Gun Laws in California

Michael Let's get straight to today's main topic: Gun ownership in the USA, bang, bang! 86 million Americans own a total of about 240 million guns. In the US, the right to bear arms is enshrined in the Constitution. As mentioned in the previous newsletter, the Constitution of the USA has several Amendments. The first of these, freedom of speech, we explained last time with practical examples. The second Amendment, however, says:

"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."

Well, that's something! The constitution states that no federal or state law may restrict the ownership and carrying of firearms -- for the purpose, according to the founding fathers, to ensure that there is always a capable militia (citizens' defense force) that can defend itself against a government that goes rogue if necessary.

To understand the seemingly bizarre love that Americans have for their guns, which appears strange to Europeans, one must delve deeper into it. Defending one's own home or family against intruders, if necessary, certainly plays a role, but it is not always the primary focus. The American line of thought is that a true democracy allows every citizen to arm themselves and effectively dismantle potential oppressors, such as a military dictatorship.

Shortly after the abolition of slavery, blacks in the country were still not allowed to own or carry firearms. It was only with the Fourteenth Amendment, which was added to the Constitution in 1868, that it was established that former slaves were now federal citizens and therefore allowed to bear arms.

Most Americans deeply distrust the federal government in Washington--much more so than in Germany, where people are aware that politicians occasionally get involved in corruption scandals, transfer undeclared money to Switzerland, or evade taxes, but no one would assume that the next military coup is imminent. The extreme case here in the USA involves some fanatics in Montana who barricade themselves in fortresses, refuse to apply for credit cards or social security numbers, and spend all day jumping around in camouflage uniforms.

Therefore: "Every man be armed!" -- every law abiding citizen is allowed to buy a gun here at the store around the corner. In the Wild West, this was a necessity for survival; people would shoot first and negotiate later. Now, this regulation is, of course, impractical in modern big cities, as no one wants to be shot down by the next fool. Although it wouldn't be legal to get shot, it doesn't help much if you're dead.

Therefore, there are different regulations from state to state that restrict carrying firearms in public. For example, anyone who has been charged with or convicted of a crime is not allowed to carry a weapon. Mentally incompetent individuals, illegal immigrants, those dishonorably discharged from the military, citizens who have renounced their citizenship, or drug addicts are also prohibited from doing so.

These restrictions naturally contradict the constitution somewhat--and, as expected, cause constant disputes between gun enthusiasts on one side and alarmed citizens on the other. The latter have drawn their conclusions from massacres like the one at Columbine High School in April 1999 (15 dead, 184 injured) and are henceforth willing to make slight concessions to the constitution if it ensures the safety of their children.

For the average citizen, it is usually only prohibited to carry a "concealed weapon," a hidden firearm. Almost nowhere is one allowed to carry a pistol under a jacket--unless one has a special permit. Even then, government buildings, airports, sports stadiums, and similar places are off-limits. However, in one's own home or rented apartment and on one's own property, one can store and carry loaded weapons as much as one likes, as long as children cannot access them.

The interests of gun enthusiasts are represented by an organization called the NRA, the "National Rifle Association," which as of today has four million members. Those who want to stock up on baseball caps with the NRA logo or T-shirts and sweaters with clear inscriptions ("My President is Charlton Heston" -- the actor Charlton Heston (e.g., "Planet of the Apes") is now the president of the NRA) are referred to the NRA online store at http://store.nrahq.org/nra . At http://www.nra.org , there are also numerous stories to read about how armed citizens were able to prevent crimes at the last moment. In various books, experts argue about what actually leads to fewer crimes: readily available weapons, which might deter criminals from attacking people or breaking into homes because they would then have to expect armed resistance, or stricter gun control laws, so that criminals also find it harder to obtain weapons, resulting in fewer gun accidents -- and also preventing citizens from immediately wiping out their families if something goes wrong.

You can easily buy various firearms at a gun shop. Rumor has it that even Walmart (a supermarket) sells weapons. Since it had become customary for robbers to first stop by the gun store and then the bank, laws were passed that imposed a waiting period of a few days for handguns. In contrast, you can get rifles immediately.

For a long time, people in America could buy firearms in stores as easily as beer and take them home immediately. This changed in 1981 when an event shocked the public: a madman shot at President Reagan with a pistol he had purchased shortly before. Although Reagan escaped with minor injuries, the bullet severely wounded his press secretary, Jim Brady, who was left paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair. Together with his wife, Sarah Brady, he then campaigned for a new law to prevent criminals from committing crimes with newly purchased firearms. Seven years after the proposal, which became known as the "Brady Bill," was introduced, and it was finally approved by Congress in 1993 and signed by President Clinton, who strongly supported the proposal despite strong opposition from the gun lobby.

