Posted on 05/16/2007 7:41:35 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(CBS 5) SAN FRANCISCO -- On Wednesday, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced a new round of gun control measures. The announcement comes nearly one year after a judge struck down a law banning handgun possession in San Francisco.
"In the last 24 months, just to give you perspective, we've taken more guns off the street than we have in the last decade," Newsom said.
A total of 2,262 guns since the crackdown began.
One part of the measure bans guns from any city owned property, not only in buildings like city hall, but also city parks.
Guns are already banned at some city buildings, such as schools.
Mayor Newsom hopes to extend the ban to public housing complexes, but federal laws make that complicated.
The proposed legislation would also require people who commit crimes with guns to sign up with the police department, then probation officers could keep better tabs on them.
Another aspect would require all gun owners to store their arms with a trigger lock or in a lock box. Authorities say lock boxes would help to keep legal guns from being stolen and then later used illegally.
The idea is to remind legal gun owners how to behave.
"Just because you legally possess a gun in the sanctity of your locked home doesn't mean that we're not going to walk into that home and check to see if you're being responsible and safe in the way that you conduct your affairs," District Attorney Kamala Harris said.
San Francisco's only gun shop is also a target. The proposed legislation would require it and any future gun shop to send the authorities a gun sales list every six months.
Even though criminals already don't follow the law, the mayor believes any gun crackdown makes the city safer.
"It is fair to say that a majority of gun crime is committed with illegal guns," Harris said.
I wonder if the DA has ever taken notice of the 4th Amendment to the US Constitution.
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, HOMES, papers, and effects, against unreasonable search and seizures, shall not be violated and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the the place to be searched , and persons or things to be seized."
To be sure, the amendment allows the proper authorities to search a person's house or other property, but only based on probable cause. I don't believe the amendment's authors would consider that the mere unfounded suspicion of a cop or DA that a resident may possibly be improperly storing a firearm in his or her own home constitutes "probable cause" for issuing a search warrant.
Or perhaps in the liberal's Shangrila known as SF, the 4th Amendment has been repealed by the omnipotent SF mayor and his arrogant toadies. In that case it may be time for that courageous judge who previously threw out SF's gun ban law to once again remind the control freaks in SF's government that their bailiwick is still a part of the USA no matter how much they hate that tie to the real world, and that the Constitution is still the supreme law of the land, no matter how much they may hate it.
"This year will go down in history. For the first time a civilized nation has full gun control. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future."
Adolph Hitler (German Chancellor/Clinton supporter)
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I say let SF continue this nonsense, while productive citizens continue to leave town. It will be intersting to see how an entire society of “useless eaters” prevails on their own.
It is even more fair to say that Mr. Harris is stating the obvious as though it has recently been handed down from on high to him personally.
Here's a clue Mr. Harris, since you obviously don't have one of your own. Any gun used by a criminal to commit a crime is an illegal gun under both federal and CA law, and has been an illegal gun ever since it came into the criminal's possession. Mr. Harris, do you actually believe that a criminal who intends to commit a violent crime with a gun is the least bit concerned that he would also be breaking a law against possessing a gun if he goes ahead with his planned crime? If you're really that short on common sense, I would like to interest you in some exceptional bargains in penny stocks that I happen to have for sale.
Fools on a fool’s errand.
What is he going to do - keep his pants buttoned up?
I loathe those creeps ...
Sign up for what???
Crochet classes???
These people need to submit for random...No check that, manditory urinalysis testing...And the results made public...
Seems to me that the idea would be to remind criminals how to behave.....oh, I forgot; in San Francisco, if you own a gun you must be a criminal.
And yet when stayed late after work to go to a concert in San Francisco last Friday night, I saw many of these very same "young urban black males" openly selling drugs at Hallidie Plaza near 5th and Market - the very heart of the city - without a cop anywhere in sight.
So really, Mr. Mayor and Ms. D.A., addressing crime problems in San Francisco is going to require recognition that the stereotypical white guy out in the Sunset with a rifle locked up in his closet really isn't your top priority - even if there is a 1% chance that he might get angry some day and shoot his wife...and later the Mayor and the D.A. Your prime suspects are all standing right out in the open, and with a little wisely directed effort, as Howard Hunter (James B. Sikking) once said on "Hill Street Blues", you can accomplish more urban renewal in fifteen minutes than the Feds have done in twenty years.
This may require telling some "community activists" and part of your political base to go pound sand. But you'll feel much better for it, in the long run. ;)
Well then, Mz Harris, you are going to have a very bad day. Thus be it ever to tyrants.
God save the Republic because, apparently, the government won't.
Mayor Newsom should go back to playing the skin flute and leave the Second Amendment alone.
Hey, since public housing is government funded, and we all know about that "wall between church and state" that's like, in the constitution, like, then maybe we can ban bibles and prayer in public housing too! Cool! Let's get the lawyer on this, like, right away!
The proposed legislation would also require people who commit crimes with guns to sign up with the police department, then probation officers could keep better tabs on them.
As opposed to people who commit crimes without guns? Hey, isn't that a violation of their privacy?
"Just because you legally possess a gun in the sanctity of your locked home doesn't mean that we're not going to walk into that home and check to see if you're being responsible and safe in the way that you conduct your affairs," District Attorney Kamala Harris said.
Cool! Unannounced, no-knock raids to see if you've got your guns locked up. Makes them so useful in case of a home invasion attack! Are they going to get search warrants before making these inspections?
Mark
Exsqueeze me? Wadaya expect from a Barney F___?
My first inclination was to question if they even mentioned the Constitution where this idiot went to law school. On closer examination I have to question if she was ever exposed to the concept of sanctity in elementary "skool".
"Just because you legally possess a gun in the sanctity of your locked home doesn't mean that we're not going to walk into that home and check to see if you're being responsible and safe in the way that you conduct your affairs," District Attorney Kamala Harris said.
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