shootings like this weekend’s tragic Isla Vista rampage near the University of California at Santa Barbara that claimed the lives of six students. Legislation was introduced today by California State Assembly Members Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara).

The proposed legislation would create a Gun Violence Restraining Order, establishing a system that allows concerned family members, intimate partners or friends to notify law enforcement of someone who is demonstrating a propensity to commit violence toward themselves or others.

“A Gun Violence Restraining Order would help families in crisis,” said Amanda Wilcox, Legislative Chair of the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign. “It would empower those in close contact with an individual who has an elevated risk of violence with the ability to prevent those individuals from obtaining guns, potentially saving many lives.”

Under current law, therapists can notify law enforcement when their client is at risk of committing a violent act allowing authorities to investigate the individual. Law enforcement can prevent the person from buying or owning firearms. The proposed legislation would grant this authority to concerned family members, friends and intimate partners, creating a mechanism to intervene and potentially prohibit the purchase of firearms and remove the firearms already in possession. Law enforcement would have the ability to investigate threats and ask a judge to grant an order prohibiting firearms purchase or possession.

“We lost our daughter, Laura, 13 years ago. We have worked on and supported the mechanisms in this legislation for many years. A Gun Violence Restraining Order could have saved Laura's life, and quite possibly, the Isla Vista victims. We support this legislative concept whole-heartedly and thank Assembly Members Skinner and Williams for taking swift action to save lives,” added Wilcox.

We are heartbroken over the passing of James Brady.

The members of Orange County Brady Campaign Chapter offer our deepest condolences to his wife Sarah and the rest of his family as we mourn the loss of a dear friend and a true American hero. He will be missed dearly by everyone at our organization, which proudly bears his name, and by a nation that has been made better by his life.

Because of Jim Brady more than 2 million gun sales to dangerous people have been blocked, lives have been saved.

Jim and his wife Sarah worked tirelessly to pass the legislation that bears his name, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.

More than 2 million gun sales to criminals, domestic abusers and other dangerous people have been blocked because of Jim and Sarah’s work.

There are few Americans in history who are as directly responsible for saving as many lives as Jim.
Jim’s wit and optimism were an inspiration to millions

Jim inspired millions with his strength, courage, perseverance, and legendary sense of humor. He maintained his wit and optimism throughout his entire life, always flashing his thumbs up trademark. He demonstrated to the country that it is possible to turn a terrible tragedy into real change.

We will continue Jim’s legacy and encourage people to share their memories

Jim will always remain one of our greatest inspirations as this organization continues to lead the fight for a safer America.

Please join us in remembering Jim by sharing your remembrance thoughts and stories at www.bradycampaign.org/remembering-jim

Brady Center: Doctors to Appeal Docs v. Glocks Decision

Brady Center: Doctors to Appeal Docs v. Glocks Decision


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 28, 2014 Jennifer Fuson 202-370-8128 jfuson@bradymail.org                                                        

Washington, D.C. – Florida doctors represented by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Ropes & Gray law firm will appeal a 2-1 decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that ruled forbidding doctors from talking to their patients about guns was constitutional. The doctors will seek an en banc review from the full 11th Circuit.

Wollschlaeger v. Scott, commonly known as Docs v. Glocks, is a challenge to a 2011 Florida law that restricts doctors from advising patients about the risks of guns. Organizations representing 11,000 state health providers, including the Florida chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, had challenged the law as violating doctors’ and patients’ First Amendment right to free speech. Lawyers with Ropes & Gray, the Brady Center and Astigarraga Davis brought the lawsuit and are representing the doctors.

“If the appellate court’s decision is allowed to stand, the corporate gun lobby and its political cronies will be given license to silence the medical community from speaking the truth to patients about the real risks of guns in the home, and any powerful industry will be able to dictate whether families get complete, honest information about the dangers posed by its products,” said Jonathan Lowy, Director, Legal Action Project, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

“Florida’s gag rule will place our children at risk. The First Amendment does not allow the gun lobby to decide what doctors can tell patients. We are seeking review of this unjust decision by the entire court, and we hope and fully expect that it will be reversed,” added Lowy.

In a lengthy dissent, U.S. Circuit Judge Charles Wilson agreed that the law was an infringement on the First Amendment rights of doctors. “The act prohibits or significantly chills doctors from expressing their views and providing information to patients about one topic, and one topic only, firearms. Regardless of whether we agreed with the message conveyed by doctors to patients about firearms, I think it is perfectly clear that doctors have a First Amendment right to convey that message,” reads Wilson’s dissent.