Every buyer was henceforth required to fill out "ATF Form 4473," which, among other things, asks whether the person has a criminal record or has ever been in a psychiatric institution. If you check "Yes," you won't get the newly selected gun. If you check "No," the data is forwarded to the local police station, which is supposed to make a "reasonable effort" within the next five business days to find out through the driver's license office whether the potential buyer has a criminal record, is involved in ongoing legal proceedings, or has been officially noted for drug abuse or general instability. If the buyer is a law-abiding citizen of the USA, the approval comes after five business days, and the purchased gun can be picked up at the store.

In 1995, the Supreme Court upheld another gun control law: No weapons are allowed within 1,000 feet (approximately 300 meters) of a school. Nowadays, each state has its own gun laws, and sometimes even different counties follow different regulations.

In California, since October 1993, only people who can present a "basic firearms safety certificate" are allowed to purchase handguns. This certificate proves that the buyer has completed a basic course in handgun handling. After a waiting period of 10 days, the buyer may pick up the weapon from the store if the background check has cleared. In one's own home or office, the firearm may then be carried loaded and at will. Every gun dealer must have a sign in the store that reads, "If you leave a loaded firearm where a child obtains and improperly uses it, you may be fined or sent to prison." Anyone who does not ensure that the weapon is securely locked in a cabinet will be fined or imprisoned if children gain access to it and cause harm.

In California, however, no handgun may be carried in a car or on the street without a special permit, which can be very difficult to obtain. A loaded handgun, in the glove compartment or under the seat, under the jacket or in the wasteband is a serious offense, punishable by jail in certain circumstances. Interestingly, the law does not prohibit carrying a gun openly, like in a holster as the Cowboys did in the Wild West. That seems to be allowed, although I haven’t seen anyone doing it in the city yet—but I wouldn’t be surprised!

Vacation in Las Vegas

Michael Hey, and we went on vacation again: We actually wanted to go to New York before Christmas. New York during the Christmas season--whether or not Christmas means anything to you--is simply stunning. Overall, New York is a fascinating city. But it didn't happen this year because apparently all of America goes to New York during the Christmas season, and hotel and flights were astronomically pricey, even for us earning in dollars.

Angelika then came up with the idea of simply checking us into the "New York New York" hotel in Las Vegas instead. This hotel looks like the New York City skyline, has the Statue of Liberty in front, and even features its own roller coaster. Las Vegas is just a good hour's flight from San Francisco, so we flew there on a Wednesday evening in December. We planned to stay in Las Vegas for just one night and then drive to the more easterly located Death Valley to explore the desert landscape there. But more on that later.

Let your newsletter reporter tell you: Las Vegas has changed, my friends. Perhaps you know that Angelika and I first crossed paths there almost 14 years ago. I remember affordable hotels and restaurants -- every casino offered buffet for $1.99 or so, where you could eat until you burst, which Huber and I did extensively back in the day, as we were getting by on 30 dollars a day.

Of course, these buffets do get tiresome; by the third meal at the latest, you're fed up with the food. Until recently, there were no decent restaurants in Las Vegas for spoiled Californians--but that has changed by now. We dined out twice, once at "Il Fornaio" (Casino "New York New York") and once at "Cafe Puck" (by the Austrian Wolfgang Puck, "MGM Casino"), and both times the food was excellent.

The hotel room was amazing. We paid about the price of an upscale motel room and got a luxury suite that was as big as our apartment in San Francisco. In the living room, there was also a huge bathtub with a faucet that bubbled like a small river (see picture 8). By the way, if you want to stay in the same room, the room number is 534, in the so-called "New York Tower" at the "New York New York" hotel.

Las Vegas Hotelroom Shenanigans

Death Valley

Michael Before leaving Las Vegas, we stopped at a supermarket to stock up on groceries. In high spirits, I took a photo of Angelika selecting potato chips at the supermarket (Picture 13). Immediately, a saleswoman approached me and said I wasn't allowed to do that. I mumbled something and slinked away. As I later found out, this is not allowed because the supermarket wants to keep the shelf arrangement secret. Manufacturers pay high prices for whether and where the goods are placed on the shelves. We then crossed the state border into California and only stopped again at "Death Valley Junction" to take pictures of old junk (Photos 14 and 15).

