Crimewise Op-Ed

Introduction

As a Security Management Consultant who also provides Expert Witness Services, I know that writing a Blog can be a perilous undertaking.  Anyone who does expert witness work  quickly - and sometimes painfully - learns that anything they write for publication "can and will be used against them in a court of law."  Impeaching opposing Experts with their own words is a tactic enthusiastically pursued by good attorneys.  Fortunately there is an easy way to fend off impeachment.  When an Expert's writings, teachings, and testimony are accurate, truthful, and consistent it is difficult to discredit them.

So, with all that said, Crimewise Op-Ed is born.  I will strive to remain as accurate, truthful, and consistent as humanly possible while addressing issues that interest me and, I hope, you.  I am a security professional, so most of what is discussed here will be security or crime related.  However, I do have varied interests. So, from time to time my writings may stray into other realms. I have not set a publishing schedule.  I'll write when the mood strikes.

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California: Guns and Distrust

"We can save lives by getting guns out of the hands of people who should not have them.”  --Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg

Senator Steinberg’s statement is correct, but his methods are very wrong.

Senator Steinberg and the Super Majority Democrat Legislature believe that millions of peaceful law-abiding Californians who responsibly and safely own guns and ammunition of every size and type just can’t be trusted.

The Democrat Legislature’s proposed draconian firearm ban and confiscation scheme will do little to address real crime but would turn millions of law-abiding Californians into felons for mere possession of a rifle that they may have safely owned for many years.  Senator Steinberg thinks they can’t be trusted with it anymore.

Californians would become felony repeat offenders for possessing ammunition magazines that they may have safely owned for many years.  Senator Steinberg thinks they can’t be trusted with them anymore. 

Californians would become third strike felons for possessing ammunition that is proven to be reliable and effective for self-defense.  Senator Steinberg thinks they can’t be trusted with it anymore. 

In order to purchase the politically correct ammunition Senator Steinberg will allow – until he can figure out a way to ban that too - Californians will have to pay a special tax and submit to a background check.  Not only does Senator Steinberg think they can’t be trusted, he’s found another way to pick their pockets. 

As a final insult, for receiving the blessing of Senator Steinberg and the Democrat Legislators to own any firearm at all, Californians will have to register with the State…like sex offenders!

Senator Steinberg and the Democrat Legislators apparently distrust all Californians.  Consequently, the civil liberties and property rights of every current and future gun owner are under vicious and unrelenting attack.

Meanwhile, there are tens of thousands of felons with illegal firearms throughout the State.  If Senator Steinberg was truly concerned about “getting guns out of the hands of people who should not have them,” California would be vigorously enforcing existing laws to get the illegal guns out of their hands.  The emphasis should be controlling criminals; not disarming their potential victims. The Democrat Legislature would rather create new laws to turn millions of responsible gun owners who will never commit a crime into instant felons. 

The sad truth is this totalitarian attack on the rights and freedoms of Californians by Senator Steinberg and the Democrat Legislators isn’t really about saving lives.  It isn’t about getting guns out of the hands of criminals.  And, it certainly isn’t about common sense.  It is about discrimination, control, hypocrisy, and ideology. 

It is about discrimination because Senator Steinberg’s gun control scheme bans safe inexpensive firearms and imposes punitive taxes and fees on virtually every aspect of firearm ownership.  It is intentionally calculated to make legal ownership of a firearm for self-defense prohibitively expensive.  This leaves millions of law-abiding low income (often minority) Californians – the segment of our population most vulnerable to crime victimization and least likely to have adequate police protection – defenseless against well-armed criminals who have no regard for- and undoubtedly appreciate - Senator Steinberg’s misguided law. 

It is about control because Senator Steinberg and Democrat Legislators will use the law to promote their political agenda by committing the awesome power of the State to demonize and disarm peaceful law-abiding Californians.

It is about hypocrisy because while most Californians are denied suitable firearms to defend their families and homes, Sacramento’s Political Elite get special treatment.  They enjoy the privilege of having police and security personnel armed with advanced, military grade weapons, high capacity magazines, and hollow point ammunition serve as their personal bodyguards…at taxpayer expense.

But mostly, it is about an ideology that fervently believes the State and the Political Elite who run it have a right and a duty to dictate every aspect of California life.  To stay in power, Senator Steinberg and the Democrat Legislators need dependent and compliant Californians.  They view individuals who think for themselves, provide for themselves, and defend themselves with disdain, distrust, and fear. 

Today, Sacramento’s target is the rights and freedoms of gun owners.  There is no telling who will be tomorrow’s target.  It could be you. 

It is Senator Steinberg and his Super Majority who can’t be trusted.