Yesterday, the California Senate and Assembly Public Safety Committees heard three anti-guns bills and one pro-gun bill. The anti-gun bills were: Senate Bill 124 would ban virtually all handgun and rifle ammunition and cartridges, Assembly Bill 144 would ban open carry of firearms and Assembly Bill 809 would require long gun registration. The pro-gun bill was Assembly Bill 1402 would make a technical clean-up of California’s deadly weapons laws.
SB 124 passed in the Senate Public Safety Committee by a 5 to 2 vote (roll call vote). Introduced by anti-gun extremist state Senator Kevin De León (D-22), SB 124 would create a broadly expanded and technically flawed definition of handgun ammunition which would encompass virtually all rifle cartridges. It would also ban the possession of many types of rifle cartridges and make it a felony to possess them. SB 124 doesn’t stop there, it could also ban virtually all non-lead ammunition used in California by reclassifying them as “armor piercing.” If passed, this bill could result in a complete ban on hunting in the California condor zone in which the use of lead ammunition is prohibited for hunting. This bill has enormous ramifications for California gun owners and sportsmen.
If this bill did not already make owning a firearm difficult, an amendment was added by the bill sponsor to further add more problems for gun owners. SB 124 would also now require the registration of ammunition and the banning of mail-order ammunition.
SB 124 will be assigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee and a hearing has not been set. In the meantime, please contact members of the Senate Appropriations Committee urging them to OPPOSE SB 124. This bill will only hurt law-abiding gun owners and do nothing to stop crime. Contact information for the Senate Appropriations Committee can be found here.
The Assembly Public Safety Committee also heard two anti-gun bills and one pro-gun bill yesterday.
AB 144 passed in the committee by a 5 to 2 vote (roll call vote). This bill is just another law to further stifle law-abiding gun owners from exercising their right to keep and bear arms. Introduced by anti-gun Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-44), AB 144 would change the state’s gun laws and prohibit law-abiding citizens from carrying an unloaded handgun openly. It is currently legal to carry an unloaded handgun into most public places within the state, including restaurants and malls, but if approved, AB 144 would make it a misdemeanor to carry an unloaded handgun in public under most circumstances.
AB 809 passed in the committee by a 5 to 1 vote (roll call vote). Introduced again by F-rated Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-42), AB 809 would establish a state registration system, similar to the one currently in place for handguns, for all newly-acquired rifles and shotguns. Under AB 809, the make, model and serial number of the firearm as well as the identifying information of the purchaser would be recorded and kept on file by the California Attorney General’s office.
AB 144 and AB 809 have been assigned to the Assembly Appropriations Committee but a hearing date has not been set. In the meantime, please contact members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee urging them to OPPOSE AB 144 and AB 809. Contact information for the Assembly Appropriations Committee can be found here.
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