That's the rural and remote America that's always fascinated me -- and the desert light plays as brilliantly as nowhere else in the world. It almost looks unreal, try clicking on the pictures to enlarge them. Almost fourteen years ago, when I traveled to the USA for the first time, this vastness captivated me and has never let me go. What do the people who live here do? More than two hours by car from the nearest reasonably large city? Do they eat steak every day? Watch TV every evening?

The food situation was really terrible. Outside of Las Vegas, with its now genuinely diverse cuisine, there are only steakhouses and those quintessentially American restaurants called "diners." You sit in so-called "booths," which look like the open train compartments in commuter trains from the past. Thick red, comfortably upholstered benches, and each table has its own little cubicle. In San Francisco, there's only one good diner, by the way, it's called Max's, and I'm constantly waiting for Max Schuster to visit us so I can take him there. I also force Angelika every two months to go to this place, which is exotic by San Francisco standards, so I can indulge on a greasy bacon burger, making me feel sick for the rest of the day. But in the middle of nowhere, there's nothing but gas stations and diners -- and that gets annoying in the long run.

What's in Death Valley? A totally bizarre desert landscape with mountains, canyons, incredible light, and dried-up salt flats! The name comes from a touching story that I don't want to withhold from you: It happened during the time of pioneers and gold diggers, who, having just arrived by ship from Europe, set out overland to the West Coast of America. Many dangers had to be overcome! They traveled for months in their covered wagons. Near what is now the state of Nevada, a group believed they had found a new shortcut to California--they entered the valley but could not proceed further.

Two men set out to find a way out of the valley and left the group behind. When the two did not return after two weeks, the remaining group split into two halves. One half tried to escape the valley on their own--and they succeeded. The other group waited for the dispatched pioneers. One of the two men met a grim fate, but the other managed to return to the group and lead them out of the valley along a scouted path. As they left the valley, one of the women on the covered wagon dramatically proclaimed, "Goodbye, Death Valley," and thus the name of the valley was born: Death Valley. Ah.

On the road in the middle of nowhere, a cute little coyote approached us. However, one must not feed these fellows because they should not forget how to hunt for their food. Even Angelika, who usually dislikes dogs, had her heart softened.

As in all American national parks, there are also people who have died in Death Valley, which is why there are a thousand warning signs everywhere. This time it was a tourist from Austria who had attempted a hike through the "Golden Canyon" in the summer, where it was about 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, and he suffered a heat stroke. That's why there's a sign at the trailhead warning in typically clumsy translated German (see Image 2014): "The desert heat and dryness can kill you. No water, so bring enough water. It is coolest in the early morning." Sometimes I wonder why there are people in America who think they speak German but make totally ridiculous mistakes. German exchange students, sign up in droves! But I digress. The "Golden Canyon" consists of the chemical "borax," which, according to the rangers, can be used for cleaning products and cockroach extermination. Accordingly, the canyon looks like a gravel pit, only prettier.

Additionally, mines were dug out everywhere to extract natural resources like silver. However, you are not allowed to enter the mines because, according to the warning signs, you could easily explode. Therefore, we stayed away from the mines and only covered 15 miles on foot through the mountains. Fortunately, we're both going to the gym now, otherwise, we would have collapsed. I haven't hiked that much since my time in the military. There, we once had to walk 25 miles as punishment because we had stopped at a beer garden during a 12 mile march. And no one noticed that instead of the unnecessary heavy equipment, I only carried a large pillow in my backpack, haha!

The park offers a completely surreal landscape with sand dunes. By the way, Ansel Adams photographed here in the 50s with a black-and-white film; there's this photo where the dune looks like a crescent moon. We went there twice because the first time it was almost too dark, and the lady photographer demanded optimal lighting conditions. Do you see the small black spot on top of the dune in Figure 25? That's Angelika, who was up there with her photography equipment. If you enlarge the picture on the internet by clicking on it, you can see Angelika with two backpacks.

And there's another attraction, a ghost town called Rhyolite near Death Valley. Ghost towns are simply abandoned towns that were deserted after the reason for settlement (e.g., gold rush) disappeared. In the case of Rhyolite, borax mining simply became unprofitable, and people scattered in all directions. Today, you can see dilapidated cars and 50-year-old crumbling houses there -- that's considered really old in America!

Trip to Germany

News in Politics

Chaos On the Electrical Grid

Angelika Yes, and I have to report on another political issue. California is currently grappling with a severe energy crisis. Every day we are threatened with the possibility that, literally, the lights will go out for a few hours because the electricity being produced is no longer sufficient. Even today, we are at energy alert level 3, which means that the power companies might turn off the supply in the late afternoon, leaving us without electricity for a few hours.

