Keep and Bear Arms

California Assemblyman Has a Change of Heart on Anti-spud-gun Legislation

KABA Members Helped Make That Happen.

March 14, 2002

KeepAndBearArms.com — On March 9th, California's mediafolk began telling the story of State Assemblyman Jay LaSuer's supporting a bill that sought to ban "spud guns" and place a 15-year-felony on their future "illegal" possession.

In the San Diego Union-Tribune, Assemblyman La Suer was quoted as saying:

"At their core, potato guns are simply too dangerous..."

"You're igniting nothing more than a bomb out of scrap metal that can hurt several people, including yourself."

But as a result of feedback from people at KeepAndBearArms.com and elsewhere, Mr. La Suer has completely pulled his support from the bill. Repeat: activists killed this bill by expressing concerns to Assemblyman La Suer. His Chief of Staff, Barry Jantz, contacted KeepAndBearArms.com Wednesday (3/13), requesting that we carry a message to our members and visitors. Because we ran the story in our Newslinks that day and included the Assemblyman's email address, we feel it's only fair that we give him some air time. Following is that exact message:

Assemblyman La Suer announced today that he is dropping legislation relative to the use of potato guns.

"I was asked to carry 'destructive device' legislation at the request of law enforcement," stated La Suer from his office at the Capitol. "But research conducted by the Department of Justice as well as my office indicates that this bill is clearly unnecessary."

As a life-long supporter of the 2nd Amendment, Assemblyman La Suer has staunchly declared that he will not pursue nor vote for any legislative proposal that seeks to even marginally limit an individual's personal freedoms in this regard.

"The ability for the law abiding to keep and bear arms is fundamental," pronounced La Suer, "and I refuse to be part of any attempt to undermine this Constitutionally guaranteed right."

Mr. Jantz notified KeepAndBearArms.com that the bill was pulled "partially due to concerns expressed by your people."

We would like to see Assemblyman La Suer endorse our Petition for the Enforcement of the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. After all, the project was born, in part, as a result of Gov. Davis' assertions that there is no individual right to keep and bear arms — an assertion with which Assemblyman La Suer obviously disagrees.

We would also like to see letters from Mr. La Suer to the Police Chiefs and Sheriffs in his district discussing the matter of concealed carry. (Being a former UnderSheriff himself, Mr. La Suer may even have their phone numbers handy.) As we all know, there are dangerous criminals out there who would do harm to innocent people, and we are certain that a lifelong supporter of the Second Amendment who just put his name to a spud gun ban would support those people in defending themselves. We'd be happy to share such letters with our national community, and especially with our members and visitors in Mr. La Suer's district.

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	California Assemblyman Has a Change of Heart on Anti-spud-gun Legislation KABA Members Helped Make That Happen. March 14, 2002 KeepAndBearArms.com — On March 9th, California's mediafolk began telling the story of State Assemblyman Jay LaSuer's supporting a bill that sought to ban "spud guns" and place a 15-year-felony on their future "illegal" possession. In the San Diego Union-Tribune, Assemblyman La Suer was quoted as saying: "At their core, potato guns are simply too dangerous..." "You're igniting nothing more than a bomb out of scrap metal that can hurt several people, including yourself." But as a result of feedback from people at KeepAndBearArms.com and elsewhere, Mr. La Suer has completely pulled his support from the bill. Repeat: activists killed this bill by expressing concerns to Assemblyman La Suer. His Chief of Staff, Barry Jantz, contacted KeepAndBearArms.com Wednesday (3/13), requesting that we carry a message to our members and visitors. Because we ran the story in our Newslinks that day and included the Assemblyman's email address, we feel it's only fair that we give him some air time. Following is that exact message: Assemblyman La Suer announced today that he is dropping legislation relative to the use of potato guns. "I was asked to carry 'destructive device' legislation at the request of law enforcement," stated La Suer from his office at the Capitol. "But research conducted by the Department of Justice as well as my office indicates that this bill is clearly unnecessary." As a life-long supporter of the 2nd Amendment, Assemblyman La Suer has staunchly declared that he will not pursue nor vote for any legislative proposal that seeks to even marginally limit an individual's personal freedoms in this regard. "The ability for the law abiding to keep and bear arms is fundamental," pronounced La Suer, "and I refuse to be part of any attempt to undermine this Constitutionally guaranteed right." Mr. Jantz notified KeepAndBearArms.com that the bill was pulled "partially due to concerns expressed by your people." We would like to see Assemblyman La Suer endorse our Petition for the Enforcement of the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. After all, the project was born, in part, as a result of Gov. Davis' assertions that there is no individual right to keep and bear arms — an assertion with which Assemblyman La Suer obviously disagrees. We would also like to see letters from Mr. La Suer to the Police Chiefs and Sheriffs in his district discussing the matter of concealed carry. (Being a former UnderSheriff himself, Mr. La Suer may even have their phone numbers handy.) As we all know, there are dangerous criminals out there who would do harm to innocent people, and we are certain that a lifelong supporter of the Second Amendment who just put his name to a spud gun ban would support those people in defending themselves. We'd be happy to share such letters with our national community, and especially with our members and visitors in Mr. La Suer's district.