Of Soda Pop and Bullets

George Rebane

Congress is now debating the next level of big brother laws in legislation designed to tax away our taste for soda pop and other drinks laced with sugar.  As a wordsmith, I dislike ‘nanny state’ to describe such encroachment of liberties, because nanny connotes someone who cares for you and has your best interests at heart.  Imposing new taxes on soda pop is a simple grab for more money by a profligate and intrusive government that doesn’t give a rat’s taillight for your welfare.  One more for them, one less for us, because this is a zero-sum game.

But such opinions as mine are now in the distinct minority.  The different worldviews of the free-market conservatives and the would-be socialists can easily make one conclude that the debate is over – we are now just quoting slogans at each other.  An example of this divide is the pair of recent articles by some of our loudest voices, WSJ’s Peggy Noonan (‘A ‘Necessary’ War?’) and NYT’s Maureen Dowd (‘Daisy Chain of Cheneys’).  They are worth a read.

Our RINO governator just signed AB962, greatly restricting ammunition sales in California to law-abiding citizens who will now have to leave their thumbprint and register their purchase.  No criminals will be affected by this nonsense. The new restriction of liberties was justified by another big lie that joins the huge pile of government lies which no one notices any longer.  To wit –

Although I have previously vetoed legislation similar to this measure, local governments have demonstrated that requiring ammunition vendors to keep records on ammunition sales improves public safety. These records have allowed law enforcement to arrest and prosecute persons who have no business possessing firearms and ammunition: gang members, violent parolees, second and third strikers, and even people previously serving time in state prison for murder.

The real reason is that this rights ratcheting law will take us one step closer to the blanket confiscation of all guns from the law abiding civilian population.  Most gun owners have legacy firearms that they received before the gun control crowd went rabid.  These firearms are not on any database.  But if you happen to own a .303 British Enfield that the state does not know about, it will get strong evidence of that the next time you buy a box of .303 cartridges.  So besides adding another taxing step into what was a free and unmonitored act, big brother gets to put you under a new cross-hairs.

Those who seek to destroy this country have at their beck and call an army of soft heads and/or soft hearts who can be marshaled to do all the dirty work on their fellow citizens.  And these fellow citizens are so busy making a living and following the circus of the day, that they don’t even notice.  The autocracy autobahn is a smooth road indeed.

Comments

[Mikey McD]

The signing of AB962 and the lack of outcry are both EXTREMELY troubling- AB962's signing has demoralized me.

I believe that without the 2nd amendment we are all subjects, with the 2nd amendment we are all free.

Agreed: "The autocracy autobahn is a smooth road indeed."

T-shirt: http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/infowars-shop_2073_7858136

[Steve Enos]

AB962 will do NOTHING to keep ammo and/or guns out of the hands of those that should not have them.

All this will do is send more business to Nevada and sent more California sales tax to Nevada.

The Governator is a clown!

[Mikey McD]

Steve, I think you meant to say "AB962 will do NOTHING to keep ammo and/or guns out of the hands of criminals. It will, however, MAKE criminals out of freedom loving Americans."

AB962 (and past 2nd amendment infringements) drastically reduce our freedom. As George pointed out, the government will now have an inventory of all guns for which ammunition is purchased (even "legacy firearms"). Our forefathers understood the NEED for guns to secure liberty/freedom. When General Sage sent 700+/- men to Concord MA in 1775 to confiscate guns/ammo the minutemen stepped into action... and... our freedom was EARNED.

AB962 is an enormous power grab- "The real reason is that this rights ratcheting law will take us one step closer to the blanket confiscation of all guns from the law abiding civilian population."

[Steve Enos]

AB962 is tragic on so many levels, it's senseless and will not do what supporters and the Gov. claim it will. Just one more attempt to take away the rights of law abiding citizens.

So I will go to Reno sporting goods stores and Reno gun shows to buy my ammo. One of the largest ammo and reload dealers is right here in Grass Valley, that being Miwall. Miwall does all the big guns shows in Reno and it's legal to go to Nevada and buy ammo and return to California. It also will remain legal to do so under AB962, I do believe. So what does AB962 do other than impact law abiding citizens? It will drive more sales tax dollars out of California.

[Do Gooder]

Firearms:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VU11A61FM68/SeCS2IXj_DI/AAAAAAAAEa4/N2s2Kke4D6Y/s1600-h/NRA+Firearms+Salesman+of+the+Year.jpg

[DaveC]

So I take a hundred or so spent 30.06 shells to a reloader. In the past, I just exchanged them for a fee. Does AB962 mean I can no longer exchange them and have to wait for the reloader to pack the same ones and return them to me?

[George Rebane]

Dave, they discuss reloading here http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=3191341
I'm not sure at what point long guns will be affected; the whole thing starts with handgun ammo.

[Steve Enos]

AB962 is about handgun ammo. So the question about reloading and exchanges would apply to handgun ammo.

More and more folks are starting to reload now. Reload needs, like primers are hard to find now.

[Account Deleted]

Nevada ammo sales are going to soar! Will we be any safer? Give me a break. We're over the edge and gaining airspeed. The whole problem now is a populace that's gone to sleep. Sweet dreams!