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On April 2nd, next Tuesday, the Assembly Committee on Public Safety will consider two drastic restrictions on the sale of lawful firearms and ammunition in California.
Assembly Bill 48 (Skinner), would ban the sale of magazine parts kits that can hold more than ten cartridges, it would ban the sale or transfer of ammunition by anyone other than a licensed firearms dealer and would require that every single ammunition transfer be reported to the state. Under this unprecedented attack on ammunition, millions of law-abiding gun owners would become criminals.
If enacted, a gun owner who “furnishes” ammunition to a friend at the shooting range, and a father who hands his son ammunition while teaching him how to properly and safely use a firearm, would become criminals. Under AB 48, sporting goods stores, general stores, and shooting ranges that do not sell firearms would be BANNED from selling ammunition on a widespread basis throughout the state. This would effectively put many ranges out of business! What is more, AB 48's sales registration requirements have already been tried, and failed, at the federal level. In 1986, the BATFE scrapped this requirement because it had no substantial law enforcement value! But the bill’s problems don’t end there. AB 48 is utterly vague in its attempt to ban parts kits, prohibiting the sale of “devices capable of converting an ammunition feeding device into a large-capacity magazine.” To the extent this provision might be deciphered to ban common magazine parts kits violates, the law is unconstitutional. And by criminalizing the transfer of ammunition by all but licensed firearm dealers, AB 48 further violates the Second Amendment.
The other bill is, Assembly Bill 169 (Dickinson), which would ban the sale and transfer of firearms that are not currently on California's roster of handguns approved for sale in the state. In doing so, this bill would prohibit the transfer of millions of lawfully-owned handguns and jeopardize their continued ownership.
Currently, California law allows handguns that are not on the approved roster to be sold or otherwise transferred to another individual either on consignment or as a private party transfer, provided that the sale is completed through a licensed firearms retailer, where the purchaser is subjected to a background check. If enacted, AB 169 would leave gun owners who lawfully purchased a handgun that previously appeared on the State's approved roster with no means to sell or transfer their handgun, if that firearm is no longer listed on the roster.
Call AND e-mail members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee today and remind them that these bills will NOT deter violent criminals intent on committing crimes and will unconstitutionally restrict the ability of law-abiding Californians to purchase, transfer and use firearms and ammunition on an unprecedented scale. Let them know that passage of these bill will result in additional unnecessary expenses for the state, continue to drive legitimate business owners out of California and force the taxpayers to pick up the tab for costly litigation against the state! Contact information for members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee is provided below:
Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-17), Chairman
(916) 319-2017
e-mail
Assemblyman Melissa Melendez (R-67), Vice-Chairman
(916) 319-2067
e-mail
Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-59)
(916) 319-2059
e-mail
Assemblyman Holly Mitchell (D-54)
(916) 319-2054
e-mail
Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-20)
(916) 319-2020
e-mail
Assemblyman Nancy Skinner (D-15)
(916) 319-2015
e-mail
Assemblyman Marie Waldron (R-75)
(916) 319-2075
e-mail
Assembly Bill 48 (Skinner), would ban the sale of magazine parts kits that can hold more than ten cartridges, it would ban the sale or transfer of ammunition by anyone other than a licensed firearms dealer and would require that every single ammunition transfer be reported to the state. Under this unprecedented attack on ammunition, millions of law-abiding gun owners would become criminals.
If enacted, a gun owner who “furnishes” ammunition to a friend at the shooting range, and a father who hands his son ammunition while teaching him how to properly and safely use a firearm, would become criminals. Under AB 48, sporting goods stores, general stores, and shooting ranges that do not sell firearms would be BANNED from selling ammunition on a widespread basis throughout the state. This would effectively put many ranges out of business! What is more, AB 48's sales registration requirements have already been tried, and failed, at the federal level. In 1986, the BATFE scrapped this requirement because it had no substantial law enforcement value! But the bill’s problems don’t end there. AB 48 is utterly vague in its attempt to ban parts kits, prohibiting the sale of “devices capable of converting an ammunition feeding device into a large-capacity magazine.” To the extent this provision might be deciphered to ban common magazine parts kits violates, the law is unconstitutional. And by criminalizing the transfer of ammunition by all but licensed firearm dealers, AB 48 further violates the Second Amendment.
The other bill is, Assembly Bill 169 (Dickinson), which would ban the sale and transfer of firearms that are not currently on California's roster of handguns approved for sale in the state. In doing so, this bill would prohibit the transfer of millions of lawfully-owned handguns and jeopardize their continued ownership.
Currently, California law allows handguns that are not on the approved roster to be sold or otherwise transferred to another individual either on consignment or as a private party transfer, provided that the sale is completed through a licensed firearms retailer, where the purchaser is subjected to a background check. If enacted, AB 169 would leave gun owners who lawfully purchased a handgun that previously appeared on the State's approved roster with no means to sell or transfer their handgun, if that firearm is no longer listed on the roster.
Call AND e-mail members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee today and remind them that these bills will NOT deter violent criminals intent on committing crimes and will unconstitutionally restrict the ability of law-abiding Californians to purchase, transfer and use firearms and ammunition on an unprecedented scale. Let them know that passage of these bill will result in additional unnecessary expenses for the state, continue to drive legitimate business owners out of California and force the taxpayers to pick up the tab for costly litigation against the state! Contact information for members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee is provided below:
Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-17), Chairman
(916) 319-2017
Assemblyman Melissa Melendez (R-67), Vice-Chairman
(916) 319-2067
Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-59)
(916) 319-2059
Assemblyman Holly Mitchell (D-54)
(916) 319-2054
Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-20)
(916) 319-2020
Assemblyman Nancy Skinner (D-15)
(916) 319-2015
Assemblyman Marie Waldron (R-75)
(916) 319-2075
