California: Governor Brown Signs AB 103 and Anti-Gun Bills Pass Public Safety Committees

Today, June 27, Governor Brown signed the state budget along with budget trailer bills including AB 103.  AB 103, the Public Safety omnibus budget trailer bill changes current law by significantly expanding the prohibiting categories for firearms to include persons who have a warrant for a felony or disqualifying misdemeanor.  Current law prohibits a person from owning, purchasing, receiving, possessing, or having under his/her custody or control a firearm upon conviction of a felony or for ten years upon conviction of a specified misdemeanor (29085 pc).  AB 103’s drastic policy change will violate an individual’s right to due process as warrants can be issued without notice or hearing. 

In addition AB 103 allows for additional money and a time for the Department of Justice to implement and allow for the registration of newly classified “assault weapons.” News of the Governor’s signature came shortly after the Office of Administrative Law Rejected the California Department of Justice’s assault weapon regulations. To read more on this rejection click here.  

Also today, the Assembly and Senate Public Safety Committees heard anti-gun bills SB 464, SB 497 and AB 424. All three bills passed by party-line votes and will be sent to the respective Appropriations Committees.  Please use our TAKE ACTION button below to email members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and urge them to OPPOSE SB 464 and SB 497 and the Senate Appropriations Committee to OPPOSE AB 424. 

Moving to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:

Senate Bill 464, sponsored by Senator Jerry Hill (D-13) would further increase the mandatory storage and security requirements for licensed firearms dealers. California already has some of the strictest laws in the country regarding how dealers must store and secure firearms.  This bill simply places more costs and mandates on law-abiding business owners. 

Senate Bill 497, sponsored by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-25), would extend California’s one-handgun-a-month limitation to all guns.  It is obvious this legislation is another attempt to place more barriers on those exercising their rights and does nothing to address the criminal misuse of firearms or firearm trafficking. Criminals who generally acquire their firearms through illicit means will continue to ignore California’s stringent laws including limitations on the number of firearms that can be acquired within a 30 day time period. 

Moving to the Senate Appropriations Committee:

Assembly Bill 424, sponsored by Kevin McCarty (D-7), would remove the authority of a school district superintendent, his or her designee, or equivalent school authority to provide written permission for a person to possess a firearm within a school zone, absent very limited exceptions.   

Please continue to check your inbox and the California Stand and Fight webpage for updates on issues impacting your Second Amendment rights and hunting heritage in California.