NRA-ILA | California: Anti-Gun Bills Scheduled for Committee Hearings

After passing more than a dozen anti-gun bills in 2023, members of the California legislature are continuing their crusade to restrict Second Amendment rights now that the 2024 session is underway. NRA Members and Second Amendment supporters are encouraged to contact members of the Senate Public Safety Committee to voice their opposition to the following anti-gun bills that have been scheduled for committee hearings. Please select each Take Action button below to contact members of the committee and urge them to OPPOSE these anti-gun bills.

Scheduled Hearing on Tuesday March 19^th at 9:00am

Senate Bill 1038 would require that lost and stolen firearms be reported to local law enforcement within 48 hours from the time the owner or possessor knew or should have known the firearms have been lost or stolen. SB 1038 significantly shortens the existing reporting timeframe of five days and revictimizes the victim of a crime should they not meet this reporting burden in the aftermath of a burglary or theft.

Senate Bill 902 expands upon the list of misdemeanor offenses that would result in a 10-year prohibition of firearm possession to include “animal mistreatment”. The lack of a clear definition for “animal mistreatment”, coupled with efforts to expand the definition of animal cruelty to include “mistreatment” that doesn’t result in harm to an animal, could place many law-abiding gun owners at risk if SB 902 were to pass. Failing to satisfy the provisions being proposed could result in someone being guilty of a misdemeanor and subject them to a 10-year prohibition of firearms.

Scheduled for Hearing on April 2^nd at 8:30am

Senate Bill 1160 would require all firearm owners to re-register each of their firearms annually with the Department of Justice and pay the yet to be determined fees necessary to maintain the registration system. SB 1160 would prohibit unregistered firearms, and require all firearms to be registered by July 1^st, 2025. Individuals not registering their firearms may surrender them to local law enforcement or would be in violation of the law and subject to penalties of up to $1000.  

Senate Bill 1253 would prohibit an individual in California from possessing a firearm without a valid Firearm Safety Card. Existing law requires individuals in California to obtain a Firearm Safety Card to purchase or receive a firearm, however SB 1253 would amend this law to prohibit otherwise law-abiding individuals from possessing a firearm unless they obtain and continue to possess a Firearm Safety Card, with a renewal required every five years. Individuals under the age 18 are prohibited from obtaining a Firearm Safety Card and would therefore be prohibited from possessing a firearm should SB 1253 pass, clearly restricting youth from hunting and participating in recreational shooting in California.

Additionally, the following anti-gun bills are being considered this legislative session: 

Senate Bill 53 would prohibit firearm possession in the home unless the firearms are stored in a locked box or safe that is approved by the Department of Justice and renders them inaccessible to anyone other than the owner. SB 53 ignores the U.S. Supreme Court decision in D.C v. Heller which argued that storage requirements that prevent gun owners from easily accessing their firearms are unconstitutional. SB 53 passed the Senate on January 29^th and has been transmitted to the Assembly for further review.

Assembly Bill 3067 would mandate homeowner and rental insurance companies to ask applicants how many firearms are in their home, and where and how they are stored. AB 3067 would allow Homeowner insurance companies to report this information to the Department of Insurance and California Legislature. This bill is a gross violation of people’s right to privacy and places an unnecessary burden on law-abiding gun owners.

Once again, please contact members of the Senate Public Safety Committee to urge your opposition to these anti-gun bills.