On Friday, May 27, the state Assembly Committee on Appropriations passed four of the five anti-gun bills on a party-line vote. AB 1664, AB 1673, AB 1674 and AB 1695 will now join AB 2607 for consideration by the Assembly, where a vote is expected next week prior to the house of origin deadline on Friday June 3.
Despite the passage of four anti-gun bills, the committee decided to hold Assembly Bill 1663 which means this bill has been defeated for the 2016 legislative session. AB 1663 would have banned millions of constitutionally protected firearms that have no association with crime by changing the California definition of “assault weapon” for rifles to mean “A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept 10 rounds or fewer."
Thank you to the legislators who stood up for your rights and voted against these bills and to all who contacted their respective legislators. However, the fight is nowhere near over. It is CRITICAL that you contact your state Assembly Member and urge him or her to OPPOSE AB 1664, AB 1673, AB 1674, AB 1695, and AB 2607 when they come up for a vote. Contact information can be found here or by clicking on the TAKE ACTION button below.
A brief description of the bills is listed below.
Assembly Bill 1664 would change the existing definition for detachable magazine to mean “an ammunition feeding device that can be removed readily from the firearm without disassembly of the firearm action, including an ammunition feeding device that can be removed readily from the firearm with the use of a tool," which would in turn expand the number of firearms that California considers “assault weapons.” Changing the definition of "detachable magazine" would strike a major blow to competitive high-power rifle competition in California, along with semi-automatic rifles commonly used for hunting and self protection. AB1664 would subject them to the onerous transfer and use restrictions imposed on “assault weapons” – and future sales in California would be banned. The California State Sheriffs’ Association also opposes this egregious bill.
Assembly Bill 1673 would expand the definition of “firearm” to include unfinished frames and/or receivers that can be readily convertible. AB 1673 would essentially treat pieces of metal as firearms, subjecting them to California’s exhaustive regulations and restrictions currently applicable to firearms.
Assembly Bill 1674 would expand the current restriction on the number of firearms an individual can purchase within a 30 day period. AB 1674 will have no impact on criminal access to firearms and instead significantly hamper law abiding individuals, causing increased costs, time and paperwork to purchase multiple firearms. Criminals will continue to ignore this law purchasing firearms illegally, ignoring this burdensome and ineffective restriction.
Assembly Bill 1695 would require the Attorney General to send notice to each individual who has applied to purchase a firearm informing him or her of laws relating to firearms, gun trafficking, and safe storage. This is just another example of the government wasting resources on “feel good” programs.
Assembly Bill 2607 would expand the class of individuals who could seek a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO).” GVRO’s were opposed by NRA during the 2014 session because of the lack of due process when depriving an individual of their right to keep and bear arms.
Don’t forget to forward this alert to your family, friends, and fellow gun owners and sportsmen urging them to also contact the committee and urge them to OPPOSE the above anti-gun bills.