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Grand Prix Coming to Town

Volume 8 Number 2 March/April 2013

MAGAZINE Community & Television Show News

STRAIGHT TALK

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New Congressman on Straight Talk

Alan Lowenthal

U.S. Congressman

47th C.D.

Newly-elected U.S. Congressman Alan

Lowenthal joins host Art Levine on Straight

Talk for his first extended television inter-

view since taking office.

The Congressman was elected on November 6, 2012 and was

sworn into office on January 3, 2013. He has been appointed to

the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Com-

mittee on Natural Resources. He previously served as State

Senator, State Assemblyman and Long Beach City Council-

man.

Alan is a trained psychologist who formerly was a professor

for 28 years at CSULB. Throughout his political career, he has

been known for his ability to reach out and try to find common

ground on controversial issues, a talent sorely needed in

Washington today.

For example, while in the State Senate he introduced

legislation for re-districting reform that had little initial support

from either party. He stayed with the issue, generated support

and eventually got it passed into law.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Ethics and Politics

Leslie Gore at Palm Springs Follies

Renaissance Faire Opens April 6

Jewels of the Night Coming April 27

Around Town Photo Spread

Photo Focus: Aquatic Capital of America

Guest Column by Dr. Craig Smith

Sponsor Spotlight on Performance Plus

T he 39th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is

coming to town Friday through Sunday April 19-21.

The race is Long Beach’s annual “Spring Break” party and is

expected to attract more than 170,000

fans over the 3-day weekend.

The featured race is Sunday after-

noon’s IZOD IndyCar Series event

which will draw an international field

of world class drivers expected to

include defending Series champion

Ryan Hunter-Reay, four-time Series

champ Dario Franchitti, defending

Long Beach winner Will Power, Helio

Castroneves, Graham Rahal, Marco

Andretti, and Scott Dixon. The Series

will have cars with turbocharged engines supplied by Honda

and Chevrolet.

Other races over the weekend include the American Le Mans

Series Race, the Firestone Indy Lights, the Pirelli World

Challenge Championship, and the Super Drift Challenge.

A fan favorite is always the Toyota

Pro-Celebrity Race to be run on

Saturday, April 20. The race pits stars

from the worlds of sports and enter-

tainment against professional drivers

in identically prepared Scion FR-S

vehicles.

Music is an important attraction during

the weekend, beginning with the

Tecate Light Fiesta Friday Concert

featuring Moderatto and Moenia and

continuing with Saturday’s Rock-N

-Roar Concert with Bret Michaels. (Continued on page 3)

Congressman Lowenthal will be our guest on the Straight

Talk Show airing the weeks of March 16 & March 23.

Title Sponsor Title Sponsor

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www.ictlongbeach.org 2300 E. Ocean Blvd

Straight Talk Magazine

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forbiddencitylongbeach.com

Thought of the Month

Peter Drucker

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the

right things.”

greenhillsmemorial.com

1045 Atlantic Ave.

Office of

Leonard P. Cutuli, D.D.S.

Providing the finest in dental care

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Ethics and Politics

T he current dysfunctional government at the

national and state level is of great concern

to many citizens. Seeing our elected representa-

tives at loggerheads and unable or unwilling to

respond to the wishes of a majority of the elec-

torate is a source of increasing frustration.

How about applying to politics the widely ac-

cepted ethical principles which we try to follow

in our daily lives? Principles such as honesty,

integrity, accountability, fairness, transpar-

ency and promise-keeping. Imagine how the

application of these principles could transform

the political arena. The current gulf between

accepted principles and political behavior is cer-

tainly one of the reasons that politicians are held

in such low regard.

Many political practices offend the notion of

common sense and fairness. The “gut and

amend” practice of substituting one bill for an-

other at the very last moment and then having a

vote without any hearings and without even giv-

ing legislators a chance to read the bill defies

logic. The misuse of the filibuster in the Senate

makes it impossible for a simple majority to en-

act legislation on any matter of importance.

Gerrymandered districts in effect allow the

political parties to pick their voters rather than

having the voters elect their representatives. The

misuse of emergency relief bills, such as for

Hurricane Sandy, as a convenient vehicle to load

with pork and carry legislators’ pet projects

without hearings or adequate review is unsup-

portable. And the role of money in the political

process needs re-examination.

