California: Several Gun Bills Scheduled for a Hearing

Three firearm bills have been scheduled for a hearing in Sacramento.

Assembly Bill 357, sponsored by Assembly Member Steve Knight (R-36), would create a “shall issue” concealed handgun permit system in California.  Under current law, an applicant must show cause as to why they should be issued a permit to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense.  AB357 would remove that stipulation and require sheriffs to issue the license if all other mandated criteria are satisfied.  This bill has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Public Safety and scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, April 14.

Assembly Bill 962, sponsored by Assembly Member Kevin De Leon (D-45), would make it a crime to privately transfer more than 50 rounds of ammunition per month, even between family and friends, unless you are registered as a “handgun ammunition vendor” in the Department of Justice’s database.  Ammunition retailers would have to be licensed and store ammunition in such a manner that it would be inaccessible to purchasers.  The bill would also require purchasers submit to fingerprinting, which would be submitted to the Department of Justice.  Lastly, mail order ammunition sales would be prohibited.  AB962 will be considered by the Assembly Committee on Public Safety on Tuesday, April 14.

Senate Bill 697, authored by State Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-7), will be considered in the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, April 28.  SB697 would prohibit the sale of handguns other than "owner-authorized (or “smart”) handguns" -- that is, handguns with a permanent, programmable biometric feature that renders the firearm useless unless activated by the authorized user.   No proven, viable handgun of this type has ever been developed.  The bill would require the California Attorney General to report to the Governor and Legislature on the availability of owner-authorized handguns; once the Attorney General finds that these guns are available, only “owner-authorized” handguns could be approved for sale in California.

Please contact the members of the Assembly Committee on Public Safety TODAY and respectfully urge them to support AB357 and to oppose AB962.  Also, please contact the Senate Public Safety Committee and urge them to oppose SB697.  Contact information can be found below.

ASSEMBLY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE:

Assembly Member Jose Solorio (D-69) - Chair 
(916) 319-2069
[email protected]  

Assembly Member Curt Hagman (R-60) - Vice Chair 
(916) 319-2060
[email protected]  

Assembly Member Warren T. Furutani (D-55)
(916) 319-2055
[email protected]  

Assembly Member Danny D. Gilmore (R-30)
(916) 319-2030
[email protected]  

Assembly Member Jerry Hill (D-19)
(916) 319-2019
[email protected]  

Assembly Member Fiona Ma (D-12)
(916) 319-2012
[email protected]  

Assembly Member Nancy Skinner (D-14)
(916) 319-2014
[email protected]

SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE:

State Senator Mark Leno (D-3) – Chair
(916) 651-4003
[email protected]

State Senator John J. Benoit (R-37) - Vice-Chair
(916) 651-4037

State Senator Gilbert Cedillo (D-22)
(916) 651-4022

State Senator Loni Hancock (D-9)
(916) 651-4009

State Senator Robert Huff (R-29)
(916) 651-4029

State Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-6)
(916) 651-4006

State Senator Roderick Wright (D-25)
(916) 651-4025