To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: CA: Weekly legislative update from CRPA Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 12:19:46 PDT From: John Walker 9/12/95 Here is the weekly legislative update from the California Rifle and Pistol Assn. (CRPA). This is a transcript from a broadcast made on the "It's not about Guns,. . .It's about Freedom" radio show on KIEV 870 A.M. (Glendale, CA). Broadcasted each Tuesday night from 8:30 P.M. to 10:30 P.M. Typing errors are my own. ***********Beginning of Article******* Good evening, this is Gerald Upholt, Manager of Governmental Affairs for the California Rifle and Pistol Association with a "Legislative Watch" report on activities in the state capitol. *** Armor-Piercing Handgun Ammunition Bill Signed The Governor has signed AB 99 authored by Democratic Assemblyman John Burton of San Francisco. This bill revises California's definition of banned armor-piercing handgun ammunition to conform to the revised federal definition that was contained in the federal "crime" bill passed by Congress last year. While AB 99 is primarily a restatement of existing California law, it does clarify that the armor-piercing bullet ban does not apply to rifle or shotgun projectiles, nor does it apply to bullets designed for hunting purposes. It also makes it clear that a handgun bullet, in order to be banned, must have been designed intentionally for the specific purpose of penetrating a bullet proof vest. The only deficiency in the bill is a deficiency that also exists under current state law. It does not define a bullet proof vest for purposes of determining what constitutes armor-piercing ammunition. This omission has not been a problem under current law and it is unlikely to be a problem in the future under AB 99 either. Although in theory, the lack of a bullet proof vest definition could present a problem, it is unlikely to become a matter of practical concern. Law enforcement agencies have resisted efforts to define bullet proof vests for armor piercing bullet purposes because of a concern that publishing much standards would give criminals guidelines for the design and acquisition of bullets that could pierce a bullet proof vest, and thus kill or injure the wearer. ******* Please tune in next week for another update on legislative actions in the state capitol. To find out more about the California Rifle and Pistol Association, call (800) 305-CRPA, that's (800) 305-CRPA. ***************End of article******** By the way, The people in the Fullerton, CA office of the CRPA deserve a pat on the back for making this update available for posting on the internet. If you want to let them know that you appreciate this, their phone number is (714) 992-2772 or if you want to fax them a note of thanks, their fax number is (714) 992-2996. Their legislative aides helped make this prossible. All for now. More next week. John W.