Go ahead and mock this supposedly high-tech country! So far, however, there hasn't been a so-called "blackout," but only because many companies voluntarily close early to save on power usage. I can tell you, it's really annoying having to walk around equipped with a flashlight, especially in the darkroom where I was really nervous last week. If the power goes out there, and with it the red light, you can't see your hand in front of your face because the walls are painted black and there are no windows. It's well known that Americans aren't exactly masters at conserving power. It's therefore quite amusing to watch when measures are discussed on how to save. At AOL, for example, employees were instructed to turn off their computers when they go home.

The crisis in California is, of course, self-inflicted. First, there's the booming Silicon Valley, which, with its high-tech companies, and those consume enormous amounts of electricity. Then there's the never-ending growth of the Californian population. However, the main cause is that in 1996, under Governor Pete Wilson, the energy market was deregulated: prices that energy companies can charge consumers cannot exceed a certain level.

But when energy companies have to purchase electricity themselves, the free market applies. A very illogical situation. Since Californian energy companies obtain most of their electricity from other states (there are far too few power plants in California, and too few new ones have been built to meet demand), and energy companies there are ruthlessly exploiting the situation, prices on the free market have skyrocketed to astronomical levels. This means that energy companies in California are buying at much higher prices than they are selling, accumulating debt upon debt, so that, for example, the company PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company) is facing bankruptcy. As an initial emergency measure, it was decided that prices could be temporarily increased (I turned pale when I opened last month's electricity bill), but that's probably just a drop in the bucket. It's a good thing I bought one of those huge flashlights, like the ones used in construction, a few months ago. I had thought of power outages after an earthquake and had to endure Michael's mocking comments, but he who laughs last, laughs best, as they say.

Ha, information can change in minutes. There have just been the first so-called "rolling blackouts": each time a different neighborhood is without power, and it rotates. Our neighborhood hasn't been affected yet. However, I just found out that we are in Block 12. So, we are twelfth in line, and at 5 PM, the power was cut for the people in Block 5. By the way, you can find out which block you belong to by looking at your power bill (bottom left, in case anyone is interested). So now I have to type even faster to finish the newsletter before the power goes out.

Karaoke

Angelika Now I would like to contribute something to your amusement. As Michael already mentioned once, we will probably be going on vacation to Japan in the near future. That's why this year for Christmas, there were all sorts of gifts related to "Japan." Michael was delighted with sake cups (sake = Japanese rice wine), various types of sake, miso soup bowls, and the highlight, a Japanese language class that we will both start in April. But what would Japan be without karaoke? You know, that's the thing where you sing along to well-known music. Usually, a video plays on the screen, the music plays, and the lyrics are displayed--but you have to sing yourself. Now, Michael's Japanese colleague at work loves "karaoke." She says that singing relaxes her completely. During a Christmas party at the house of Michael's other colleague, she tried to persuade us to go to karaoke with her. At first, I turned pale with shock, as I assumed I would have to sing on a stage in front of several hundred people (that's how I knew it from television).

Not at all. In Japan, karaoke is quite different: You rent a room equipped with a TV, video, and of course, a microphone and gigantic speakers, and you sing among yourselves. In Japan, for example, it's popular to first go out to eat with friends and then later rent a karaoke room. Since I was in an especially good mood at the aforementioned Christmas party, I gladly agreed, which made Michael turn a bit pale. Said and done: In Japantown in San Francisco, you can not only eat good sushi (raw fish) but also rent karaoke rooms in a karaoke studio (that's all they do). It was exactly as described: A small room with a TV, sound system, and couch, as well as huge binders from which you select the songs you want to sing (one binder was filled with English songs, another with Japanese songs). Then you enter the song number into the karaoke machine using a remote control, and immediately the music starts playing and the video appears with the lyrics on the screen. To know when to start singing, the lyrics are highlighted in color.

By the way, they don't play the well-known music videos that belong to the original songs there, probably due to copyright reasons, and instead use completely different movies, which can be hilarious at times. You should have seen us. Michael, of course, sang "Sharp Dressed Man" by "ZZ Top" -- priceless. By the way, the whole thing is not that easy. You often start at the wrong time, even though the lyrics are highlighted, and because of the microphone and the amplification, it's not easy to stay on pitch. But the more off-key the singing gets, the funnier it is! And Michael's colleague was right. The whole thing is actually relaxing. The two hours we rented the room just flew by. So, would any of you like to try it out when you visit us next time?

So, that's it once again from the wild, wild West from your intrepid newsletter reporters who fear neither death nor the devil. Four fists for a hallelujah, yeehaw!

Michael und Angelika