I’m a Second Amendment absolutist. If someone has served their time for a criminal offense, if they’ve finished their probationary period, they should have their gun rights restored. Period. Also, if someone is too mentally unstable to own a firearm, if they’re too dangerous to leave on their own in society, they should be committed to a mental institution. Upon their release, having received a clean bill of health from their caregivers, they should have their gun rights restored. So when I heard that California had redoubled its efforts to disarm people on the prohibited list, I was none too happy. California Democrats (of course) and Republicans (yes Republicans) disagree . . .
State Senate Republicans on Tuesday asked for an oversight hearing to look into the slow progress being made by Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris in reducing a backlog of gun owners who are not allowed to possess firearms because of crimes or mental illness.
The Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown allocated $24 million in mid-2013 to reduce the backlog of people on the Armed and Prohibited Persons System. The system began 2014 with 21,000 people and reduced the backlog during the year by about 17%, according to a new report by the Department of Justice.
Republican Senators voiced concern that there are still 17,479 prohibited individuals with more than 36,000 firearms despite the state Department of Justice having spent 40% of the funds appropriated to eliminate the entire backlog.
According to latimes.com, the Republicans are using this issue to try to wound Ms. Harris as she begins her run for the Senate. At the same time, they’re telling (someone) that they’re the party of fiscal responsibility.
Meanwhile, where’s the well-funded oversight on the Armed and Prohibited Persons System? Last I heard they were disarming Californians convicted of ancient, minor drug offenses. Amongst others, of course. But still . . .