The Election (So Far)

While the final results from yesterday's primaries are still to be finalized, it appears that the general election campaigns in New Mexico and California are shaping up as follows:

In New Mexico, former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland won her primary for governor on the Democrat side and former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull appears to have won on the Republican side. It will be an interesting campaign between dimwit Haaland and successful ex-mayor Hull.

In California, the race for governor is "too close to call" as of two hours ago from The Guardian. With many ballots still left to be counted, three candidates emerged at the top: the Republican Steve Hilton and the Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer. 

In the Los Angeles race for mayor, it looks like Mayor Karen Bass has been forced into a runoff election against former reality TV star Spencer Pratt. This is another race to watch. 

To me, there are no surprises here. The election results (so far) are what I expected .

 

Ninth Circuit to Hear Case Challenging California’s Magazine Ban En Banc

Yesterday, the Ninth Circuit granted en banc review of an NRA-ILA backed lawsuit challenging California’s ban on magazines containing more than ten rounds. This case challenges California Penal Code § 32310, which was amended in 2016, to outright ban magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds. The NRA filed suit against California in 2017, and won a favorable decision at the district court in 2019. California appealed to the Ninth Circuit, and in August of 2020, a three-judge panel ruled that the statute was unconstitutional. Shortly thereafter, California’s Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, filed a petition for an en banc hearing, a hearing before 11 judges as opposed to the three-judge panel, in order to overturn the decision. By granting en banc review, the previous decision ruling that California’s magazine ban statute violated the Second Amendment is vacated. This result is not surprising. This is the fifth time that the Ninth Circuit has granted en banc review in a Second Amendment case, all of which were either brought by the NRA or supported by the NRA with an amicus curiae brief. The en banc oral argument will take place during the week of March 22. Attorneys from Kirkland and Ellis will be making that argument. The NRA is prepared to continue to fight to defend the Second Amendment in California and throughout the country. The case is called Duncan v. Becerra. Please stay tuned to www.nraila.org for future updates on this and all of ILA’s efforts to defend your constitutional rights.

Gun Rights Groups Challenge California’s One-Gun-Per-Month Restriction

To paraphrase that famous line from the movie Chinatown: Forget it Jake, it's California!

Several pro-Second Amendment groups are challenging Commiefornia's one-gun-per-month law in federal court.

According to AmmoLand:

U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)- A coalition of gun rights organizations including the Second Amendment Foundation and Firearms Policy Coalition, Inc. are asking a federal court in California for an injunction against enforcement of the state’s one-gun-per-month restriction on the grounds that it violates the Second Amendment.

Joining SAF and FPC are the San Diego County Gun Owners PAC, North County Shooting Center, Inc., PWGG, L.P., a California Limited Partnership, and six private citizens, Michelle Nguyen, Dominic Boguski, Jay Medina, Frank Colletti, John Phillips and Darin Prince, according to the court document obtained by AmmoLand News.

The 43-page complaint names California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Luis Lopez, director of the state Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms in their official capacities as defendants. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in San Diego. The case is known as Nguyen v. Becerra.

To read more, go here.

Biden Picks Sleazy Xavier Becerra To Head HHS

Above, Xavier Becerra.

Stolen elections have consequences.

His Fraudulency Joe Biden has chosen California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to head up the Dept. of Health and Human Services. I hope the U.S. Senate, if it is still under GOP control, rejects his appointment during the confirmation process.

Becerra is best known for distorted ballot measure titles and summaries on those measures he opposes. He is also a rabid gun control advocate.

Besides, what the heck does he know about health policy?

There's only one word for Becerra: SLEAZE. 

For more on Becerra, go here.

California Democrats Trying To Save Gun Magazine Confiscation Scheme

California's gun magazine limitation ban had recently been overturned by a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit court, saying it was unconstitutional.

However, that's not stopping the left wing Democrats in the state from trying to overturn that ruling.

According to the Washington Free Beacon:

California Democrats are launching a longshot legal maneuver to protect a gun-control law that a federal appeals court declared unconstitutional. 

Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D.) requested an "en banc" review of a three-judge panel that ruled the state's ban on the possession of any magazine holding more than 10 rounds, even those Californians previously bought legally, ran afoul of the Second Amendment. Such a review would convene every judge in the Ninth Circuit. Chuck Michel, president of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, said gun-rights advocates are willing to take the case all the way to the Supreme Court if Becerra succeeds in his appeal.

