THE SPORTSMEN ’ S ALLIANCE CONTINUES TO FIGHT A GUN-CONTROL BILL AIMED AT YOUTH HUNTING AND SHOOTING .
CONTINUED ASSAULT
The FRONT LINE
APPEALING
THE SECOND TO THE NINTH
THE SPORTSMEN ’ S ALLIANCE CONTINUES TO FIGHT A GUN-CONTROL BILL AIMED AT YOUTH HUNTING AND SHOOTING .
When the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance and others appeared before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in our lawsuit against the state of California ’ s new law prohibiting any advertisement that promotes the use of a firearm by a minor , the judges seemed puzzled by the state ’ s reasoning .
“ It doesn ’ t pass the straight-face test ,” said Circuit Judge Lawrence VanDyke .
VanDyke and two other judges on the panel repeatedly asked the state ’ s lawyers for evidence that restrictions on advertisements would somehow limit unlawful possession of firearms by minors . California argued that it was common sense that demand would drop as a result of the law , but the judges seemed less than impressed and pointed to the fact that video games and movies could be driving any such demand , and neither was regulated under the act .
The law , created with passage of Assembly Bill 2571 in August 2022 , put many youth-related hunting and education programs at risk , including Conservation Science , the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance-created high-school science curriculum .
The appeal by the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance , Safari Club International and the Congressional Sportsmen ’ s Foundation seeks to overturn the federal district court ’ s denial of a coalition-requested preliminary injunction to put the law on hold while the underlying Constitutional questions can be reviewed and decided upon . The Sportsmen ’ s Alliance and its partners cite clear violations of the First and Second Amendments by the law , which muzzles the free speech of conservation and hunting organizations when they engage in youth education and the promotion of hunting and firearm use that “ may be attractive to minors .”
CALIFORNIA ’ S
CONTINUED ASSAULT
Firearm and Ammo Tax : Assembly Bill 28 establishes the Gun Violence Prevention , Healing and Recovery Fund and imposes an additional 11 percent tax on the gross receipt from the retail sale of any firearm , firearm precursor part or ammunition to go toward this fund . The bill specifically blames licensed firearm manufacturers , dealers and vendors for contributing to “ gun violence and broader harms .”
Kids ’ Camps : AB 262 requires the California Department of Social Services to establish a “ stakeholder group ” to develop regulations for youth camps , with a particular
emphasis on camps that include firearm safety on “ gun ranges ” as dangerous and in need of additional regulation and scrutiny . Among the groups cited for inclusion : the Department of Public Health and local health departments . There was no mention of groups that have expertise in firearm safety training .
Liability Insurance : Senate Bill 8 requires a person who owns a firearm to obtain and continuously maintain in full force and effect a homeowner ’ s , renter ’ s or gun liability insurance policy specifically covering losses or damages resulting from any negligent or accidental use of that firearm , including , but not limited to death , injury or property damage , and requires a person to keep written evidence of coverage in the same place the firearm is stored .
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