Is it not time for re-districting reform, as recent-

ly enacted in California, to spread to other

states? Is it not time to change the Senate rules

to limit the misuse of the filibuster? Shouldn’t

emergency relief bills be restricted to appropria-

tions that directly respond to the emergency?

Shouldn’t we at least have immediate and full

disclosure of all campaign contributions by the

true donor (not just some “front committee”) so

that voters will know who is really behind a can-

didate?

These and other needed reforms would be good

starting points to create a government worthy of

the people it represents. Ultimately, the entire

social contract is based upon an implied agree-

ment between the people and our leaders. We

entrust those who govern us with an immense

amount of authority and power, and they need to

exercise that power ethically and in the public

interest.

History teaches us that a society which becomes

corrupt will ultimately fail. The basic values of

America, as embodied in the Constitution and

the Declaration of Independence, are too im-

portant to us and the world to allow America to

fail. We need to start righting the ship of state.

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Leslie Gore at Palm Springs Follies

www.lbwater.org

scanhealthplan.com

I n 1963, a 16-year-old high school junior rec-

orded a song that instantly became the anthem

for a generation of teenage girls. It’s My Party

was Lesley Gore’s very first recording, and

rocketed to the top of the charts, reaching #1 and

selling over one million copies. On March 12,

2013, she makes her long awaited return to the

Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, playing through

May 19, 2013.

Born in New York City in 1946 and raised in

Tenafly, New Jersey, Gore was discovered by

famed record producer Quincy Jones. Her first

smash hit was quickly followed by a string of

other Jones-produced chart-toppers, including

That’s The Way Boys Are and Judy’s Turn To

Cry. Her proto-feminist anthem You Don’t Own

Me held the #2 spot on the charts for four weeks.

The Palm Springs Follies cele-

brate the music and dance of

Mid-Century America with a

cast ranging in age from 54 to 83

years “young”. The Follies

feature Broadway-caliber pro-

duction numbers and play five days a week

through late May.

The show is housed in the historic Plaza

Theatre, a charming neon encrusted old movie

house in downtown Palm Springs, which is an

attraction unto itself. During its 22 seasons, the

Follies have been seen by nearly three million

patrons.

For tickets or further information, please call

(760) 327-0225 or visit www.psfollies.com.

www.musical.org

Grand Prix (continued from page 1)

An all-new Super DRIFT Challenge competi-

tion will take place Friday and Saturday nights--

the first time any racing activity has been pre-

sented under the lights at Long Beach.

Expected to feature 16 of the sport’s top cars

and drivers, including 2012 series champ Daigo

Saito, Frederic Aasbo, Conrad Grunewald,

Ken Gushi and Tyler McQuarrie. Qualifying

runs will take place Friday night, and the com-

petition rounds will run Saturday night.

The Lifestyle Expo, free to all race attendees,

features more than 130 exhibitors offering the

latest products and services in automotive, trav-

el, home improvement, fitness and recreation.

The Green Power Prix View, part of the popu-

lar Lifestyle Expo, will feature weekend-long

displays of alternative energy vehicles and a

wide variety of renewable energy sources. An

expanded Family Fun Zone is part of this

year’s weekend.

Attending to visitors all weekend long are the

“Redcoats”, members of the Committee of 300

who volunteer their time manning the grand-

stands and making guests feel particularly

welcome. The C300 Paddock Club is a perfect

place to watch the race and enjoy food and

entertainment all weekend long. For Paddock

Club reservations, call (562) 981-9200.

For race tickets or further information, visit

www.gplb.com or call 1 (888) 82-SPEED.

Race CEO Jim Michaelian and Formula Drift

President Jim Liaw will be our guests on

Straight Talk.

A Special Edition of Straight Talk on the Toyota

Grand Prix of Long Beach will air the weeks of

March 30 and April 6.

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International Sustainability Expert on Straight Talk Dr. Alexander Redlein

Professor of Real Estate

and Facility Management

Vienna University of Technology

International expert Dr. Alexander Redlein

joins us on Straight Talk direct from Vienna,

Austria to discuss the growing importance of

sustainability in global business strategy.

