California's new assault weapons ban, which is intended to "stop the murder of innocent Californians by weapons designed solely to kill on the battlefield," according to the bill's author, Senator Don Perata, is also threatening to stop the development of Olympic pistol shooting in the state. At least that's the way it looks to 18-year-old Lauren Santiba�ez, a top junior shooter and Olympic hopeful from San Diego.

Santiba�ez's target pistol, a Walther .22-caliber rimfire with a custom, left-handed grip, has been included in the ban because it shares a characteristic with guns associated with several mass murders, including Columbine: Its ammunition magazine is in front of the trigger instead of in the grip, which gives it greater accuracy and reliability. "I understand what they are trying to do, but it's affecting the wrong people," says Santiba�ez, a four-time junior national champion. "It doesn't seem fair."

The law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, dictates that nobody in California can purchase or bring into the state target pistols like Santiba�ez's. (And those who already own such guns must register them by the end of the year.) Because some of the Walthers are classified as assault weapons, under no circumstances are minors allowed to touch one -- which means future Olympic hopefuls in the state will not have access to some of the most accurate pistols. "If juniors can't touch them, it is going to destroy Olympic competition in California," says Sandy Santiba�ez, Lauren's father.

Though as an adult Lauren can now legally use the Walther, which she has been using since she was 14 and is owned by her father, her plight in the 24 days between the law's enactment and her 18th birthday on Jan. 25 -- during which time she couldn't even hold the gun without committing a felony -- convinced state assemblywoman Charlene Zettel that the law needed to be amended. In February, Zettel introduced a "cleanup" bill that would exempt weapons used in USA Shooting-sanctioned events from the ban. "[Zettel] wanted people in the Golden State to be able to pursue the golden dream," says her spokesman John Kabateck.

It's too early to say whether the proposal, which has the support of the California Justice Department's Firearms Division, but not of Perata, will pass. As the legislative wrangling goes on in Sacramento, Santiba�ez will continue to prepare for the Olympic pistol shooting trials in June. "One reason I'm good at shooting is that I can stay focused," she says. "I don't let a lot of things bother me."

Even in California, when the two nuts with AK-47's firing fully auto went about, they were unable to hit targets of signifigance with any accuracy or repeatability. Point is just because you got a lot of bullets doesn't make you more lethal.

Hell, if you think about it almost all weapons are designed about a defensive purpose, the pistol, the shotgun, the machine gune, the "assault" guns, the only weapon ever designed to be a truley offensive weapon is the sniper rifle. In fact in Wichita, because my winchester model 70 had a detachable 3 round box magazine (bolt action .300 win mag) I would have had to wait 5 days to pick it up from time of purchase.

The British came for a money, told us how to worship and then came for the guns, hence the Revelutionary War. See a correlation in current events. IRS, Waco, Ruby Ridge, and other's, gun control?

is it illegal for a person to make their own weapon???Say one thats ceramic not metalic and one that would be classified as an Assault weapon? I'm just wondering cause I think since I can't buy NEW guns that fit any of those why not make one of my own...

Our electee's need a wake up call, they are creating laws that we don't want day in and day out, it is really getting out of hand. Did you know in most states that you can be jailed for adultary (sp) not that we condone it, but for example you date a girl who is separated from her husband, he finds out, calls the cops and pushes the issue, guess what you both go to jail. Now is that fair?

chesty