Multiple gun control bills have been voted in by the California Senate and Assembly. Provided that they are not vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown, they will become law in 2014. It is important for California citizens to be aware of these legislation changes, as violations can warrant criminal arrests. Listed below is an overview of the most prominent gun bills that may go into effect in the new year.
Senate Bill 374
This bill was introduced by Senators Steinberg, Hancock and Yee and amends
current legislation regarding assault weapons (firearms). If this bill
goes into law, it would redefine what an assault weapon is: a semiautomatic
centerfire rifle without fixed magazine and with the capacity to accept
a max ten rounds.
Assembly Bill 48
This bill was introduced by Assembly Member Skinner and would make it
a misdemeanor (max $1,000 fine and max six months in county jail) to knowingly
manufacture, import, keep for sale, give, lend, etc. a kit capable of
turning a device into a large-capacity magazine. If passed, the bill would
also make it a felony or misdemeanor to buy or receive this type of firearm.
Senate Bill 396
Introduced by Senators Hancock and Steinberg, SB 396 would revise the
definition of "capacity to accept more than 10 rounds" to mean
firearms that are capable of holding more than ten rounds with the exception
of feeding devices. Possessing a large-capacity magazine could be an infraction
or misdemeanor.
Assembly Bill 500
Introduced by Assembly Members Corbett, Aroner and Bock, AB 500 expands
the current 10-day waiting period ban.
Senate Bill 53
Introduced by Senator Kevin de Leon, this bill would change the pre-authorization
requirements for ammunition buyers. It can be an infraction or criminal
offense, if it is not vetoed, for a person to purchase ammo not in a face-to-face
transaction and from unauthorized vendors.
Assembly Bill 169
AB 169 was introduced by Assembly Member Roger Dickinson and would decrease
the number of private party handgun transactions to two per year. More
than this would constitute an infraction or criminal offense.
Senate Bill 755
Introduced by Lois Wolk, this bill would modify the list of "prohibited
person" by adding certain individuals to the list. If not vetoed,
it would be against the law for people convicted of certain misdemeanors
and felonies from possessing or controlling a firearm.
The information listed above is by no means a comprehensive outline of all Senate and Assembly gun legislation for the year 2014. Each of these bills, if passed, would have many ramifications that go beyond the scope of this article. If you would like to learn more about California gun control bills and current legislation, view the list here. If you've been arrested for a firearm or weapons offense, contact an Orange County criminal defense attorney at our law firm today.