Geoff Metcalf
January 23, 1999

In the wake of the democratic ascendancy in the Sacramento Capitol, defenders of the second amendment are all hangdog and pouting. The conventional wisdom is, now that California has a Democrat as Governor to compliment the democratic controlled Assembly and Senate, the gun-grabbing crowd will have carte blanc to disarm law-abiding Californians. Maybe...maybe not.

Governor Gray Davis has already shown not only the capacity, but willingness to bend like a willow in the breeze of public opinion. Despite partisan politics, Davis may well prove to be a reasonable and rational man...rather than a mere partisan rubber stamp for his liberal party brethren. This is an opportunity that should be exploited. This is not the time to despair.

As Dr. Robert Jarvick once noted "Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear, and no concept of the odds against them...they make things happen."

We can expect a blizzard of anti-second amendment legislation to be flushed out of the bill mill this session. The usual suspects (Senator Don "Pistol Packing" Perata, Assemblyman Richard Polanco et al) have already started to ram anti-gun legislation through the process. Assembly Speaker, Tony Villagrosia has co-conspired (through the recent rule changes) to basically mute, hobble, blind, and neuter any conservative dissent.

The gutless Republican facilitators may be prepared to roll over and play dead, but there are several grassroots organizations that will not. They intend to flood anyone and everyone who will receive it, with a litany of facts that contradict the preconceived opinions of the partisan majority. 

The type of gun control that pistol packing/hypocrite Perata want to jam down our throats has already been tried very recently (in Australia)....and the statistical analysis of the results are now available.

Over a year ago, Australia forced gun owners to surrender 640,381 personal firearms. The confiscation included semi-automatic .22 rifles and shotguns. The program cost the government over a half BILLION dollars.

Here is what happened:

1. There was a significant and dramatic increase in criminal activity (which continues). The response from the gun control advocates to the crime wave they precipitated was "Just wait....we'll be safer...you'll see..."

2. In the wake of 12 months of data, here is what anyone can see: Australia wide, homicides are up 3.2%.  Assaults are up 8.6%. Armed robberies are up 44% (yeah, a 44% increase in armed robbery). Gee, when guns are outlawed, only outlaws have (and use) guns.

3. The state of Victoria saw "homicide with firearms" increase 300%. Not point 3 percent....not 3 percent.....THREE HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE.

4. Previous to this Australian legislative brain flatulence, there had been a steady decline in homicides with firearms, and a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms. The statistic changed ONLY in the past 12 months subsequent to the gun ban. Additionally, there has been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the elderly.

5. Australia's Prime Minister, at the time of the ban, was quoted as saying "self-defense is not a reason for owning a firearm". Remember, subsequent to his comment one state saw a 300% increase in homicide with firearms.

6. Before the ban, going back to 1910, homicides in Australia averaged about 1.8-per-100,000 or lower.....a pretty safe society by any contemporary standard.

Politicians down under are now between the rock and the hard place. They are at an absolute loss to manufacture an explanation for why and how there has been no improvement in 'safety' realized....especially in the wake of such a monumental, draconian effort and expense. Creative writing won't make a purse out of a sows ear.

Please folks.....it is imperative that we refuse to "sacrifice a little freedom for a little security" (or the hollow promise of more security).

I remember very clearly when Mike Reynolds first had 'Three Strikes' legislation introduced into the Willie Brown/rabid liberal public safety committee in the California Assembly. It was dead on arrival. HOWEVER, after what proved to be a mercy killing, something real interesting (and illustrative) happened. A public opinion poll revealed an overwhelming majority of Californians LIKED the three strikes idea...they REALLY, REALLY liked it.

When the threat of an Initiative was made known, suddenly the bill mill had a collective bi-partisan epiphany, and over a half dozen bills became very popular...very fast. Eventually Assemblyman Bill Jones (now Secretary of State) saw his three strikes legislation signed into law. However, Reynolds and 3-strikes supporters knew full well that "what the bill mill giveth....the bill mill can taketh away." The 3-strikes Initiative remained on the ballot, and the rest is history.

Despite the efforts of the Assembly Speaker to quash debate, eventually the public will come to learn of the 'devil in the details' . The Perata and Polanco disingenuous, duplicitous dreck, masquerading as public safety legislation, will (or should) be a reality check for many. That .22 rifle you plink with, or use to squirrel hunt, becomes a banned assault weapon (if it can accept a magazine). Those hunting tools you were sure "didn't count"....will. That eight hundred dollar automatic you keep locked up in your bedstand could be a "junk gun".

Meanwhile, it is up to anyone and everyone who still supports and defends the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to continue to fight......while we still can.