Get On With the Gun Bill

When Gov. George Deukmejian asked the state Senate to delay passage of a carefully drawn bill outlawing the sale of 55 specified models of semiautomatic rifles, shotguns and pistols, he said the request did not signal a retreat from his previously expressed willingness to sign a law banning military-style assault weapons.

“My position is the same,” Deukmejian said. “I am prepared to sign a measure banning these dangerous weapons, but it must be a well-crafted bill.” The governor said that while he remained “receptive” to the measure’s goals, he required more time to “review its provisions.”

Despite the fact that this landmark legislation already had cleared the Assembly and was just hours from passage by the Senate, the bill’s author, David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles), agreed to Deukmejian’s request.

However, as result of his review, the governor now says he has reservations about two of the bill’s provisions: One of his objections is to language meant to keep gun-makers from selling slightly modified facsimiles of the banned weapons. He also is concerned because, under certain circumstances, people who fail to register assault weapons purchased before the ban goes into effect could be prosecuted for a felony.

Neither of these reservations seems insurmountable. After meticulous scrutiny by both legislative chambers, the measure’s facsimile provision purposefully avoids prohibition of any gun with a legitimate sporting purpose. Similarly, the registration requirement allows assault-weapon owners 18 months in which to comply, and gives judges discretion to impose misdemeanor rather than felony penalties on those who do not.

More pointedly, any effort to amend this bill now will force it back into the Assembly, which passed it without a single vote to spare. This time around, the chances of defeat are at least 50-50.

There is no valid reason to subject this vital, common-sensical law to such a risk.