California: Governor Signs and Vetoes Final Anti-Gun Bills

Yesterday afternoon, Governor Jerry Brown signed and vetoed the final anti-gun bills still awaiting his action. Governor Brown and anti-gun members of the California Legislature continue to attack the millions of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen in the Golden State with restrictive and misguided laws. Below is a list of the anti-gun/anti-hunting bills Governor Brown signed into law from the 2012 legislative session. These new laws will take effect on January 1, 2013. Senate Bill 1221 – Hunting Ban SB 1221, introduced by state Senator Ted Lieu (D-28), would ban hunting bears and bobcats with dogs. Hunting with dogs is a tradition that continues across the country. Many dog breeds with select characteristics for hunting can be traced back for thousands of years. Seventeen states allow bear hunting with dogs. The use of hounds for hunting has never been shown to have an adverse impact on wildlife numbers. Biologists and other wildlife experts determine regulations and bag limits, just as they do with other hunting seasons. Senate Bill 1315 – Local Regulation of Firearms SB 1315, introduced by anti-gun extremist state Senator Kevin de León (D-22), is just a stepping stone to completely destroying California’s firearms preemption law. Such firearms preemption laws are in place to standardize firearm laws across the state. SB 1315 would authorize Los Angeles County to enact and enforce an ordinance that is stricter than state law regarding the manufacture, sale, possession or use of any BB device, toy gun, replica of a firearm, or other device that is so substantially similar in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to perceive that the device is a firearm and that expels a projectile that is no more than 16 millimeters in diameter. Assembly Bill 1527 – Open Carry Ban (of unloaded long guns) AB 1527, introduced by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-44), would expand on last year’s ban on open carrying of an unloaded handgun to also include unloaded rifles and shotguns. Governor Brown vetoed the following bills: Senate Bill 1366 – Lost and Stolen Reporting of Firearms SB 1366, introduced by state Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-7), would require every person to report the theft or loss of a firearm he or she owns or possesses to a local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which the theft or loss occurred within 48 hours of the time he or she knew or reasonably should have known that the firearm had been stolen or lost. Law-abiding gun owners should not be made a victim twice and punished for theft of their firearm(s). Assembly Bill 2460 – Ban of Law Enforcement Transfer of Firearms AB 2460, introduced by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson (D-9), would ban law enforcement officers from transferring handguns that are not on California’s approved “roster” to anyone but law enforcement officers. Currently, California law allows for the transfer of firearms that are not on the approved "roster" to be transferred to law-abiding civilians. These transfers must go through a licensed firearms dealer and are only transferred when the new civilian owner has passed a criminal background check. Assembly Bill 2333 – Liability for Negligent Storage of BB Devices AB 2333, introduced by Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-69), would expand California’s negligent storage law to any person who knowingly or reasonably should have known that a minor is likely to gain access to a BB device without the permission of the minor’s parents or legal guardian and the minor carries the BB device in a public place. The definition of “public place” includes a “front yard, driveway, doorway or entrance to a building or dwelling.” If a minor possesses a “BB device” that is visible from your own private property you and your child would be in violation. Violators would be subject to a civil penalty and/or community service.