Every city has its own peculiarities, but California seems to have a monopoly on wacky, liberal, far-left feel-good legislation that accomplishes nothing while diverting legislators from dealing with real problems such as their crumbling infrastructure and monumental waste and corruption.

I was extremely surprised to find that Chico, California declared their city to be a nuclear-free zone. I would expect this from San Francisco or Santa Monica, both bastions of whack-job legislators who believe it is their duty and right to engage in social engineering to redistribute the wealth of private individuals -- preferably for monuments to their own egos; complete with their engraved names on the dedication plaques.

For your amusement, I now present the Chico Municipal Code dealing with nuclear weapons...

Chico Municipal Code NUCLEAR FREE ZONE LAW 9.60-1 (3/17/00)

DIVISION IX. NUCLEAR WEAPONS         Chapter 9.60 

NUCLEAR FREE ZONE LAW
Section:
9.60.010 Declaration of purposes.
9.60.020 Definitions.
9.60.030 Prohibition on the production, testing, maintenance and storage of
nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems.
9.60.040 Prohibition on appropriation and use of city funds and property for civil defense against a nuclear war.
9.60.050 Remedy for violations.
9.60.010 Declaration of purposes.

The city council finds and declares as follows:

A. That the possibility of nuclear war is a clear and present danger that threatens not only
the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Chico community, but also their very existence.

B. That the use of nuclear weapons in the event of war, whether for the purpose of self
defense or any other purpose, is totally unacceptable.

C. That even participation in preparation against nuclear war is inappropriate in that it lends credence to the belief that such a war is survivable when in fact it is not.

D. That by reason of the foregoing, the interest of the citizens of the Chico community will be best served by making the city a nuclear free zone in which the production, testing, maintenance, and storage of nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems is prohibited and in which the appropriation or use of city funds or property for participation in or preparation against nuclear war is also prohibited.

Perhaps Washington should restrict any civil defense preparation funds that might be sent to the city?

E. Nothing in this chapter is intended to preclude or hinder the preparation or response of city personnel and resources in preventing or mitigating radiological emergencies other than nuclear war. 

Makes you wonder if they consider a nuclear strike by terrorists on United States soil to be an "ACT OF WAR?"

9.60.020 Definitions.

The definitions hereinafter set forth in this section shall govern construction of the
words and phrases to be used in this chapter.

A. Nuclear Weapons Component of a Nuclear Weapon. “Nuclear weapon” shall mean any bomb or other weapon designed to explode as a result of a chain reaction caused by nuclear fission or fusion. “Component of a nuclear weapon” shall mean any material or device produced or manufactured for use in a nuclear weapon.

B. Nuclear Weapon Delivery System - Component of a Nuclear Weapon Delivery
System. “Nuclear weapon delivery system” shall mean any equipment designed to transport, propel, or guide a nuclear weapon. “Component of a nuclear weapon system” shall mean any material or device produced or manufactured for use in a nuclear weapon delivery system.

9.60.030 Prohibition on the production, testing, maintenance and storage of
nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems. 

No person shall produce, test, maintain, or store within the city a nuclear weapon, component of a nuclear weapon, nuclear weapon delivery system, or component of a
nuclear weapon delivery system.

Sorry guys, Chico is out as a test site!

9.60.040 Prohibition on appropriation and use of city funds and property for civil defense against a nuclear war. No city funds or property shall be appropriated or used for civil defense against a nuclear war or other preparations for nuclear war, including but not limited to those civil defense measures which address the physical or social aftereffects of a nuclear war.

While a nuclear war is highly improbable, not to engage in contingency planning for all possible scenarios is downright criminally negligent.

9.60.050 Remedy for violations.
At the direction of the city council, the city attorney shall file an action in a court of
appropriate jurisdiction to enjoin any violations of this chapter. Such action for injunctive relief shall be exclusive of any other remedies whether civil or criminal, provided for by this code.

Warning: the City of Chico also prescribes penalties to prevent making loud noises and setting things on fire -- and you could face some serious fines if you decide to test a device in their city!

Trivia: The city of Chico was one of the sites used to film the 1944 war movie, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo."

What can YOU do?

Laugh at fools wherever they are found.

Demand that your local government officials concentrate on solving those issues which serve to make the lives of all residents more pleasant. Crime, Fire Protection, Emergency Medical Response and the repair or replacement of crumbling infrastructure should supercede any attempt at social engineering or trying to force residents to restrict their normal activities for "their own good."

If elected officials fail to act for the common good, remove them from office with a recall effort or vote them out of office.

Participate in your local government.

-- steve

Quote of the day:

The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution. - Hannah Arendt

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

Reference Links:

Chico Municipal Code