Before I get my editorials in a bunch about recently passed assembly and senate bills, signed, thus passed as California law by Governor Brown, I did a little homework to allay any chance of spinning into a political dither (which I try to avoid) over a FEW of the seemingly painful things the good governor passed – and I don’t mean kidney stones.
AB 1401 (Bob Wiechowski, D-Fremont). Allows non-citizens who are legal residents to serve on juries.
What in the legalese does this mean? My pinball machine thoughts began tilting so wildly, my brown eyes turned neon green because I homed in on the words: non-citizens. So, I clicked on the link provided in the press release, to no avail of clarification.
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Google! That’s the ticket! Ooooh. Persons who ARE NOT LAWFUL PERMANENT IMMIGRANTS AREN’T eligible to serve on a jury. I’m guessing that American, non-citizens -- read ex-pats residing in say, Chile, Costa Rica, Europe, Japan, Turkey, who’ve acquired yonder citizenship would be able to serve on a jury over there. Oh, wait! Different governmental structures (monarchies, parliament,dictatorships) and judicial laws rule the people and the lay of the land. In California and the U.S., there’s a little more criteria for service on a jury, of course. Here’s a better link: AB 1401 Defined
AB 1266 (Tom Ammiano, D – San Francisco). Allows pupils to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including sports teams and the use of bathroom and locker facilities, irrespective of biological gender.
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Alrighty Aphrodity. Girls can play football without fear of coaching consternation, although most coaches yell so intensely, they make me cry just watching from the stands. I loved watching my son play football. I’ve won a few NFL football pools in my day, too. Tossing the pigskin LIKE A GIRL is fun! Running a triple stretch play to gain yardage in the opposing team’s territory is downright warfare. Count me out.
I know there are females who excel at sports dominated by males, for example: snowboarding, surfing, golf, snow and water skiing, ad infinitum. Conversely, I know there are men who excel in sports dominated by females: gymnastics, dancing, figure skating, tennis, to name a few. Frankly, MORE power to ‘em.
It’s using the bathroom and locker facilities, irrespective of biological gender that leaves an unmentionable impression in my mind because of past, accidental, briefly embarassing experiences IN MY OWN HOME -- Shut the bathroom door, Mr. / Ms. Guest – thank you, very much. Bathroom and locker facilities delineate gender PRIVACY for good, common sense and aromatic reasons. This bill and the absorbent paper it was written on should’ve been flushed down the toilet.
It isn’t so much the TYPE of sport /game/class/ environs that nags me. Nosiree. This REDUNDANT California law is the doughnut hole remaining from the deep-fried, jelly-filled, superseding, FEDERAL LAW -- TITLE IX. Department of Justice Title IX.
Don’t forget to wash your hands.
For Wikipedia Fans:
Title IX is a portion of the Education Amendments of 1972, Public Law No. 92‑318, 86 Stat. 235 (June 23, 1972), codified at 20 U.S.C. sections 1681 through 1688, authored and introduced by Senator Birch Bayh and named the Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, after its House co-author and sponsor in 2002. It states (in part) that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
AB 711 (Anthony Rendon, D – Lakewood). Bans the use of lead ammunition.
I don’t like guns, therefore, I don’t see a need for ammo, period. This bill covers the use of lead ammunition FOR HUNTING game. Shoot, I digress. AB 711 Analysis Fish and Game
SB 53 (Kevin De León, D – Los Angeles). Requires a permit, fee and background check to purchase ammunition.
Well, this poses a cha-ching conundrum and perhaps, more redundancy. Wouldn’t the individual purchasing the ammo need to have a gun, first? Isn’t a permit fee and background check done for such things, IF the gun is purchased on the up-and-up? How do we track illegal/legal bullets? Back to the type of gun, right? Well, I used to watch CSI, Miami’s ballistics expert, Calleigh Duquesne, in action. I know a little – very little. I also know that Governor Brown is a busy man. You can see for yourself:
A Multitude of Bills Gov. Brown Signed
Lynda Starwriter is a freelance writer and public speaker.