Professor Redlein is visiting America in connection with the

Facility Fusion Conference of the International Facilities

Management Association (IFMA) in Los Angeles April 2-4.

His presentation, entitled “The Future of the Office Build-

ing”, deals with the growing trend towards sustainability and

mixed-use buildings.

The concept of sustainability and its corollary - the triple

bottom line of people, planet and profit - has increasingly

taken root as the guiding light for businesses across the globe.

For more information about the IFMA or the Facility

Fusion Conference, call (713) 623-4362 or visit

www.ifma.org.

Dr. Alexander Redlein is a university professor for Real

Estate and Facility Management at the Vienna University of

Technology, president of REUG and past president of IFMA

Austria. He is also an executive board member of EuroFM.

Professor Redlein has been engaged in research, education

and consultancy in the area of FM for almost 20 years. He is

head of the Centre for Real Estate and Facility Management

(IFM) at the Vienna University of Technology, which con-

sists of 15 researchers in the field of Facility and Real Estate

Management

Beside his research activities, he is responsible for technology

transfer between the university and CEE companies. In

numerous projects he acted as a strategic advisor, set up FM

concepts for international companies and optimized their FM

processes, ICT and space management. As a researcher he

conducted international studies about the status quo of FM in

CEE and about the value added by FM. In the area of sustain-

ability he analyses CSR reports and their impact on facility

and real estate management. In addition, he heads a MBA for

FM at the Vienna University of Technology and several FM

certification courses in CEE and also India.

Alex Redlein will be our guest on the Straight Talk Show

airing the weeks of April 27 & May 4.

BIO

Renaissance Faire Opens April 6


“Sir Francis Drake”

Renaissance Pleasure Faire

The Original Renaissance Pleasure

Faire returns to

Southern California

on Saturday, April

6 and runs seven

weekends through

May 19. The Faire

is located at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation

Center in the City of Irwindale. Hours are

10am to 7pm.

This year, the Faire is celebrating its 51st

Anniversary. Join in the fun at The Ultimate

Party! More than 1200 costumed performers

bring Shakespeare’s England to life with pa-

rades, pageants and perfectly delightful

townsfolk offering continuous entertainment

of an international variety spread throughout

the village.

Cirque du Soleil acrobats, juggling jokers and jesters, willful

wenches and jousting knights are ready to celebrate.

Thirteen stages of non-stop entertainment come alive, featur-

ing such favorites as the beloved MooNiE and the Wash

Well Wenches. In addition, 150 craft booths, hand-powered

rides and games are waiting to delight you.

Whether you thirst for a hearty English ale or a fine wine,

whether you hunger for a turkey leg or a

chocolate dipped cheesecake on a stick, over

100 gourmet foods and a dozen delicious

drinks are tempting your taste buds to give

them a try. Twenty-three food vendors offer

an array of foods from fish and chips and sau-

sages to salads and sorbets.

Back again is the popular Food Truck

Army, with a delightful assortment of addi-

tional foods including exquisite crepes, Asian

cuisine and adult styled grilled cheese.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for children

ages 5-12 (children 4 and under are free with

paid adult). Vehicle entry fee to the Recrea-

tion Area is $10. Parking is free.

For more information or tickets go to www.renfair.com or

call (626) 969-4750.

“Sir Francis Drake” will be our guest on the Straight Talk

kShow airing the weeks of April 13 & April 20.

Jewels of the Night


T he 19th Annual Jewels of the Night will be held on

Saturday, April 27 starting at 5pm in the Walter

Pyramid.

The event is hosted by the 49er Athletic Club. It is the larg-

est fundraiser of the year for the Long Beach State Athletic

Department and benefits 49er Student-Athlete Scholarships.

Jewels of the Night combines a night

of dining on cuisine from some of

Long Beach’s most popular restaurants

with the opportunity to bid on great

prizes in both a live and silent auction.

More than 20 of Long Beach’s best

restaurants will be on hand to serve

their most famous dishes in an energet-

ic and classy setting, complete with

wine tastings, a piano bar and live entertainment.