"This case may present the opportunity to set things straight on the broader issue of what the standard of review test should be when considering any Second Amendment challenge," he told the Washington Free Beacon. "The Supreme Court seems inclined to do away with the complicated subjective tests that many courts have wrongly applied in Second Amendment cases, in favor of a clearer, more objective ‘originalist' approach that considers the text, history, and tradition of a law to determine what infringements might be tolerated."

 To read more, go here.

Bernalillo County D.A. Files Lawsuit Against New Mexico Civil Guard

It looks like Bernalillo County District Attorney Raul Torrez wants to be New Mexico's answer to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a noted radical leftist imbecile.

Torrez has filed a lawsuit against the New Mexico Civil Guard.

KOB 4 News reported:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- The Bernalillo County district attorney filed a lawsuit Monday against the New Mexico Civil Guard, a group that has showed up at protests in military-like uniforms, carrying guns, and telling people they are there to protect property. 

"When you have self-appointed police officers and military units out there advancing their own form of justice, there is no democratic accountability," District Attorney Raul Torrez said.  

The lawsuit asks a judge to order the New Mexico Civil Guard to stop representing itself as a police force. 

"What is affected is their ability to organize, train and operate as an unlawful group," Torrez said.  

The lawsuit also claims the group's "presence fostered and encouraged violence by counter-protestors." It specifically mentions Steven Baca, who is accused of shooting someone at a protest of a Juan de Oñate statue, and is not affiliated with the group. 

New Mexico Civil Guard leader Bryce Provance said in a KOB 4 phone interview that city leaders are trying to divert the blame away from law enforcement over how the protest was handled that night. 

"They are deflecting," he said. "The mayor and deputy chief ordered their officers not be in an area so that violence could be carried out against property against counter protestors and it backfired. Somebody got shot, and then we had to disarm the shooter, form a perimeter around him and hold him until police arrived and because of the mayor and deputy chief's ineptitude, they are going to deflect and try and charge us and sue us whatever they are going to do."

I don't see how the New Mexico Civil Guard represents themselves as a "police force". Torrez's frivolous lawsuit will likely fall flat on its face.

To read the full article, go here.

"9th Circus" Issues Stay, Reinstating California Ammo Restrictions

Well, apparently either Trump's appointees joined the liberals on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals or are just aren't enough of them, but the "Ninth Circus" reinstated the ammunition restrictions in Commiefornia.

From the NRA-ILA:

Late Friday night (9:46pm), the following order came out from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, granting a temporary stay on the injunction issued on Thursday, April 24, in the NRA funded case of Rhode v. Becerra. This means that the same restrictions that have been previously in effect regarding ammunition in California are back for the time being, pending further order from the court.  

Timeline: 

April 23 – 9th Circuit District Court grants preliminary injunction, suspending ammunition restrictions. 

April 24 – Friday morning, California Attorney General (state) seeks stay on the injunction order, requesting a decision by 3pm Friday. 

April 24 – Friday afternoon, 9th Circuit District Court denies the state’s motion for stay on the preliminary injunction. 

April 24 – Friday afternoon, state files notice of interlocutory appeal 

April 24 – Friday evening, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals grants the state’s emergency motion for a stay, pending further court order. 

Without a doubt, unless the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear the case, it will eventually end up there.

This ain't over until the fat lady sings.

To read more, go here. 

Judge Denies Stay of Injunction Striking Down Ammo Law

California leftist Attorney General Xavier Becerra is filing an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (formerly known as the "9th Circus" before President Trump appointed conservative judges) after being denied a stay of a court injunction.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported:

A San Diego federal judge refused on Friday to delay implementing the injunction he issued a day earlier that halted enforcement of a state law requiring background checks for ammunition buyers, prompting the office of state Attorney General Xavier Becerra to head to an appeals court. 

U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez issued a lengthy ruling Thursday concluding the state law requiring a background check for ammo purchases violated the Second Amendment rights of gun owners in the state. He also said a part of the law banning bringing in ammo from other states without it first being sent through a licensed dealer violated the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution. 

On Friday state lawyers filed a motion asking Benitez to immediately issue a stay of the injunction until they could file an appeal. State lawyers said the action was needed immediately because “ammunition vendors have already started selling ammunition without background checks, creating the near certainty that prohibited persons—convicted felons, violent misdemeanants, and others prohibited by law from possessing firearms and ammunition—will have easy access to ammunition.” 

But Benitez was not persuaded.

To read more, go here. 

California AG Seeks Stay on Ammunition Injunction Ruling

This doesn't come as a surprise.

