Lawmakers look to increase gun restrictions, but will that work?

Good morning and happy Tuesday!

In the wake of the tragic shooting in Orlando, California lawmakers are renewing a push for expanded gun control, with a wide range of measures to be considered today.

According to the Los Angeles Times, some of the bills “would close loopholes that allow the sale of semiautomatic rifles with detachable ammunition magazines,” while others would “outlaw the possession of magazines with a capacity of more than 10 bullets and require background checks for people who buy ammunition.”

But California already has tough gun laws, at least compared to Florida, including a ban on most guns like the one used on Orlando. Could expanded restrictions deter similar tragedies in California, asks The San Jose Mercury News. 

“Firearms policy experts say the limits on guns and ammunition may have reduced the number of casualties in Orlando,” writes The Mercury News. “But California’s background checks would not have stopped (the Orlando shooter) from purchasing firearms capable of doing plenty of damage.”

In other news: 

• A $10-per-year increase to the vehicle registration fee was part of a budget deal negotiated by lawmakers in the last few days, reports Capital Public Radio. 
• Increasing legal, financial and political troubles threaten to derail the state’s cap and trade program, possibly taking Democrats’ climate agenda down in the process writes the Los Angeles Times.
• California lawmakers look to broaden the definition of rape, reports The Sacramento Bee. 
• Are gut and amend tactics OK for ballot measures, asks CalWatchdog. 

Assembly:

• Full slate of hearings. 

Senate:

• Full slate of hearings.  

Gov. Brown:

• No public events scheduled.

Tips: matt@calwatchdog.com

Follow us: @calwatchdog @mflemingterp

New followers: @SenBillEmmerson @dotDomain

By CALWATCHDOG STAFF

• CA Republicans diversifying
• What can be done about mass shootings?
• Tragedy averted in Santa Monica
• Recalling a judge is harder than it looks
• Daylight savings time in Legislature’s crosshairs 

Good morning!

With a little luck at the ballot box, Republicans in the Legislature are set to expand on their increasingly diverse delegation, a far cry from the “Party of Old White Men” it’s been thought of by some for years.

And while Republicans have the primary goal of holding the relatively few seats in the Legislature they already have, increased diversity would show a modernizing party that could expand is electoral appeal. 

“Our party does not engage in the identity politics of the left, but we have placed an emphasis on recruiting and supporting the best candidates for every district,” said CAGOP Vice Chairwoman Harmeet Dhillon. “In our culturally rich state, that candidate is often someone with a minority background.”

CalWatchdog has more. 

In other news:

• The tragic shooting in Orlando yesterday left Americans again wondering if there is anything to be done to curb mass shootings, but sadly there’s not, reports The Orange County Register.
• Apparently unrelated to the Orlando tragedy, an Indiana man armed with three assault rifles and chemicals used to make explosives was arrested in Santa Monica on Sunday, with a gay pride parade as his ultimate target. The San Jose Mercury News/AP has more.
• Calls to recall the judge who sentenced a Stanford University athlete to six months in jail for sexual assault have only increased since the controversial verdict last week. But recalling a judge is more difficult than it seems, reports Capitol Weekly.
• A bill to abolish daylight savings time in California gets its first committee hearing today. The Sacramento Bee has more.   

Assembly:

• In at 1 p.m. Multiple committee hearings.

Senate:

• In at noon. Multiple committee hearings.

Gov. Brown:

• No public events announced.

Tips: matt@calwatchdog.com

Follow us: @calwatchdog @mflemingterp

New followers: @PoliticalRTer @CupOfPolitics