Gun Deaths Outpace Motor Vehicle Deaths in 14 States and DC in 2011

Recent Press Release from the Violence Policy Center.  You may want to visit their website here for other interesting gun violence violence prevention reports.


For Release:
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Contacts:
Avery Palmer Violence Policy Center (202) 822-8200 x104
Sue Hornik States United to Prevent Gun Violence (631) 275-8986

Gun Deaths Outpace Motor Vehicle Deaths in 14 States and the District of Columbia in 2011

To reduce gun death and injury, firearms should be subject to federal health and safety standards just like all other consumer products

Washington, DC — Gun deaths outpaced motor vehicle deaths in 14 states and the District of Columbia in 2011, the most recent year for which comprehensive nationwide data is available, a new analysis from the Violence Policy Center (VPC) finds.

In 2011, there were more gun deaths than motor vehicle deaths in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington State, as well as the District of Columbia (see below for the mortality figures for each jurisdiction). Data is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control and is the most recent available to compare death rates from both products.

This is the third year the VPC has issued its annual report comparing gun deaths to motor vehicle deaths by state. Gun deaths include gun suicides, homicides, and fatal unintentional shootings; motor vehicle deaths include both occupants and pedestrians.

More than 90 percent of American households own a car while little more than a third of American households have a gun. Americans’ exposure to motor vehicles vastly outweighs their exposure to firearms. Yet in 2011, there were 32,351 gun deaths and 35,543 motor vehicle deaths nationwide. In 1999, there were 28,874 gun deaths and 42,624 motor vehicle deaths nationwide.

Firearms are the only consumer product in America not regulated by the federal government for health and safety. Meanwhile, motor vehicle deaths are on a steady decline, thanks to decades of public health-based injury prevention strategies and proven consumer product safety regulation standards designed to reduce death and injury.

“Gun violence is a public health crisis with an unacceptable toll on human life,” states VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand. “To reduce gun death and injury, firearms must be regulated for health and safety just as we regulate motor vehicles and all other consumer products.”

“We didn’t put up with a free-for-all on our highways, and it’s time to end the gun violence free-for-all in our schools and neighborhoods,” states Sue Hornik, executive director of States United to Prevent Gun Violence.

The report includes specific recommendations on how the federal government should regulate firearms to reduce gun death and injury. To read the full report, please visit http://www.vpc.org/studies/gunsvscars14.pdf.

Here are the figures for each of the 14 states and the District of Columbia: Alaska: 126 gun deaths, 87 motor vehicle deaths

Arizona: 964 gun deaths, 872 motor vehicle deaths
Colorado: 573 gun deaths, 512 motor vehicle deaths
District of Columbia: 86 gun deaths, 39 motor vehicle deaths
Illinois: 1,114 gun deaths, 1,080 motor vehicle deaths
Louisiana: 865 gun deaths, 750 motor vehicle deaths
Maryland: 542 gun deaths, 517 motor vehicle deaths
Michigan: 1,156 gun deaths, 1,016 motor vehicle deaths
Nevada: 376 gun deaths, 281 motor vehicle deaths
Ohio: 1,227 gun deaths, 1,178 motor vehicle deaths
Oregon: 420 gun deaths, 371 motor vehicle deaths
Utah: 308 gun deaths, 277 motor vehicle deaths
Vermont: 78 gun deaths, 62 motor vehicle deaths
Virginia: 868 gun deaths, 816 motor vehicle deaths
Washington: 624 gun deaths, 554 motor vehicle deaths




About the Violence Policy Center:  The Violence Policy Center is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury. Follow the VPC on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

States United to Prevent Gun Violence (www.CeasefireUSA.org) is a national non-profit organization working to support state-based gun violence prevention groups and help build new state-led organizations. States United believes that all Americans deserve to live in a country free from the fear, threat, and devastation caused by gun violence.



ACTION ALERT! CALL STATE SENATOR TO SUPPORT AB 1964. SENATE FLOOR VOTE IS EXPECTED MONDAY, JUNE 30TH. CALL NOW AND KEEP THE CALLS COMING INTO OFFICES OVER THE WEEKEND.