From the NRA-ILA:

California: California AG Seeks Stay on Ammunition Injunction Ruling

As reported yesterday, Judge Benitez granted the preliminary injunction in the NRA funded case of Rhode v. Becerra. The injunction, became effective upon issuance of the order; enjoining federal and state law enforcement from implementing or enforcing the sales background check provisions, anti-importation provisions, and the criminal enforcement penalties associated with the law.   Today, the California Attorney General filed a motion to stay the preliminary injunction, as the State appeals the ruling. In the motion, the California Attorney General sets an arbitrary timeline on the court to issue a stay of 3pm PST before seeking relief from the Appellate Court.  Continue to check your inbox and www. nraila.org for updates.

Major Second Amendment Victory In California

A major Second Amendment victory took place in California.

This involves getting background checks for ammunition purchases and transactions be done in-person through licensed ammo dealers.

The NRA-ILA reported:

Fairfax, Va. - A major victory was secured on Thursday when a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in the NRA-supported case, Rhode v. Becerra. The case challenges the constitutionality of a California law that puts draconian restrictions on ammunition acquisition and transfers as a result of Prop 63 and SB 1235 (2016).  

As the court said, 'The right to keep and bear arms is the insurance policy behind the right to life ... a shield from the tyranny of the majority.' California wasn’t just obstructing the people’s fundamental right to defend their families and lives—it was encouraging unlawful hostility toward an individual, Constitutional right," said Jason Ouimet, executive director, National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. "

To read the full opinion, go here.

To read more, go here. 

California AG Served With Demand Over Unlawful Regulation Delaying Gun Purchases

California's leftist Attorney General Xavier Becerra was served with a Pre-Litigation Demand Letter over his unlawful delays in gun and ammunition transfers.

According to AmmoLand:

U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) attorney and Director of Legal Policy, Matthew Larosiere, served California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, the Department of Justice, and DOJ Bureau of Firearms Chief, Brent Orick, with a pre-litigation demand letter over an unlawful regulation delaying gun and ammunition transfers. The pre-litigation demand can be accessed from FPC’s website, FPCLegal.org. 

The demand was joined by Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), California Gun Rights Foundation (CGF), California Association of Federal Firearms Licensees (CAL-FFL), and Firearms Policy Foundation.

“We hope Attorney General Becerra will do the right thing here, but he doesn’t have a very good track record of respecting the Constitution, California’s statutes, and the people in the State” said FPC President Brandon Combs.

To read more, go here.

California AG Wants To Extend "Red Flag Law" To 90 Days

This goes into the Never Let a Good Crisis Go To Waste file.

Every time news from California about actions detrimental to our constitutional rights, the more glad I am that I moved out of the state.

While still living in California, I experienced the state's "red flag" temporary Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) due to a vengeful ex.

Now, according to the NRA-ILA, the GVRO may be extended allegedly due to the coronavirus. Naturally, the radical left-wing attorney general, Xavier Becerra, wants to extend the time of the GVRO.

They wrote:

Yesterday, the California Attorney General sent out a press release on domestic violence issues related to the COVID-19 crisis.  Included in his release was an automatic extension of up to 90 days for temporary Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVRO) that have not yet had a formal hearing.  This move highlights a major problem with GVRO/Red flag laws: a person can lose their rights with no due process, and in this case, the deprivation can be extended with the stroke of a pen by an anti-gun bureaucrat. 

Under current law, a temporary GVRO automatically expires 21 days after it is issued. State law also requires a full hearing to take place within the 21 day period. It is only at the full hearing that due process protections apply, where an individual has the right to counsel and to be heard on the allegations before the court.  However, with emergency powers invoked by the Governor and such authority extended to the judicial branch during the COVID-19 crisis, hearings can now be postponed for up to 90 days, resulting in some temporary orders being in effect for up to 110 days.  

If this could happen in California, where Democrats have total control of the state government, it can happen in other states. So much for due process and constitutional rights.

To read more, go here.

Trump Comes To Bakersfield To Rescue Parched San Joaquin Valley Farmers

Several years ago, while on the road up and down the San Joaquin Valley of California, I saw miles upon miles of parched farmland with signs put up by farmers protesting the state's mismanagement of the water supply. The signs that accompany this blog post were typical of the signs I saw.

