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California Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc.
271 East Imperial Highway, Suite 620 Fullerton, California 92835
(714) 992-C2R7P7A2 .FAX (714) 992-2996
Media Release December 9, 2004
For Immediate Release: December 9, 2004
For Additional Information Contact: Chuck Michel,
CRPA Spokesman Tel: (310) 548-3703
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SUPERVISORS
REPEAL CONTROVERSIAL LARGE CALIBER RIFLE BAN
On Tuesday November 30, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted
to repeal its .50 caliber rifle ban rather than continue to fight a lawsuit
that challenges it. CRPA, along with a consortium of other plaintiffs
including the California Side by Side Society, the California Association of
Firearms Retailers, the Fifty Caliber Shooters Association, Double Gun
Journal, Sports Afield, Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc., and several
individual county residents, sued the County of Contra Costa and the Board
of Supervisors over the "large caliber" firearm ban designed to outlaw .50
caliber firearms that became effective last May.
The ordinance banned the sale of .50 Caliber rifles in the unincorporated
areas of the County. But the ordinance outlawed something that almost never
happened. Only licensed firearm dealers can sell firearms, and due to
excessive regulation, all but two firearm licensees dealers have left
unincorporated areas of the Contra Costa County. The only two licensed gun
dealers left are Sport-Mart in Concord and Martinez Gun Club, a shooting
range in Martinez. Neither of the two sells .50 caliber rifles.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, alleges that the
ordinance is unconstitutional and in violation of the First Amendment
because it bans anyone (even out of county or out of state publishers in
their advertisements) from "displaying or offering" the firearms for sale.
Further, the suit alleges that the ordinance is preempted by state law,
which draws the line at .60, not .50 caliber firearms.
The County Board of Supervisors passed the law even though a .50 caliber
firearm has never been used in a crime, and despite the fact that law
enforcement officials admit that the cost and weight of these makes them
undesirable to criminals. State legislators passed a narrower version last
session. It becomes effective January 1, 2005.
"The [law] is in part symbolic," admitted Supervisor John Gioia when it was
passed.
Proponents shamefully characterized the state and local proposals as
terrorism prevention measures. But much more powerful firearms in larger
calibers are available to terrorists -- along with explosives, shoulder
launched rocket propelled grenades, and for that matter , suitcase nuclear
"dirty" bombs. Despite threat assessment mechanisms, neither the FBI, the
Transportation Safety Administration, nor the Department of Homeland
Security has issued any warnings regarding the potential for terrorists to
use a .50 caliber firearm.
"Mischaracterizing the .50 caliber rifle as a terrorist tool is nothing but
shameful political opportunism," said Chuck Michel, CRPA spokesman. "A .50
caliber rifle is a pea-shooter for terrorists."
An expert report has been issued to rebut those claims. A copy of that
report, and of the Complaint filed in the case, is available at
www.calgunlaws.com. For the truth about the capabilities of these firearms,
visit www.fiftycal.org.
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********************
Mark
"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard
to protect liberty when the government's purposes are
beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to
repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers.
The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious
encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but
without understanding."
- Louis Brandeis, Supreme Court Justice
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