CA sliver of hope just got a wee bit bigger

[robertrwalsh]

The Secretary of State's office has approved a series of six referendum petitions for circulation for the November ballot. These petitions, #1788-1793 will, if they make it to the ballot and if they are approved by the voters, overturn the six anti-Second Amendment laws Governor Brown signed early this month.

It is still a long, hard road as the petitioner must gather about 386,000 valid signatures by the end of September to get the referendums on the ballot.

Specific information and text is available on the CA Secretary of State's web site.

[jimbo728]

Best of luck. I hope there is an aggressive campaign going to get the needed signatures.
Jim

[italiansport]

Ditto! This is far better than just giving up.
Jim

[susieqz]

are the majority of californians anti gun, or is it just an out of control govt?

[BaldEagle1313]

Originally Posted by susieqz

are the majority of californians anti gun, or is it just an out of control govt?

There's no question part of it is out of control government, but to address the first question you raise, it isn't just that the majority are anti-gun, it's that they are all in the same voting area and their votes create a nearly impenetrable bloc. It isn't just a California thing. It's here in Washington as well.

The electoral power is always going to reside with population. High-density, urban populations tend to go left, which translates to "gun control". If you go to county-by-county voting maps you'll see this. Washington population is dominated by the counties east (correction: WEST) of the Cascade mountain range - in particular King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston (where the State Capitol is) counties. 15 blue counties have the voting power to shut out nearly double their number of red counties. In Statewide offices, there hasn't been a Governor or US Senator from Eastern Washington in my lifetime, and I was born before Sputnik was launched.

California is the same way - up and down the coastline north and south of the Bay Area, add in Los Angeles county and there it is - 20 blue counties have the voting power to shut down nearly double their number of red counties. That's how you end up with two Senators who are as nearly far left as Bernie, and a Governor with the well-deserved nickname of "Moonbat."

[susieqz]

thank you, eagle. i get it now.

[les.b]

I've been following the thread regarding the Massachusetts Atorney General's recent reinterpretation of their long standing "Assault Weapons" legislation there.

I feel for you guys in the lefty states, Maryland is osomething like Washington, Eagle, mostly red by counties, but the east coast counties and the Baltimore and Annapolis area are far left, and dominate the rest of the state.

If things go wrong in November, we'll all be in the same boat though. If the SCOTUS is lost, the 2nd amendment is dead. That's a done deal, and then we will be in the same boat as our cousins over in the UK.

Best Regards, Les

[BaldEagle1313]

Going even further, since state house and senate districts are population-based, those same few counties have more state reps and senators as well, allowing them to set agendas and control committees. This has ramifications well beyond a simple vote on gun laws - it will let gerrymandering set up districts where you have literally no opposition on the ticket from the opposing party - the two on the ballot both have a "D" after their name - and if not, around here the one that isn't "D" is "S" (Socialist) or "G" (Green). There's no "R" to be found. I daresay that this happens all across the land, and is done by both parties - I'm pretty sure there are districts in states where the "R" on the ballot doesn't have any but token opposition, either; it's just that those instances are fewer and far between.

This has strayed a bit into the political and I hope the mods will excuse me; I don't believe I'm making a political statement, merely laying out how population density affects lawmaking and public policy.

[riverrat38]

" Washington population is dominated by the counties east of the Cascade mountain range - in particular King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston (where the State Capitol is) counties."

You probably meant West of the Cascades.
Its like two different worlds. I am a west sider, but I identify with the politics east of the mountains, as do most gun owners in this State.
We do tend to follow California with respect to Legislation.

Best,
Rick

[BaldEagle1313]

Originally Posted by riverrat38

" Washington population is dominated by the counties east of the Cascade mountain range - in particular King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston (where the State Capitol is) counties."

You probably meant West of the Cascades.
Its like two different worlds. I am a west sider, but I identify with the politics east of the mountains, as do most gun owners in this State.
We do tend to follow California with respect to Legislation.

Best,
Rick

DOH! Yes, I meant west of the mountains. Spellcheck and proofreading can only do so much for you. They can't correct an improper compass point.

Thanks for the eagle eyes.

[cmj8591]

Originally Posted by italiansport

Ditto! This is far better than just giving up.
Jim

Never give up, never give in and never comply!

[BUFF]

A major problem is that so few initiative voters actually know anything about the facts or the laws they are voting on, they just don't do any research or thinking before they cast their ballots. I think the same is especially true about firearms law, few people outside of active shooters know what the actual laws are.

I was a political science major in college. One of my favorite professors was big into polls and his students did a lot of door-to-door poll taking. I found out personally that there is absolutely no connection about actual knowledge on a matter and how strongly the person felt or express their feelings.

I am sure somebody in the leadership of this movement this movement has contacted the NRA. They may well have expertise and some money to help with this initiative.

Best of luck to our California brothers and sisters.

[Biggfoot44]

The problem with referendums is that the ruling powers get to write the one or two paragraph summary, which is all most voters will look at, unless your side has the $$$ for a full scale media campaign.