The expected 1,000 guests will have the opportunity to pur-

chase once-in-a-lifetime items and experiences during the

evening. Auction items include meet-and-greets with former

Dirtbags and current Major League Baseball stars, trips to

memorable destinations around the world and other great

prizes such as Les Robbins’ beautiful Alaskan wildlife pho-

tographs. All proceeds go directly towards the financial sup-

port of the more than 300 Long Beach State student-athletes.

The Jewels of the Night committee is headed by Judy

Black, the most recent Woman of the Year for the Rick-

Rackers. She has set expectations high, and has assembled a

committee set to pursue the goal of “Championships

Through Scholarships.”

According to 49er Athletic sources,

Black has compiled a team whose

solid foundation is built via represen-

tation from the essential areas of

Long Beach. Drawing from the

greater Long Beach community, a

base of strong local alumni and

numerous faculty, staff and coaches,

Black’s diverse group provides

valuable knowledge, leadership and experience that when

brought together should make this a fantastic event. With an

array of unique auction items up for bid, delectable food

from area eateries, and enjoyable live entertainment, this is

an ideal and enjoyable way to support 49er Athletics.

For advance reservations and sponsorship opportunities,

call (562) 985-7441. For more information, visit

www.jewelsofthenight.com.

LB Police Foundation Holds VIP Reception

N early 100 people attended the VIP Reception of the

Long Beach Police Foundation on Feb. 7 at the law

offices of Keesal, Young & Logan. Cocktails and delicious

appetizers were generously hosted by KYL at the beautiful

venue, with the spectacular view.

Chair of the Fundraising Campaign

and Master of Ceremonies Art

Levine, introduced inspiring guest

speakers including: Long Beach

Police Foundation President Daniel

Walker; Long Beach Chief of Police

Jim McDonnell; Long Beach City

Prosecutor Doug Haubert; Keesal,

Young & Logan Partner and former

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark

Greenberg. The audience was

moved tremendously by the impel-

ling stories that were shared.

Kareem Ahmed was honored for his generous gift to the

LBPF. He said he came into this world penniless and hoped

to leave the same way, to which McDonnell quipped, "Well, I

can help you with that goal!" Sgt. Tyae Burford, Detective

Sondra Benskin and Police Explorer Commander Rodolfo

Davila movingly described the value of Foundation support

to their activities.

The goal of the VIP Reception was to thank past donors, in-

cluding the over 100 Charter Mem-

bers of the LBPF, and to raise the

$75,000 remaining towards the

$200,000 goal of the Fundraising

Campaign.

The LBPF seeks to foster visible and

direct community support for the

Long Beach Police Department by

enhancing programs and services in

the areas of training, technology and

community outreach including

youth services.

Seen at the scene: Diana Hendel, Chris Lytle, Jim Hankla,

Cindy Allen, John Dixon, Dennis Hathaway …

Art Levine, Chief McDonnell, Kareen Ahmed and Dan Walker Photo Credit: Landmark Medical Inc.

Reprinted with permission from the Seen at the Scene column

by Shirley Wild appearing in the Press-Telegram on Sunday,

February 17, 2013.


Straight Talk

Long Beach First Lady Nancy Foster introduces

Mayor Bob Foster at the State of the City Address.

Audience members listen to Mayor Foster deliver the

State of the City Address to a packed house at the

Center Theatre.

Mayor Bob Foster is joined by his grandchildren

Ryan, Bobby and Taylor following delivery of the

State of the City Address.

Guests join Host Art Levine in the TV studio before the

taping of a Straight Talk Show on “The Arts.” Pictured

(l. to r.) Actor Brian Stanton, Producer Mariana

Williams and Director Carl daSilva.

Mariana Williams, Producer of the LB Greatest Story-

teller Competition, reviews the six finalist contestants

and their stories for the audience at the Long Beach

Playhouse prior to their voting.

2012 Long Beach Greatest Storyteller Competition win-

ner Jason Bowe happily shows his award to the packed

LB Playhouse audience as last year’s winner, Hiroshi

Hosoda looks on.


