Last week was the fiscal deadline in California. Both the Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committees took up their respective suspense files, sending several anti-gun bills to the floor that can be voted on this week.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee passed AB 1223 with amendments and held AB 311, AB 1237, and AB 1509. AB 1223 will soon be eligible for a vote on the Assembly floor. Contact your Assembly member and urge their opposition to AB 1223 by clicking the “Take Action” button below.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee passed Assembly Bill 1223 with an amendment to remove the provision designating the Cal VIP program as the recipient of funds. It places an excise tax of 10% on the sales price of a handgun, and places an 11% excise tax on the sales price on all long guns, rifles, firearm precursor parts and ammunition. These taxes are to be collected from California retailers on new firearms sold, and on their retail sales of ammunition. It is unjust to saddle law-abiding gun owners with special taxes. Such a measure makes it more expensive for law-abiding citizens to exercise a constitutional right, and discourages them from practicing to be safe and proficient with their firearms for purposes such as self-defense, competition, and hunting.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee deferred Assembly Bill 311 to next year. It prohibits the display or sale of any "precursor firearm parts" at gun shows on state property. So-called “precursor” parts are not regulated as firearms under federal law; however, they are regulated and limited to being transferred by licensed vendors in California. Such restrictions continue to cut off access to law-abiding individuals who are looking to acquire firearm parts in accordance with existing law.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee deferred Assembly Bill 1237 to next year. It mandates that the California Department of Justice (DOJ) supply state information, including personal identifying information, to the UC Gun Violence Research Center at UC Davis, and allows the DOJ to provide this same information to certain non-profits and state agencies. This legislation creates grave privacy concerns, as well as concerns that this information could be provided to groups that create biased “research” to push gun control policies without actually researching root causes of violence.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee held Assembly Bill 1509 in committee. It reduces the penalties and sentencing enhancements for criminal misuse of firearms. Such an effort shows just how disingenuous Californian legislators are about stopping “gun violence.” The legislators who oppose holding criminals accountable for their actions are the same ones who continue to harass law-abiding gun owners.
The Senate Appropriations Committee passed SB 264, SB 538, and SB 715, which will now head to the Senate floor for votes. Use the “Take Action” button below to contact your Senator and urge their opposition to SB 264, SB 538, and SB 715.
Senate Bill 264 bans state officers, employees, operators, lessees or licensees from entering into any agreement to allow for the sale of any firearm, firearm parts, or ammunition on property that is owned, leased, occupied or operated by the state. This imposes a one-size-fits-all restriction to prevent officials from deciding how to use venues. In addition, this prevents tax-paying businesses from renting taxpayer-funded venues for lawful activities.
Senate Bill 538 expands California’s program of suspending constitutional rights and seizing property by allowing electronic filing and witnesses to appear remotely. The suspension of a constitutional right should be afforded the utmost due process protections, especially when the basis for the petition may not amount to a prohibiting offense or adjudication. By allowing remote testimony, the due process protections are lessened, not enhanced, and may limit the opportunity to examine the credibility of a witness.
Senate Bill 715 limits when a hunting license satisfies the requirements for adults under 21 purchasing a long gun by requiring the license to be currently valid. This means an individual who has purchased a license for an upcoming season will not satisfy the requirements of the bill. Additionally, SB 715 makes changes to the restrictions on gifts and loans of long-guns to minors in a way that is confusing for well-intentioned individuals trying to understand what is permitted and required.
Please stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further updates.
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