What these bills will mean if turned into law:

"This will give California one of the strongest handgun safety licenses in the country," Luis Tolley, Western Director of the gun ban lobby formally known as HCI is quoted as saying.

As the Legislature wrapped up the first half of the 2001/02 session, two measures, AB 35 (Shelley) and SB 52 (Scott), passed out of both Houses with a bare majority and are now on Governor Davis' desk. Despite the fact that both bills have been altered significantly, and any mention of licensing has been removed to include "certificate," it is vital that hunters, gun-owners, friends and family contact Governor Davis (D) and ask him to veto these dangerous proposals.

Key provisions in AB 35 and SB 52 that remain of grave concern are the removal of the exemptions for licensed hunters and retired veterans from the requirement to obtain the Handgun Safety Certificate, formerly called the Basic Firearms Safety Certificate (BFSC). Those individuals who have served our country courageously, as well as those who have undergone hunter safety courses, will be required to take a written test, demonstrate safe handling procedures, and give a thumbprint before receiving permission to purchase a handgun. In addition to the increased regulations, the shelf life of the certificate is only five years, in comparison to the current BFSC, which is good for life.

October 14 is the deadline for Governor Davis to either veto, sign, or allow to become law the legislation currently before him. It is vital that you contact the Governor Davis' office as soon as possible and request his veto of AB 35 and SB 52 — and ask him to stand with retired veterans, licensed hunters, and law enforcement in opposition to these bills, (Telephone numbers are listed below). Thank you!

Governor's Telephone Numbers:
Sacramento (916) 445-2841
Fresno (559) 445-5295
Los Angeles (213) 897-0322
San Diego (619) 525-4641
Riverside (909) 680-6860
San Francisco (415) 703-2218

Governor's E-mail Address:
governor@governor.ca.gov

WesternHunter.com's E-mail to the Governor:
We at WesternHunter.com don't just ask you to contact Governor Davis. We've done it too. My e-mail follows:

Dear Governor Davis:

Is your word your bond? I hope so.

It has been quoted that you would not sign any additional gun
legislation until the gun laws you have already enacted have had the
time to be tested and evaluated. These laws and bills AB 35 and SB 52
clearly take away the rights of law-abiding citizens while having a
questionable impact on criminals.

I strongly urge you to keep your word and not sign AB 35 or SB 52.

Governor Davis, I hope for America’s sake and mine, that you are in
Sacramento to protect our rights, not to take them away. Our rights were
violently attacked on September 11th in New York, we should not have to
worry about watching our backs from those representing us in Sacramento.

I, along with my thousands of readers, await this test of your
character. Please show us you are a man of your word.

Sincerely,

Jerry Springer
Publisher/Editor
WesternHunter.com
Stockton, California

AB35
Assembly members
Alquist, Aroner, Calderon, Cedillo, Chan, Chavez, Chu, Cohn, Corbett, Diaz, Dutra, Firebaugh, Frommer, Goldberg, Havice, Horton, Jackson, Keeley, Kehoe, Koretz, Liu, Longville, Lowenthal, Matthews, Migden, Nakano, Nation, Oropeza, Pavley, Salinas, Shelley, Simitian, Steinberg, Strom-Martin, Thomson, Vargas, Washington, Wayne, Wesson, Wiggins, Hertzberg
Senate members
Alarcon, Alpert, Bowen, Burton, Dunn, Figueroa, Karnette, Kuehl, McPherson, Murray, O'Connell, Ortiz, Peace, Perata, Romero, Scott, Sher, Soto, Speier, Torlakson, Vasconcellos, Vincent

SB52
Assembly members
Alquist, Aroner, Calderon, Canciamilla, Chan, Chavez, Chu, Cohn, Corbett, Diaz, Dutra, Firebaugh, Frommer, Goldberg, Havice, Horton, Jackson, Keeley, Kehoe, Koretz, Liu, Longville, Lowenthal, Matthews, Migden, Nakano, Nation, Oropeza, Pavley, Salinas, Shelley, Simitian, Steinberg, Strom-Martin, Thomson, Vargas, Washington, Wayne, Wesson, Wiggins, Hertzberg

Senate members
Alarcon, Alpert, Bowen, Burton, Chesbro, Dunn, Figueroa, Karnette, Kuehl, McPherson, Murray, O'Connell, Ortiz, Peace, Perata, Polanco, Romero, Scott, Sher, Soto, Torlakson, Vasconcellos, Vincent