Matt Janes's Blog

Arnold the Governator has shown his true anti sportsman colors by signing into law the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act AB821. With no proof that lead bullets cause high blood lead levels in Condors, the state still banned lead centerfire rifle and handgun ammo usage while big game and coyote hunting in the "natural" range of the condor. It doesn't take effect until July 2008, but ammunition has to be "certified" before it is allowed to be used. So no one truly knows for sure if the list of "certified" ammo will be like handguns in California where manufacturers will have to have it submitted for approval to be on a list. So then once the list comes out, everyone will make a mad dash to buy ammo for their guns only to find out it isn't made in a "certified" type. Manufacturers will not be able to get up to speed on this near soon enough. Let alone load lead and non-lead ammo in marginal selling calibers. And forget bullet grain choices. Wow, I guess you might as well quit hunting with your 7mm-08, or 300 RSAUM, or 220 Swift, or 222 Remington. Basically if you don't want to pay for a new rifle in a common caliber, you're done. And what if you reload? The game warden comes up to you and says "let me see that ammo" and you don't have a box to show him that it is "certified" so you get popped for a $500 fine? This is ridiculous. The scenario of possibilities are endless. Effectively, the tree huggers won a huge victory in stopping more people from hunting again! How many more people will now be alienated with just one more reason why they don't want to hunt anymore in California? And don't think "great, more for me". This is a divide and concor thing. The less there are of you, the better for the anti's. Call or write the Game and Fish department now that it is a law. It is in their hands to enforce.