Of course, there was a drought at the time, but the mismanagement by the state government, fully controlled by Democrats, on top of no new water storage and distribution projects, effectively shut off the water supply to the farmers in the valley. No new water projects have been built since 1979 in California. Billions of gallons of water is flowing into the Pacific Ocean instead of being stored in the state because there are no facilities built to store it.

Instead of building water infrastructure, the state wasted billions on a ridiculous "bullet train to nowhere". Idiotic regulations on ponds, streams and other bodies of water on private farm property hurt the farmers as well.

Today, in Bakersfield, President Trump fulfilled a campaign promise to help the farmers of the San Joaquin Valley.

From The Hill:

President Trump on Wednesday signed an order in California to re-engineer the state’s water plans, completing a campaign promise to funnel water from the north to a thirsty agriculture industry and growing population further south. 

The ceremonial order comes after the Department of the Interior late last year reversed its opinion on scientific findings that for a decade extended endangered species protections to various types of fish — a review that had been spurred by the order from Trump.  

Trump said the changes to the “outdated scientific research and biological opinions” would now help direct “as much water as possible, which will be a magnificent amount, a massive amount of water for the use of California farmers and ranchers.”

"It would be different if you had a drought," Trump added of restrictions. "You don't have a drought. You have tremendous amounts of water." 

“A major obstacle to providing water for the region's farmers has now been totally eliminated by the federal government,” Trump said Wednesday in Bakersfield, Calif., flanked by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), as well as Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who helped shepherd the changes to the state’s water policy. 

Trump's order comes as the state has taken several steps to deal with the water scarcity that has lasted for decades.

Naturally, the leftists (mainly Governor Newsom and Attorney General Becerra) will be fighting Trump and the farmers.

To read more, go here.

Texas Federal Judge Rules ObamaCare Is "Unconstitutional"

A federal judge in Texas (a highly respected one) ruled that ObamaCare is "unconstitutional".

According to the Denver Post:

WASHINGTON — A conservative federal judge in Texas on Friday ruled the Affordable Care Act “invalid” on the eve of the sign-up deadline for next year. But with appeals certain, even the Trump White House said the law will remain in place for now. 

In a 55-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled that last year’s tax cut bill knocked the constitutional foundation from under “Obamacare” by eliminating a penalty for not having coverage. The rest of the law cannot be separated from that provision and is therefore invalid, he wrote. 

Supporters of the law immediately said they would appeal. “Today’s misguided ruling will not deter us: our coalition will continue to fight in court for the health and wellbeing of all Americans,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is leading a coalition of states defending the ACA.

Yes, an appeal is expected.

To read more, go here.

California Sanctuary State Resistance Growing

The People's Republic of Commiefornia has a major problem.

Several governmental entities are resisting the state's "Sanctuary State" laws by voting to opt out or notifying ICE about impending releases of criminal illegal aliens. This will likely put the Democrats who run the state into a bind.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune:

The clash between California and President Donald Trump over the state’s so-called sanctuary laws and immigration in general has been portrayed as a conflict pitting the entire state against the president, but now pockets of California are making it clear that their leaders do not agree with laws that shield unauthorized immigrants. 

California laws that went into effect on Jan. 1 restrain how federal agents go about detaining unauthorized immigrants for deportation in cities throughout the state. Trump’s justice department has since sued the state over its three laws — Senate Bill 54 or the “California Values Act,” Assembly Bill 450 or the “Workplace Raid” law and Assembly Bill 103 or the “Detention Review” law — arguing that they are unconstitutional. 

In recent weeks, some cities and at least one sheriff’s department in California are also pushing back against the laws. Here’s who is opposing them, and how.

If leftist California Attorney General Xavier Becerra decides to sue these cities, counties and sheriff departments, it just may backfire in his and Governor Brown's faces if the courts rule that the laws are unconstitutional. Grab some popcorn and sit back and watch!

To read more, go here. 

Lunatic AG Becerra: ‘We Will Prosecute’ Employers Who Cooperate with Federal Immigration Officials

The Looney Left Report

The lunatics have definitely taken over the asylum known as California.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that he would "prosecute" employers who cooperate with federal immigration officials.

Breitbart reported:

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) says his office “will prosecute” employers who cooperate with federal immigration officials to deport criminal illegal aliens from the United States. 

In a press conference on Thursday, the pro-open borders attorney general warned California employers of new state laws that barred businesses from providing information on illegal aliens to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency that would aid in deportations.

Small wonder why some eastern California counties want to secede from California to form their own state.

To read more, go here. 