Around Town

Andy Perez is surrounded by friends and colleagues,

(l. to r.) Betsy Brien, Beth Mastee and Jamie

Newman, at the Opening Night Gala for International

City Theatre’s hit show Around the World in 80 Days.

LBPD Officer Tyrone Anderson and Criminalist

Greg Gossage are among those presented IMPACT

awards this year by Long Beach City Prosecutor

Doug Haubert. The awards are presented annually

to officers and citizens who “have made a positive

significant impact in the City of Long Beach in the

past year.”

Sgt. William Hutchinson, President of the Palm

Springs POA is interviewed by television reporter

Megan Terlecky in connection with the group’s

support for fallen police officers and their families.

LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey speaking

at the Richard Rose Career Achievement Award

Luncheon honoring Long Beach Police Officer

Don Radcliff.

Sunnylands, the 25,000 square foot winter home of the

late Walter and Leonore Annenberg. Located on 200

acres in Rancho Mirage, the home is now in public

trust for use as a high-level retreat center, and is some-

times referred to as “Camp David West.”

The swimming pool and private nine-hole golf course

at Sunnylands are framed by the majestic mountains.


Sponsor & Community News Forbidden City now offers a Sunday Buffet Brunch from

12-3pm. Enjoy their delicious Egg Fu Yong, Szechuan

Bacon, Walnut Shrimp, Orange Chicken and famous Magic

Beans. Only $15, including a gourmet dessert bar.

Naples Rib Company Remember to order Rib Co. for your

March Madness gatherings. Buckets, Trays and Party Packs

for all size groups. Best yet...you can order on-line! Easter is

right around the corner and we are opening at Noon. Great

seating for large parties- make your reservation on-line at

www.ribcompany.com.

Polly’s Gourmet Coffee Proprietor Michael Sheldrake has

been elected as President of the Belmont Shore Business

Association. Congratulations Mike!

Russo’s Ristorante Russo’s is offering half-priced

appetizers throughout the month of March.

Phil Trani’s is hosting a Straight Talk Night on Thursday,

April 4 from 6-8pm honoring the Toyota Grand Prix of

Long Beach. Race CEO Jim Michaelian will be there to

provide the latest update on race weekend, as well as other

SURPRISE GUESTS! Watch Straight Talk host Art Levine

interview Jim on a Special Edition of the show on Phil’s

wide screen TV. Hosted appetizers. Free on-site parking.

Long Beach Symphony The Long Beach Symphony

Orchestra presents the Inaugural Symphony Chefs’ Challenge

on Sunday, March 10 from 5 to 7:30pm at Friedmans

Appliance Center. Executive Chefs from Gladstone’s,

L’Opera, Michaels on Naples, The Queen Mary and Tanta-

lum will slice, season and sauté in a timed competition in the

new kitchens at Friedmans.

Guests will be treated to live jazz, wine, champagne, martini

bar, sumptuous hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and a surprise

dessert while observing the chefs in action. TV personality

Art Levine will provide commentary as he interviews the

chefs and the professional judges. And you will be part of the

action as you get to “vote” for your favorite chef.

Tickets are $175 with all proceeds benefitting the Symphony.

Enjoy great food and company at this unique event. To pur-

chase tickets or for further information call (562) 494-2784

or visit www.lbso.org/chefschallenge.

Photo Focus: Aquatic Capital


Tom Shadden, President of the Aquatic Capital

Foundation, at their Fourth Annual Awards Banquet

held at Keesal, Young and Logan.

Banquet Chairman Drew Satariano welcomes

guests to the Aquatic Capital of America Awards

Banquet.

Long Beach State Women’s Volleyball Head Coach

Brian Gimmillaro, three-time Olympian Misty May

and Aquatic Capital Foundation President Tom Shadden

following presentation of the Athlete of the Year Award

to Misty.

Chief of Lifeguards Randy Foster, Junior Lifeguard

of the Year Hannah Levy and Aquatic Capital Board

Member Dick Miller following presentation of a

Special Achievement Award to Hannah.

2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Jessica Hardy is sur-

rounded by her mother Denise Robinson and her

swimming coach Dave Salo, who received the

Aquatic Capital Coach of the Year Award.

