April 1, 2022. A new California statute will prohibit state employees (as teachers, police officers, and health workers) from using firearm terms in official communications. Assembly Bill 2243, which was authored by Tony Fulenzo (D. Los Angeles), includes over 30 gun-related terms as “hate speech”. Any words or phrases that are considered “hate speech” under California law are prohibited from official publications, school textbooks, public-sector communications, including email, and any other communication (including email) that is not explicitly authorized by the state. By effect of AB 2243 then, dozens of gun-related nouns, verbs, and adjectives will be banned, and “shall no longer be uttered or used in the State of California by any public agent or employee”.Assemblyman Fulenzo said his intent in sponsoring AB 2243 was to alter public attitudes toward firearms, and in particular, to convince school children that firearms are bad. We want to stop young children from conceiving firearms as “cool” or “exciting”. It is best to just forget about it. We must dismantle the “gun culture”. This starts with banning the words. “Fulenzo stated that AB 2243 was inspired in part by existing bans against racist “hate speech”. “We don’t want children to talk about guns or read about guns. First, it is important to eliminate firearm-related words from textbooks and classroom presentations as well as state documents. This is not a new idea. California has also taken similar steps to ban hateful language directed at minorities. California law has banned the use the ‘N-word (and other racist words) in official state publications as well as school textbooks. We are now following the example of California and banning the use of the ‘G” word (i.e. Next, Oregon bans gun words
Meanwhile, in neighboring Oregon, anti-gun groups have called for the passage of similar legislation banning the use of firearms-related terminology.Permitted Word Equivalencies for Banned Firearm Terms
AB 2243, when it becomes law, will ban more than 30 firearm-related terms, including “gun”, “pistol”, “rifle”, “bullet” and other commonly-used phrases. AB 2243 allows for substitute words and phrases when a firearm is needed, such as in a police report. AB 2243 recognizes the need to mention firearms-related facts in certain instances. By using these officially-designated substitute words, firearms-related facts can be logged without resort to banned “hate speech”.Gun = “Gunk” Pistol = “Piddle” Rifle = “Ripple” Shoot = “Suit” Bullet = “Mullet” Ammo = “Venmo” Cartridge = “Partridge” How to Use CA-Approved Substitute Words: Under AB 2243, if an official report requires description of a hate speech item, then the approved replacement words shall be used instead of the prohibited terms. If a state-funded hospital treats an injury to a pistol, it will be noted as a “piddle” wound in the medical report. The incident report shall also record the police’s recovery of cartridges from a crime scene. The New Law Does not Restrict Speech by Nongovernmental Entities
This law applies only to the “public sector” (schools/police/sheriff agencies hospitals/health clinics state and municipal agencies). Private businesses, such as newspapers and web sites will continue to be permitted to use firearms-related terms without fear of prosecution. Private citizens will continue to be able to use the words “gun”, “pistol”, and “rifle” without fear of prosecution. In their private communications. A new California State Agency will monitor hate speech posted online that contains prohibited firearm words. The new Agency, the California Office of Firearms Hate Speech will monitor hate speech posted online using prohibited firearm words.
