Bill Would Require Pistols to Indicate They Are Loaded

The Assembly has narrowly passed legislation to prohibit the sale of new semiautomatic pistols unless they are equipped with devices known as loaded chamber indicators.

A 41-35 vote, the bare majority required for approval, sent the bill (AB 1818) by Assemblyman Mike Gotch (D-San Diego) to the Senate.

A loaded chamber indicator is a red button, metal flag or other warning device attached to a firearm that indicates there is a round in the chamber.

“This is a minor design change costing about $2 that could prevent the deaths of many innocent children who are killed by accidental shootings involving so-called empty guns,” Gotch told his Assembly colleagues.

Assemblyman Richard Mountjoy (R-Arcadia) said the measure is unnecessary. “Every gun is always loaded, and you should always treat them that way,” Mountjoy said.

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Higher Education: Passed and sent to the Senate on 41-2 vote a bill (AB 163) by Assemblyman Rusty Areias (D-San Jose) to place a $700-million higher education bond issue on the June primary election ballot.

* Safe Drinking Water: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-14 vote a bill (AB 1637) by Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) to place a $495-million safe drinking water bond issue on the June ballot.

* Non-Lawyers: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 44-31 vote a bill (AB 1287) by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) calling for a state study of non-lawyer services that provide self-help to people who cannot afford to hire attorneys to represent them in legal matters.

* Illegal Immigrants: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 54-12 vote a bill (AB 87) by Assemblyman Mickey Conroy (R-Orange) calling for a state study to determine the costs of building and maintaining a men’s prison in Baja California to house illegal immigrants who are convicted of crimes.

* Drive-By Shootings: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 68-1 vote a bill (AB 863) by Assemblyman Charles Quackenbush (R-Cupertino) to allow 16- and 17-year-olds who are accused of gang drive-by shootings to be tried as adults and face adult punishment.

Bill Introductions

* Earthquake Assistance: AB 2607 by Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) would prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving state housing or relocation assistance or other earthquake relief resulting from the Northridge temblor.

* More Earthquake Assistance: AJR 59 by Assemblyman Pat Nolan (R-Glendale) requests the federal government to provide monetary earthquake relief only to victims who are lawful U.S. citizens, and to provide transportation for illegal immigrants who apply for it back to their country of origin.

* Welfare Mothers: AB 2596 by Assemblyman Tom Connolly (D-Lemon Grove) would cut off Aid to Families With Dependent Children for unmarried teen-age mothers who do not live with their parents or in a court-approved residence.

* Black History Month: ACR 86 by Assemblywoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) proclaims February as Black History Month.

SENATE

Floor Action

* Needle Exchange: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-17 vote a bill (SB 1048) by Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) to let local officials set up pilot programs allowing drug addicts to exchange dirty syringes for clean ones as a means of preventing the spread of AIDS.

* Bobcats: Rejected on a 23-13 vote a bill (SB 380) by Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) to prohibit the killing of bobcats for commercial purposes.

Bill Introductions

* Marijuana Use: SB 1364 by Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco) would authorize physicians to prescribe the use of marijuana by patients for legitimate medical purposes.

* Sexual Intercourse: SB 1351 by Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco) would provide that requesting a person to use a condom or other birth control device does not constitute consent for sexual intercourse.

Readers who wish to communicate with legislators regarding Assembly or Senate bills can write to them at the State Capitol Building, Sacramento, Calif. 95814.)