The NRA and California Rifle & Pistol Association have secured legislative support to sponsor a bill to repeal AB962 ammunition restriction bill.

AB962 passed earlier this year and was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. The bill places restrictions on the sale of ammunition, which includes making it illegal to purchase through mail-order firms or on the internet including companies located in California. All sales must be face-to-face, a fingerprint, and filling out of documentation which is maintained on file for five years.

Gun owners in rural locations must now find a licensed ammunition dealer (also a new requirement) and travel long distances simply to purchase ammunition for the hunting season or self-defense. This includes components for reloading ammunition.

The NRA and CRPA have obtained support from Assemblyman Curt Hagman (R), representing Chino Hills. He has authored AB373 which repeals AB962 prior to it taking effect February 2011.

A petition to promote AB373 within the legislature has been drawn up. Gun dealers throughout the state where the petition forms have been located are reporting very strong and positive response. It is not uncommon for moderately sized gun stores to have as many as one hundred customers a day filling out the petition forms. Stores are reporting that gun owners have finally had their fill, and they are angry.

"I think what's happened is that gun owners aren't sitting back anymore," said Roy Whiteaker, owner of Yuba City's Gun & Ammo Outlet as reported in the Appeal-Democrat. He reported 100 gun owners in two days signed up in support of AB373.

AB962 will create a new class of criminal acts. Perfectly legal purchases of ammunition by mail order or over the internet will now become illegal. Those prohibited, such as felons, will now turn to a whole new black market of illegal ammunition sales on the streets creating crime where none previously existed. This bill, as do all gun control laws, do nothing but create more crime, requiring more law enforcement resources to check names on lists of law-abiding citizens. After all, why would a criminal incriminate themselves by purchasing ammo from a licensed ammunition dealer? They won't.

California gun owners are urged to print the document supporting AB373 using the link below, fill out the information and mail it to the NRA address noted on the form. All AB373 support documents will be forwarded to Assemblyman Hagman for presentation to the legislature in order to garner legislative support. Remember, AB962 passed by one vote, so a very strong showing of hundreds-of-thousands of gun owners has the distinct possibility of reversing AB962 before it ever becomes law.

http://www.gunnewsdaily.com/supportab373.pdf