Richard Martinez is the father of Christopher Michaels-Martinez. After spree-killer Elliot Rodger shot and killed his son at the Isla Vista, California Deli Mart, his father famously told the media “Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA. When will enough people say, ‘Stop this madness; we don’t have to live like this?’ Too many have died. We should say to ourselves: ‘Not one more.'” “Not one more” became a rallying cry for civilian disarmament advocates, who rammed through CA’s new Gun Violence Restraining Order. Under the new law, family members can convince a judge to order police to confiscate their relative’s firearms – without the gun owners’ prior knowledge. In a ceremony to celebrate the box-fresh disarmament directive, Mr. Martinez inadvertently highlighted the bill’s vast potential for abuse . . .
People need to understand that his law is now available to people and if friends have concerns they should contact the immediate family members who have the potential to invoke this procedure.
Uh, what? If people have concerns that someone is a danger to themselves or other innocent life they should contact the police. Who, by the way, have – and already had – the ability to take a dangerous or suicidal individual into 72-hour protective custody, separating that individual from ANY potential weapon AND potential victims. [Note: Rodger killed as many people with edged weapons as he did with firearms.] According to statute 5150:
If someone is placed on a 72-hour hold (also known as a “5150”) as a danger to themselves or others and admitted to a facility for treatment, they are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms for five years from the date of admission to the facility. (California Welfare and Institutions Code, sections 8100 – 8108)
So why did California need the Gun Violence Restraining Order? Especially when the new process denies Americans their right to due process, opening-up the certainty of abuse by disgruntled family members and spouses (false or misleading testimony to the ruling judge is a misdemeanor)? Why indeed.
Saying that, no less than four policemen visited Elliot Rodger before he went postal, after his parents expressed concerns about his mental state. But my main point remains. Strangers asking family members to disarm their relatives. What could possibly go wrong?