To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: CA WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT FROM CRPA Date: Wed, 02 Aug 1995 13:04:43 PDT From: John Walker 8/1/95 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. My own comments in []. ***********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. The State Legislature has begun its second month without passing a state budget for the firscal year that began on July 1st. One of the major issues causing the delay at the present time is a last minute request by Los Angeles County for two million dollars, reportedly to be spent on various social programs. Many speculate, however, that instead, the two million dollars is really to fund the O.J. Simpson murder trial, and that the stated need to pay for social programs is actually just a means of channeling money to cover court costs. On Saturday, during the State Budget Proceedings on the Assembly Floor, Democratic Assembly Member Valerie Brown from Sonoma in the Napa Valley proposed a tax on firearms.[If you want to let her know what you think about her wanting to allow a tax on firearms, her address is: Valerie Brown, State Capitol, Room 2130, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 445-8492] The proposal, which ultimately was not adopted, would have allowed local governments, primarily Los Angeles and Orange Counties, to establish taxes on firearms to help make up the deficits in their own local budgets. It is interesting to note that Assembly Member Valerie Brown inconsistently opposed an identical plan that would have allowed the same local governments to establish a "tippler" tax that could be imposed wherever alcoholic beverages are sold. Not surprisingly, her district contains several wineries that would be affected by a tippler tax. [Boy is Valerie Brown a HYPOCRITE!! I hope that the local member's council is preparing to campaign STRONGLY against her during her next attempt at public office.] At this point in the legislative process, constant vigilance is extremely critical if firearms owners interests are to be protected. ***************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 aide Bob Grego helped make this prossible. All for now. More next week. John W.