AB 1964 NOW EXPECTED TO COME FOR A SENATE FLOOR VOTE THIS MONDAY!

Dear OC Brady Chapter Team, An urgent message just received from our CA Brady Campaign Chapters President: What kind of people would fight to keep safety features OFF of guns? Unscrupulous gun dealers, that’s who! Right now in our state, unscrupulous gun dealers are exploiting a dangerous loophole in California law by ignoring testing requirements and selling handguns WITHOUT SAFETY FEATURES! More than 18,000 children and teens are shot every year in America with guns. We must protect our children at all costs. Support us as we fight to close this dangerous loophole in California’s Unsafe Handgun Act… Call your California State Senator and demand that they pass AB 1964 to prevent gun dealers from selling handguns without safety features. Some gun dealers only care about making money. We’ve got to stop them from making it easier for children to unintentionally kill or injure themselves or others. Tell your State Senator that you stand for protecting our children! Call your State Senator to help save children’s lives in California today. With appreciation, Dallas M. Stout, Psy.D. President, California Brady Campaign Chapters To find your State Senator  via your address, please click here:  http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ or check on our OC Chapter website, please click here:  http://orangecountybradycampaignchapter.blogspot.com/p/gov-contacts.html AB  1964 (Dickinson) Brady Campaign Priority Bill to Preserve Our CA Unsafe Gun Act CALLS NEEDED NOW California law requires that all semiautomatic handgun models sold in the state pass a series of safety tests and possess certain features in order to be placed on the roster of handguns approved for sale. Pistols that have been either temporarily, or permanently, altered to fire a single shot before reloading are exempt. Unscrupulous dealers are altering semi-automatic pistols to "single shot" weapons for the purpose of the sale and then immediately altering them back to the semi-automatic condition, thus circumventing the law. This bill would prohibit that practice. OUR MISSION The Orange County Chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities. The California Chapters of the Brady Campaign educate and mobilize our communities to advocate for sensible responsible gun laws, regulations, and public polices at the local, state, and national levels.

This Father Says it Well

Dear Friends,

Our hearts go out to the families and friends who lost loved ones in the mass shootings in Santa Barbara last night.  As a society, we are all diminished by this terrible act of violence.

We are eager to learn more about these shootings to learn how we may best help prevent them in the future.  Our commitment to the prevention of gun deaths and injuries is made ever more stronger by these senseless and needless tragedies.  We know you share this belief and commitment with us in this journey, too.  We are grateful for your support.

We found this powerful video of Richard Martinez whose twenty year old son Christopher Martinez was killed last night and student at UCSB.  His words resonate with us and we encourage you to view it and share it with as many as you can.... including those who need to be educated on the rights of victims to live....

Please click HERE

Thank you,

Charlie Blek
Chapter President

Wait Time for Permits to Carry Loaded Guns in OC Reduced; but at What Cost? OC Resgister 5/16/2014

We certainly agree and applaud San Diego Sheriff Gore who wrote to the 9th Circuit on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. (Please see Letter from Appellee William Gore on this 9th Circuit Website.)  

As you can see in his letter, he is not changing his policy until there is a final determination of the pending court process.  

His position is consistent with what we have said all along, Sheriff Hutchens should adopt the same responsible policy as Sheriff Gore and not issue CCW permits based on a case where the mandate has been stayed.  Her position is at odds with the posture of the case and has the potential for government waste as CCW permits issued since the policy change will need to be re-reviewed. 

We remain concerned and alarmed by the change in her former policy of "good cause" as this case is likely to come before the entire 9th Circuit Court.  We are confident that the full 9th Circuit Court will reverse the 2 to 1 Panel decision.  

The California Police Chiefs Association and the California Attorney General are in support of the current California "good cause"  requirement and we can only speculate as to why Sheriff Hutchens is in such a hurry to speed the process in our county to issue such permits, including the hiring of additional staff to accommodate the process.  We believe law enforcement dollars could be better spent.

In the interest of public safety, at the very least, she should pause as the San Diego Sheriff and sheriffs across our State have done in keeping current policy until final determination by the court! 

OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens Contact Info:
714-647-7000-Dispatch and Ask for Administration
FAX Letters to:  714-953-3092
Mail Letters to:  550 North Flower Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703

KEEP CURRENT WITH THE CCW ISSUE HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY.  SUBSCRIBE NOW TO THIS BLOG TO GET NOTIFICATION OF WHAT'S NEXT!  