Gazette Editor Harry Saltzgaver with Olympian

Susie Atwood at the Aquatic Capital of America

Awards Banquet.


Let’s Fingerprint Hand Guns

by

Dr. Craig R. Smith

Director, Center for First Amendment Studies, CSULB

I n an editorial in the Miami Herald in 1998, I put forward a

program to fingerprint all guns in America. I have been

fighting for the program ever since.

One of my biggest challenges has been the interpretation of

the Second Amendment, the shortest and most misunderstood

amendment in the Bill of Rights. It reads simply, “A well-

regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free

state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not

be infringed.” Many people wrongly assume that the amend-

ment was passed to allow citizens to possess weapons in case

they needed them to defend themselves from a federal gov-

ernment that became dictatorial. However, the true context of

the Second Amendment is more complex than that. It is

important that we interpret the Second Amendment in light of

its original text because as any good linguist can tell you,

context creates meaning.

The story of the Second Amendment begins in the Common-

wealth of Massachusetts under the Articles of Confederation,

which preceded our current Constitution. The Massachusetts

state constitution contained a provision that the people have

the right to keep and bear arms but only for “the common

defense.” Thus, in 1786 when Daniel Shays fomented a

rebellion against the state when it raised his taxes, Massachu-

setts formed a citizens’ militia to protect itself. When Shays

attempted to raid an armory in Springfield, the militia inter-

vened killing four and wounding twenty of Shays’ followers.

In 1789, Massachusetts ratified the new Constitution provi-

sionally with the condition that a bill of rights be added as

soon as possible. When Representative James Madison put

out the call for amendments that would become the Bill of

Rights, Massachusetts sent an amendment to allow states to

form militias by giving citizens the right to bear arms. It was

added to the Constitution in 1791. Thus, in its historic context

the Amendment means that states are empowered to allow

their citizens to bear arms so that militias can be formed to

protect states from rebellions. You don’t have to take my

word for it.

Placing the Amendment in context, the Ninth Circuit Court of

Appeals has ruled that the Second Amendment does NOT

prohibit states or the federal government from restricting the

possession of guns. The Court used the conservative stand-

ards of “original intent” and “strict construction of the Con-

stitution” to reach its unanimous conclusion. Commenting on

the Amendment –– the Court concluded that “‘well-

regulated’ confirms that ‘militia’ can only reasonably be

construed as referring to a military force established and

controlled by a government entity.”

Unfortunately, in a 5 - 4 decision concerning Chicago’s ban

on guns, the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010 overruled the Ninth

Circuit Court. The five conservative justices ignored their

own precept of original intent and the historic context of the

Second Amendment. So unless the Supreme Court comes to

its senses and revisits the issue, or a new justice is appointed

to replace one of the five on the so-called conservative side,

we must rely on other measures to deal with gun control in a

constitutional way.

Fingerprinting guns is such a measure. My 1998 proposal was

endorsed by President Clinton in his 1999 State of the Union

Address and was converted into legislation by a bi-partisan

coalition led by Senators Feinstein and Kohl. However, the

legislation was blocked by the pro-gun lobby.

I then brought the proposal to the state level, hoping Califor-

nia might become a model for other states. Progress was

made when I testified on behalf of AB1717 which set up a

feasibility study. Working with such companies as SecuGen,

we found that digital files could be created using optical

scanning. In 2002 in the Los Angeles Times, I encouraged the

California Legislature to implement the program as a model

for the nation. The NRA opposed our efforts and budget

constraints put the legislation on hold. Given recent tragedies,

it is time for a new look.

On an average day in America, nine children and 16 adults

are killed by guns; that’s over 9,000 deaths a year. 570

robberies are committed using a gun; and over 1,000 assaults

occur where a handgun is involved. About 240 people a day

are injured by gun fire. If you have a gun in your house, it is

far more likely to be used in a quarrel, a suicide attempt, a

suicide, or an accidental shooting than to stop an intruder.

Many children have found guns at home and taken them to

school. Each year about 4 million guns are purchased

bringing the current number in circulation to around 300

million, and many of these are assault weapons.

