Brown after guns and trees

Gov. Jerry Brown last week signed laws that both angered and appeased local state representatives.

First, he signed Assembly Bill 744 by Assemblyman Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) and Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) to expand tree removal as a means of reducing catastrophic forest fires and, in the words of Nielsen, restoring “forests to their natural and safe conditions.” The law increases the size of trees that can be legally removed from those with an 18-inch diameter to those 24 inches in diameter. Environmental-protection groups aren’t too happy with the law.

On the other hand, those same groups do support Brown’s signing of Assembly Bill 711, which bans the use of lead bullets. Nielsen, however, wasn’t so pleased. He said in a press release, “This bill may effectively destroy time-honored family outdoor gatherings, and end a vital component of rural life in California.”

Overall, Brown signed eight bills aimed at gun restrictions, while vetoing four others—all penned by Democrats.