Today, the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee is hearing Assembly Bill 173 after the conclusion of the Senate floor session, in an effort to ramrod this invasive bill through with only days left in the 2021 legislative session. AB 173 was an empty trailer that was amended over the weekend to resurrect the goals of AB 1237; legislation that was previously held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, making available to certain researchers a litany of information on gun owners, including personal identifying information. Please contact committee members and ask them to OPPOSE AB 173.
Assembly Bill 173 requires 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.
Last week, the Senate concurred with the Assembly on Senate Bill 264, which now goes to Governor Gavin Newsom for his consideration. It prohibits officers, employees, operators, lessees, or licensees of the 32nd District Agricultural Association from entering into any agreement to allow for the sale of any firearm, firearm parts, or ammunition on property or buildings that comprise the OC Fair and Event Center or properties in Orange County and Costa Mesa that are owned, leased, operated, or occupied by the District. This imposes a one-size-fits-all restriction to prevent officials from deciding how to use venues. In addition, this prevents businesses from renting taxpayer-funded venues for lawful activities. Contact Governor Newsom and urge his veto on SB 264 by calling (916) 445-2841, or by clicking here.
Again, please contact committee members and ask them to OPPOSE AB 173.