OPINION - Editorial

California reloads

California is taking aim at gun rights again, and we imagine the reason has been whittled down to "because we can." Democrats have a super-majority in the state Legislature. Much like Republicans in Arkansas, they can pretty much push through whatever they want. And what they want is to limit individual firearm sales to one every 30 days.

How exactly this keeps anyone safe hasn't been explained. It seems California lawmakers have gotten so lazy with their swipes at gun rights, they're not even pretending that this is a safety issue anymore.

This new (potential) law was vetoed by the state's previous Democratic governor. You know a gun law is too far gone when Jerry Brown vetoes it.

Here's more from Fox News about the proposal: "California Senate Bill 61, introduced by Democratic state Sen. Anthony Portantino, will ban the purchase or transfer of more than one firearm within a 30-day period. The state already has laws to prohibit an individual from buying more than one handgun a month."

Newly sworn-in Gov. Gavin Newsom said America has a gun lobby that's "willing to sacrifice the lives of our children to line their pockets."

But with this particular bill, we're not sure where the logic is. It seems Mr. Newsom isn't aware of two facts: A shooter only needs one gun to commit a mass shooting, and the NRA doesn't make money from gun sales. It receives private donations and membership dues.

Perhaps there's something more here we're not seeing. This legislation aims mostly to cause headaches for gun owners and sellers. Not to mention those who'd like to sell grandpa's weapons and get them out of the house. (One reason Gov. Brown gave for his veto.)

Ah, well, it's the 50 labs of democracy at work. We're just glad we're not in that one.

Editorial on 01/11/2019

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