Senate Bows to Governor, Puts Off Its Gun Ban Vote : Atty. Gen. Calls Plea Incredible

The Democratic leader of the state Senate today postponed a vote on his bill to restrict military-style assault weapons at the request of Gov. George Deukmejian, who said he wanted to review the measure before it was sent to his desk.

In a letter this morning to Senate President Pro Tem David Roberti (D-Los Angeles), the Republican governor said he had expected to consider suggesting amendments to Roberti’s bill after it went to a two-house conference committee.

“It had been my intention to offer my observations and any suggested amendments at that time. I was informed yesterday, late in the afternoon, that you intend to bring up the bill for a final vote on the Senate floor today,” Deukmejian said in the letter.

No New Vote Date Set

“I have not had an adequate opportunity to review what you intend to be the complete version of SB292. Therefore, I request that you not bring your bill up on the Senate floor for a final vote today so that I may review its provisions and suggest amendments where appropriate,” the governor said.

Roberti said he had agreed to Deukmejian’s request for a delay. No new date was set for a vote on Roberti’s bill, but Capitol sources said as a practical matter it could not come up again until early May because of a scheduled trip by several key state lawmakers to Washington next week.

At a Capitol news conference, state Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp said Deukmejian’s request was “unique and a little bit incredible.” Deukmejian and his staff “have had ample opportunity to participate in the development of this bill,” Van de Kamp added.

The Democratic attorney general said he was concerned that this bill be voted on quickly because the opposition, including the National Rifle Assn., “will use whatever delay there is to put pressure” on the governor and lawmakers.

Public Input Urged

“The overwhelming majority of Californians who support this measure” should make the governor aware that they want the bill passed, Van de Kamp said.

Later in the day, the Senate approved a nearly identical Assembly version of the assault weapons bill, AB347 by Assemblyman Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles). The 26-11 vote moved the bill into a position where it could be used either as a backup to the bill introduced by Roberti or as a vehicle for technical follow-up amendments.

Before the vote on Roos’ bill, Roberti said: “We live with restraints. . . . You can’t own a bazooka. You can’t own a ground-to-air missile, and we have to put restrictions on assault weapons, too.”

But Sen. John Doolittle, a Roseville Republican, argued: “We’re not talking about tanks. We’re not talking about bazookas. We’re talking about semiautomatic weapons which cannot be distinguished from (sporting weapons).”

“We’re going to create a huge class of lawbreakers out of decent, (law-) abiding citizens,” Doolittle said.

Roberti’s nearly identical bill would restrict sales and possession of more than 50 models of assault firearms, including the type of AK-47 used to kill five Stockton students and wound 29 students and a teacher in January.