That number is rising as gun shows, which are basically

unregulated, sell more weapons than ever before. Gunshot

violence costs $20 billion a year. For all these reasons, in an

argument before the Supreme Court in 2008, President

(Continued on page 13)

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Bush’a U.S. Solicitor General Paul D. Clement said guns are

subject to “reasonable regulation” by the government and that

all federal restrictions on guns should be upheld.

To "fingerprint" every gun sold in America, we need only to

digitalize the unique barrel markings on any bullet fired

through it. Since every gun is test-fired by the manufacturer

before it is put on the market, there is a bullet available that

holds the unique barrel markings of that particular gun.

If manufacturers were required to make one bullet from each

gun they produced and were about to market available to the

Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau could digitalize

the unique barrel markings of each gun and keep them on

file, along with the serial number of the gun and the name

and address of the owner when the gun is purchased.

Guns that have already been sold can be brought into a local

test-firing facility, test-fired, and their riflings would also be

registered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. No law

abiding citizen should object to such a procedure.

Then the Federal Bureau of Investigation (and all local law

enforcement agencies upon request) would have a new and

extremely efficient way of connecting the bullet from the

crime-scene with the gun that was used for the crime since

the markings on the spent bullets could be compared with the

digitalized files housed at the Federal Bureau of Investiga-

tion. The identification of the gun could then lead to the

identity of the registered owner.

One advantage of the program is that it discourages the use of

a "straw man purchaser" to obtain a gun for a criminal or

someone who is under age. This proposal ties the gun to the

"straw man purchaser." Should that person turn the gun over

to someone else, they do so at great risk for if that gun is used

in a crime, it would be traced directly back to the

purchaser unless that person recorded a bill of sale to the

criminal or under-age buyer. Some legislatures have passed

legislation to digitalize bullet casings. Since many automatic

weapons retain bullet casings and since they also can be

picked up at the crime scene, monitoring them is not nearly

as effective keeping a file of bullet head markings. Bullets

are much more difficult to remove from a body, let alone

from a crime scene.

Every police chief I have run this proposal by has endorsed it.

For example, when he was Chief of Police in San Diego,

Dave Bejarano wrote me that the proposal “has the potential

to greatly assist law enforcement in its efforts to combat and

investigate serious crime.” (italics added) I believe that it is

possible, indeed easy, to remove the guns from the sphere of

practicality for the commission of crimes. Remember, every

day we delay more innocent people are killed by weapons

that could be more easily traced.


Watch Anytime

Guest Column (Continued from page 12)

Craig Smith was a recent guest on Straight Talk. In the

course of the interview, he discussed fingerprinting of guns,

the Second Amendment and the constitutional issues raised

by proposed gun control legislation. You can watch the show

anytime at www.StraightTalkTV. Click on Show Archives to

see show. The show is also viewable 24/7 on YouTube and

facebook.


Sponsor Spotlight: Performance Plus - “Locally World Famous”

Art

Long Beach Museum of Art…………….…(562) 439-2119

Auto Dealership

Cerritos Acura………..……………………(562) 402-5281

Bank

Citibank - Belmont Shore Branch…………(562) 240-2616

Cable TV/Internet/Phone

Charter Communications……………….…(888) 438-2427

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Cemetery

Green Hills Memorial Park………………..(310) 831-0311

Coffee

Polly’s Gourmet Coffee…………………...(562) 433-2996

Dentist

Leonard P. Cutuli, D.D.S.………………....(562) 435-5388

Employment and Entertainment Law

Peter Law Group…………………………,,,(310) 277-0010

Import/Export

Port of Long Beach…………………..….....(562) 437-0041

Internal Medicine

Dr. Marcy Zwelling………………………..(562) 596-7584

Jewelry

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Medicare Plans

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Tires/Wheels/Service

Performance Plus Tire & Auto Superstore..………(562) 988-0211

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Long Beach Water Department…..…………….....(562) 570-2300

Southern California Edison………………....…….(800) 655-4555

Shop our Local Quality Sponsors

When a new customer enters the massive showroom of

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For over 40 years, local resident and owner

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Let Performance Plus take care of your

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Sponsor Directory

3911 Cherry Ave.

Long Beach

(562) 988-0211 www.performanceplustire.com

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