The National Rifle Association was obviously not happy about it when Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law late last month SB 1100, which prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing any firearm in the state of California. The law extends an existing ban on young people purchasing handguns in the state.
The NRA lashed out at the bill for destroying the Second Amendment rights of minors—just as the organization lashed out at the heroic minors from Parkland High School who have embarked on a national campaign calling for smart and effective gun laws—through the ballot box.
Earlier this year, the gun group headed by Oliver North thought they had a great gotcha on their hands when they mocked outspoken Parkland survivor David Hogg for reportedly being protected with armed security guards while protesting at NRA headquarters. Hogg and his family were the subject of death threats earlier this year that prompted an FBI investigation.
Hogg and his Parkland allies helped prompt a similar legislative effort in Florida—to restrict gun ownership to those over 21—and was met with a lawsuit from the NRA, but also a surprise vote of support from Gov. Rick “Red Algae” Scott. The NRA has since moved on to trashing Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford and declaring that the Kavanaugh spectacle just ended represents a “dangerous precedent” for American boys, in the words of NRA crisis actor Dana Loesch.
It’s unclear what the connection is between the rights of drunk young men to sexually assault women and get away with it, and their sacrosanct gun rights—but whatever it is, that’s the dangerous precedent right there.
The Parkland shooting galvanized youth across the country to take on gun control and school-safety in a serious manner. On Sat., Oct. 13 the Social Action Committee of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Santa Rosa is presenting a documentary about the 2017 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, along with a panel of local student activists and a video conference with a Parkland survivor. For more info go to www.cstsr.org
Tom Gogola is the News and Features editor of the ‘Bohemian’ and ‘Pacific Sun.’