WE POST ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND TWEET FOR FAST BREAKING NEWS 
PLEASE JOIN US!

The Supreme Court Declines to Review! Good News!

We hope OC Sheriff Hutchens is paying attention to the Supreme Court decision today... and will reverse her decision to go forward and accept permits to carry hidden and loaded guns in public without "good cause."   Protecting the safety of Orange County citizens and following the current law in California should be her first priorities.  The 9th Circuit has issued a stay and now see below for the US Supreme Court decision to decline hearing the Drake case:   OC CHAPTER, BRADY CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE.

Brady Center Statement on Supreme Court’s Refusal to Hear Drake v. Jerejian

The following is a statement from Jonathan Lowy, director of the Legal Action Project at the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence:

“In the six years since D.C. v. Heller, the corporate gun lobby has launched a nationwide legal assault in which they have tried—and failed—to deprive Americans of the gun laws they want and need to make their families and communities safe from gun violence, and keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Courts across the country have overwhelmingly refused to expand the Second Amendment into a broad right for virtually anyone to carry any gun anywhere. Today’s refusal to hear this case further reaffirms the Supreme Court’s satisfaction with lower courts upholding all gun laws that have been challenged, so long as they allow responsible citizens to keep a gun in the home.”

Background information: The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected a request to hear Drake v. Jerejian, which challenges New Jersey’s system for issuing permits to carry concealed handguns in public. The case sought to clarify whether New Jersey’s requirement that permit applicants demonstrate a justifiable need to carry a firearm is compatible with the Second Amendment. Today’s decision by the Court leaves in place the ruling made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which held in July 2013 that New Jersey’s system is constitutional. The Supreme Court has previously declined to hear similar challenges to the concealed carry laws of New York and Maryland.

VICTORY! PRIORITY BILL PASSED ASSEMBLY

VICTORY! Thanks to all of your work here in Orange County and our other 25 Brady Chapters across the state.The Assembly voted 48 to 25 to pass one of our priority bills - AB 1964.  AB 1964 (Dickinson) California law requires that all semiautomatic handguns models sold in the state pass a series of safety tests and possess certain features to be placed on the roster of handguns approved for sale. Pistols that have been either temporarily, or permanently, altered to fire a single shot before reloading are exempt. Unscrupulous dealers are altering semi-automatic pistols to "single shot" weapons for the purpose of the sale and then immediately altering them back to the semi-automatic condition, thus circumventing the law. This bill would prohibit that practice. This is a priority bill for the Brady Campaign.  This is how our OC Assembly Members voted: AYES:  Sharon Quirk-Silva and Tom Daly NOES:  Travis Allen and Curt Wagner NOT VOTING:  Diane Harkey and Allan Mansoor  (This is essentially a "no vote" for practical purposes.) We now have contact information (telephone, fax, email and address) for all Assembly Members on our Website if you would like to express your thoughts to them regarding their votes! Not sure who represents you in the Assembly?  At the above link for Assembly Members you will find a link to type your address and find out.

HERE WE GO! CALLS FOR AB 1964 NEEDED NOW

This is the time of year where we will be notifying you of important gun bills that are about to come up for a FLOOR VOTE.  This is an important opportunity for you to have an impact in getting better laws for California.  Your past help has led us to the best state gun laws in the nation.  Let's keep it going with another call now for AB 1964. To find out more information about all our bills that CA Brady Chapters are supporting or opposing, please check out our website HERE.  Next up will likely be AB 1964. To find your Assembly Member via your address, please click here:  http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ If you have any questions about the bills and/or want speakers and/or materials, please email us! Thank you for being a part of the solution to end gun violence. Charlie Blek, Chapter President

AB  1964 (Dickinson) Brady Campaign Priority Bill  to Preserve Our CA Unsafe Gun Act CALLS NEEDED NOW California law requires that all semiautomatic handgun models sold in the state pass a series of safety tests and possess certain features in order to be placed on the roster of handguns approved for sale. Pistols that have been either temporarily, or permanently, altered to fire a single shot before reloading are exempt. Unscrupulous dealers are altering semi-automatic pistols to "single shot" weapons for the purpose of the sale and then immediately altering them back to the semi-automatic condition, thus circumventing the law. This bill would prohibit that practice.