California: Committee Hearing Gun Tax & Further Restrictions on Gun Shows

On April 6^th, the Assembly Public Safety Committee is hearing Assembly Bill 1223, to tax firearms and ammunition, and Assembly Bill 311, to restrict firearm "precursor parts" from display or sale at gun shows. Please contact committee members and ask them to OPPOSE AB 1223 and AB 311.

Assembly Public Safety Committee

Chair: Assembly Member Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr., (916) 319-2059
Vice Chair: Assembly Member Tom Lackey, (916) 319-2036
Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, (916) 319-2016
Assembly Member Bill Quirk, (916) 319-2020
Assembly Member Miguel Santiago, (916) 319-2053
Assembly Member Kelly Seyarto, (916) 319-2067
Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, (916) 319-2015

Assembly Bill 1223 taxes firearms at $25 each, and ammunition at a certain percentage yet to be determined, in order to fund social services programs for “gun violence.” The 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 to fund social service programs. 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. 

Assembly Bill 311 prohibits the display or sale of any "precursor firearm parts" at gun shows in the state. 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.

Again, please contact committee members and ask them to OPPOSE AB 1223 and AB 311.