SAF’s Alan M. Gottlieb issued a ‘travel advisory’ to avoid California because of its restrictive gun control laws. (Dave Workman)
By Dave Workman
Senior Editor
When the Second Amendment Foundation issued a “travel advisory” to American gun owners to avoid traveling to or through California, social media erupted and the announcement went viral, according to SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb.
It was the first time the organization had taken such an action, and in a conversation with TGM, he hinted that it will not be the last. He noted that people living in a few other states had asked why he had only singled out California.
The Golden State has been a tourist magnet for generations, with Disneyland, Hollywood, ocean beaches, Yosemite and thousands of other attractions. But over the past 25-40 years, Californians have been moving out, heading to Washington, Oregon, Arizona, southern Idaho, western Montana, Colorado, Arizona and elsewhere. Years ago in the Evergreen State, the influx of Californians moving to the Puget Sound area caused the natives to declare, “Don’t Californicate Washington.” Similar sentiments have been expressed by locals in many of the other states that have seen an influx of California refugees.
“If you are licensed to carry in your home state,” Gottlieb warned, “that license is not recognized in California. It doesn’t matter how many background checks you’ve gone through or whether you took a gun safety course. Your license is no good in the Golden State, which suggests that your safety and the safety of your family are of no concern to state lawmakers or city administrators. You could be prosecuted for having a gun for personal protection, or you might get killed because you didn’t.”
Unfortunately, some people still make the mistake of bringing guns to states where they are not welcome. Those states would include New Jersey and New York, Maryland and a handful of others. On the other hand, states including Michigan, Idaho and Indiana recognize licenses from other states.
Many gun rights activists have said they like the notion that “Komiefornia” is being ripped for its restrictive gun laws.
Ironically, SAF’s travel advisory came on the same day that the state made headlines for a curious voting situation. According to Judicial Watch, 11 California counties allegedly have more registered voters than voting-age citizens.
The Blaze said Judicial Watch is threatening to sue if the state doesn’t comply with the National Voter Registration Act. Judicial Watch listed the offending counties as “Imperial (102%), Lassen (102%), Los Angeles (112%), Monterey (104%), San Diego (138%), San Francisco (114%), San Mateo (111%), Santa Cruz (109%), Solano (111%), Stanislaus (102%), and Yolo (110%).” The percentages are the number of registered voters in relation to the actual voting-age citizens.
SAF has been fighting California gun laws for several years. For example, SAF – once on its own and later in partnership with the National Rifle Association – beat back gun bans in San Francisco. SAF has challenged the concealed carry law in California, as well. Gottlieb blames the anti-gun political environment on a legislature gone to the extreme.
“The California Legislature has been out of control for years when it comes to placing restrictions on the Second Amendment rights of honest citizens,” Gottlieb observed. “Right now, I wouldn’t suggest to any gun owner that they even travel through the state, much less to it as their final destination.”
The story has been picked up by Breitbart and other pro-gun sites, including Guns.com.
California, the largest and most populous western state, has only about 100,000 active concealed carry permits and the state does not recognize permits/licenses from any other state. Neighboring Oregon also does not recognize out-of-state carry licenses, and many lawmakers in Salem, along with the governor, have not been friendly to gun rights in recent years. Oregon does issue permits to non-residents.
National concealed carry reciprocity legislation now in Congress seeks to require all states to recognize the carry licenses and permits from all other states. It is one more step toward “making the Second Amendment great again.” More importantly, it recognizes that people don’t leave their right of self-defense at the California border.
“By not going to California,” Gottlieb said, “the life you save may be your own.”