Xavier Becerra's Hypocrisy, Others Taking Notice

Above, Lassen Peak trailhead parking lot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that others are noticing the hypocrisy of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra when he protested the proposed national park fee hike, along with other attorneys generals, besides me. I posted about this glaring contradiction several days ago.

Joel Fox, Editor and Co-Publisher of Fox and Hounds Daily, also took notice.

He wrote:

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra wants to keep national park fees down so poor people can afford entry in their vehicles. However, the gas tax repeal effort, which critics say he disfavors based on the title and summaries he authored on repeal initiatives, might keep drivers from even reaching the parks because of the increased cost of gas. 

Becerra did not think it necessary to emphasize words “tax” and “fee” in his title of the initiative efforts to repeal gas taxes that are designed to maintain roads. However, the word “fee” is up front in a letter he co-signed with other state attorneys general protesting a Trump Administration proposed action raising national park fees for among other things road maintenance within the parks. 

The letter says making it more affordable to enter the parks for all is a matter of policy. But then again so is raising the gas tax on all.

To read more, go here.

Leftist Loon Xavier Becerra and National Park Fee Proposal

The Looney Left Report

California's leftist loon Attorney General Xavier Becerra is leading a group of mainly Democrat attorneys general of 10 states to threaten legal action if a proposed national park fee hike (to deal with a $11 billion backlog of projects and maintenance) goes through.

SF Gate reported:

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra led top attorneys from 10 states Wednesday in threatening legal action against the Trump administration for planning to more than double national park entrance fees. 

A letter drafted by Becerra and signed by representatives of the mostly blue states says the proposal to increase the price of admission at Yosemite and 16 other marquee parks — to $70 per vehicle during the busy season — is not only unfair to many less affluent Americans but is inconsistent with national park policies. 

“Our goal as a nation should be to make our national parks supremely inviting and encourage more families to visit them,” Becerra said in a prepared statement. “Instead, the Trump administration proposes the complete opposite.”

Gee, where was Becerra when his party jacked up the gasoline tax and increasing the cost of vehicle registrations in California? That will put more of a damper on the "less affluent American's" means to visit national parks. What do you say to that Mr. Becerra? Does jacking up registration fees and the gas tax even bother you?

I am not in favor of the fee proposal in dealing with the backlog, but it seems that these lunatics are always willing to spend taxpayers' money on politically-driven legal actions. Hypocrites!

To read more, go here.

Federal Judge Grants Stay of Enforcement of California Magazine Ban

The NRA-ILA sent the following email:

view the web version of this email California: Federal Judge Grants Request to Stay Enforcement of California’s Magazine Ban Today, attorneys for the California Rifle & Pistol Association, supported by the National Rifle Association, obtained an important injunction in the case of Duncan v. Becerra, a federal lawsuit challenging California’s restrictions against standard capacity magazines. The injunction prevents California from enforcing the recently enacted ban against the mere possession of magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds, while the case is pending. The ban was set to take effect on July 1—less than 2 days from today.  In granting the injunction, Judge Benitez explained that Plaintiffs are likely to succeed in this lawsuit because “public safety interest may not eviscerate the Second Amendment.”  Filed in May of this year, Duncan is the second in a series of carefully planned lawsuits challenging the package of gun control laws passed last year that have collectively become known as “gunmageddon” in addition to the anti-gun Proposition 63. The case challenges California’s restrictions on standard capacity magazines on the grounds that it violates the Second Amendment, due process clause, and takings clause of the United States Constitution.  As a result of the injunction, California gun owners will not be required to surrender or permanently alter their lawfully owned property by July 1. Instead, the injunction preserves the “status quo” while the constitutionality of the law is decided by the court.  To stay up to date on NRA’s legal efforts in California along with other important issues surrounding your second amendment rights be sure to subscribe to NRA-ILA alerts, check your inbox and the California Stand and Fight webpage . To help contribute to NRA’s legal efforts in California click here.

Tennessee Strikes Back At California Over Travel Ban

Looney Left Report


Back in January, California's wetback moron Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that the state would no longer fund employee travel to four states. He deemed these states to having laws discriminating against LGBT people.

They are: Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee. Since then, Alabama, Kentucky, South Dakota and Texas have been added to Becerra's list. Becerra apparently has more in common with totalitarian dictatorships such as Venezuela or Cuba than the United States for this idiotic ban.

Well, the state of Tennessee has fired back and passed a resolution that skewers the Becerra travel ban and California.

Here's the resolution (it is hilarious):

To read The Daily Caller's take on all this, go here.