Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Pro-Discrimination, End-Game Gun Control Introduced in California

Monday, February 27, 2023

Pro-Discrimination, End-Game Gun Control Introduced in California

California is a laboratory for oppressive and ineffective gun control. And, for the most part, the proponents of these measures have kept up the charade that they are aimed at reducing crime, accidents, or suicides. But now some activists are becoming emboldened to drop the pretense and to admit they simply want to do away with guns entirely. California Senate Bill 637 is a case in point. It is the sort of end-stage gun control that doesn’t even attempt to distinguish between the bad actors and the law-abiding and simply seeks to suppress firearm-related activity as such. The point of the bill, introduced by Sen. Dave Min (D-37), is nothing less than to end firearm-related commerce in the Golden State.

As described by its sponsor, SB 637 would require “every aspect” of California’s sprawling portfolio of public spending – including municipal bonds, capital projects, investments, pension systems, and more – to “cut off business with any banks or lenders with business customers that manufacture firearms.”

Note that the bill is not aimed at banks that launder money for illegal firearm traffickers. Nor does it limit itself to circumstances involving manufacturers that, while otherwise legal, produce any of the ever-increasing types of firearms that are prohibited from sale or possession in California.

Indeed, the bill is expressly aimed at manufacturers with above-board banking relationships, exactly the type that could survive the “risk management” scrutiny of the banks themselves, which itself is no easy task after Operation Choke Point and similar efforts sought to make firearm-related commerce toxic. Any such bank, no matter what level of due diligence it applied to those relationships or how scrupulously managed and law-abiding the firearm manufacturer itself happened to be, would be punished by the state for participating in this sector of lawful, constitutionally-protected commerce.

Simply put, the bill would isolate and segregate firearm manufacturers out of the innumerable types of lawful businesses operating in California and REQUIRE banks to discriminate against them or face grave financial consequences and perhaps even shareholder actions for breach of fiduciary duty.

According to a press release announcing the bill, “the state manages $3.1 trillion in banking transactions within a fiscal year.” Wikipedia describes California as having “the largest sub-national economy in the world,” with a nominal GDP that is exceeded only by four entire nations. Meanwhile, California has been cited as having the most burdensome tax structure in America. Its per capita state and local spending has also been ranked as the 6th highest in the nation. It is therefore unlikely that any bank operating in California could or would be willing to forgo any sort of business relationship with the state, merely to continue servicing its gun manufacturing clients.

Min himself was not coy about his intentions in announcing the bill, stating it would “force Wall Street to make a choice between the blood money offered by the gun industry and doing business with the State of California.” He also said it would send a “strong market signal that the State of California will not, either directly or indirectly, finance gun violence.”

It is telling that doing business with lawful gun manufacturers is indistinguishable in Min’s mind with financing “gun violence.” California gun owners and gun businesses have been hearing for years that additional burdens on their rights and livelihoods are necessary to enhance public safety. But having achieved the most gun-controlled state in the nation is not enough for the likes of Dave Min. Now, extremists like him are forced to admit they simply want to stamp out the firearm industry altogether.

Meanwhile, pro-gun states like Texas are taking affirmative action to combat discrimination against lawful, financially-sound businesses in the firearm industry. Banks that have caved to anti-gun politics are starting to experience real consequences in the Lone Star State, with Citigroup recently having been disqualified from a $3.4 billion municipal bond deal over its own refusal to conduct business with law-abiding members of the firearm industry. Similar legislation is now pending in Congress.

To date, it is not clear that Min’s bill is attracting much support, even among the firearm prohibitionists who compose the majority of the California State Legislature. But its very introduction does indeed send a “strong signal” that given the chance, gun controllers would end lawful firearm sales entirely.

The NRA, for its part, doesn’t intend to give them that chance and will oppose this and any other legislation that seeks to cripple the industries that serve America’s law-abiding gun owners.

TRENDING NOW
Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

News  

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

On Tuesday, Joe Biden issued an executive order on gun control that could accurately be described as a mile wide and an inch deep.

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

News  

Monday, March 20, 2023

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

At least one of the joyless scolds that predominate in gun control circles thinks they’ve stumbled onto a novel anti-gun tactic. According to Colorado Newsline Editor Quentin Young, gun control supporters should try to shame gun ...

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

News  

Monday, January 30, 2023

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

On Monday, January 30, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) published the final Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached “Stabilizing Braces” rule for public inspection in the federal register.

U.S. Taxpayers Funding “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders

News  

Monday, March 20, 2023

U.S. Taxpayers Funding “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders

Texans are paying for so-called “Red Flag” gun confiscation orders in New York. North Carolinians are bankrolling Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPOs) in New Jersey. Louisianans are footing the bill for gun confiscation orders in Maryland.

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

Friday, March 17, 2023

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

On March 23rd, at 8:00AM, the Senate Committee on Law & Justice will hear House Bill 1240, a comprehensive gun ban bill, and House Bill 1143, to impose a waiting period and training mandate for acquiring ...

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Today, the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee voted 11-6 to approve Senate Bill 150, constitutional carry, with an amendment aligning the language with the House’s version. It will now go to the full Senate for further consideration.

Michigan: Senate Passes Gun Control Schemes

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Michigan: Senate Passes Gun Control Schemes

Today, the Senate passed anti-gun bill packages to criminalize private transfers, require firearms be made unavailable for self-defense, and allow Second Amendment rights to be suspended without due process. They will now move to the House for further ...

The New Mexico Legislature Finishes Its 2023 Regular Session

Sunday, March 19, 2023

The New Mexico Legislature Finishes Its 2023 Regular Session

The New Mexico Legislature wrapped up at noon on Saturday, March 18.  Below is a list of gun control bills which passed and extreme anti-gun legislation which NRA-ILA worked to defeat with pro-Second Amendment lawmakers, members of the firearms ...

Washington: Updates on Anti-Gun Bills

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Washington: Updates on Anti-Gun Bills

Three major anti-gun bills still remain active in the Legislature, while others are likely defeated for the session. The NRA provided testimony and strong, united opposition to these bills throughout the legislative process thus far.

Florida: House Judiciary Passes Constitutional Carry

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Florida: House Judiciary Passes Constitutional Carry

Today, the House Judiciary Committee voted 17-6 to advance House Bill 543, the constitutional carry bill. It will now go to the House floor for debate.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.