GUNS/RLTD California - Harris Seeks To Tighten Rules On Rifles

kittyluvr

Veteran Member
Sacramento, CA — California’s Attorney General is leading an effort to close a loophole that she says currently allows rifles to easily be converted into semi-automatic assault weapons.

Attorney General Kamala Harris, along with Assemblyman David Chiu, are sponsoring a bill they say will close the “bullet button” loophole. Harris reports that the loophole allows the owner to use a button to quickly replace detachable magazines, within seconds, so that it becomes a semi-automatic weapon. The legislation would expand the classification of assault weapons to include semi-automatic center fire rifles, which are capable of accepting detachable magazines.

Harris and Chiu argue that this is the type of weapon that was used during the deadly attack in San Bernardino, so action is needed.

Harris says, “We simply must do everything we can to keep dangerous, high capacity firearms off our streets and out of our communities.”

http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/256883/harris-seeks-to-tighten-rules-on-rifles.html
 

kittyluvr

Veteran Member
Assemblymember David Chiu and Attorney General Kamala Harris and Advocates Introduce Bill to Close “Bullet Button” Loophole and Strengthen California’s Assault Weapons Ban

Assembly Bill 1663 Would Require Semi-Automatic Rifles to Have Fixed Ammunition Magazines, Making it Harder to Reload a Weapon during a Mass Shooting

San Francisco, CA—Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and gun safety advocates today proposed a bill that would strengthen California’s existing assault weapons ban and close the “bullet button” loophole. Assembly Bill 1663, which is co-authored by Assemblymembers Marc Levine (D-Marin County), Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), and Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), would require semi-automatic rifles sold or transferred in California to be manufactured with ammunition magazines that cannot be detached. Fixed magazines prevent the rapid reloading that increases the lethality of horrific mass shootings like the one in San Bernardino last December.

“We must close the loopholes in our assault weapons ban so that guns like the ones used in San Bernardino, Newtown, and Aurora cannot be bought legally in our state,” said Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco), who worked on gun legislation as a United States Senate aide in the mid-1990s. “Detachable magazines cost lives, and it is more important to save lives during future mass shootings than to be able to reload assault weapons in the blink of an eye. I appreciate the sponsorship by Attorney General Harris and look forward to working this year with my colleagues, the Governor’s office, and advocates on this and other efforts to prevent gun violence.”

AB 1663 will effectively close the “bullet button” loophole. This loophole enables a firearm owner to use a bullet or other pointed object to quickly detach and replace a weapon’s ammunition magazine, converting a semi-automatic rifle into an assault weapon. An individual can switch magazines on a gun with a bullet button within seconds, making them especially deadly in a mass shooting situation. Firearms with bullet buttons were among the guns used in the San Bernardino shooting late last year.

“The devastation wrought by gun violence on innocent victims, children and families in this country is an international embarrassment,” said Attorney General Kamala Harris. “This is a common sense solution that closes a dangerous loophole in California’s assault weapons ban. We simply must do everything we can to keep dangerous, high capacity firearms off of our streets and out of our communities.”

California passed the first assault weapons ban in the nation, the Roberti-Ross Assault Weapons Control Act (AWCA), in 1989 following a mass shooting in a Stockton, California schoolyard that killed 5 children and wounded 29 children and one teacher. Over the years, the California legislature has expanded and strengthened the AWCA. Although California has some of the strictest gun laws in country, gun manufacturers have become experts in exploiting loopholes. This legislation aims to end that practice.

"Killing machines have no place on our streets and gun violence must not be tolerated," said Assemblymember Marc Levine, (D-Marin County), a co-author of AB 1663 who today introduced AB 1664, a complementary piece of legislation banning bullet buttons. "This legislation assures that gun manufacturers cannot work around the intent of California's ban on military-style assault weapons. We raise our children in communities, not war zones."

“Mass shootings have become routine, almost daily occurrences across the country,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), a co-author of AB 1663 and a joint author of AB 1664. “This bill offers a rational solution to a common threat facing our communities. Shooters use military-style weaponry because it enables them to kill as many innocent people as fast as they can. It’s time to stop the carnage.”

Long-standing members of the gun safety community echoed the need to address these loopholes and protect everyday citizens from gun violence.

“We applaud Assemblymember Chiu for introducing this important legislation to strengthen and simplify California’s assault weapons ban,” said Juliet Leftwich, Legal Director of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “Our organization was formed in the wake of the assault weapons massacre at 101 California Street, which left eight dead and six wounded, so we know all too well how deadly these weapons can be and how determined gun manufacturers are to find ways to circumvent the law. We also commend the Attorney General for sponsoring this lifesaving bill.”

“Since California’s first assault weapons law was passed in 1989 in the wake of the tragic Stockton schoolyard shooting, we have struggled to make it real in the face of the gun industry’s determination to find new ways to evade the law’s intent,” said Amanda Wilcox, Legislation & Policy Chair of the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “ We support these efforts by Assemblymembers Chiu, Levine and Ting to definitely close the loopholes in a manner that will prevent the firearms industry from continuing to sell these lethal military-style weapons in our state. Curbing the ability to rapidly reload will decrease the lethality in future mass shootings and save lives.”
Voices for Strengthening California’s Assault Weapons Ban

"I wholeheartedly support these proposals to get battlefield weapons off our streets and close loopholes that have been exploited by the firearms industry for too long, at the expense of too many lives," said Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom. "It's vital that we work together, in every arena, against a powerful gun lobby in order to reduce the gun violence epidemic.” --Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom

“Gun violence has become an epidemic in our country that requires immediate and decisive action at all levels of government,” said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. “On a local level, San Francisco has some of the toughest gun laws in America, and keeping high-powered firearms off of our City’s streets continues to be a top priority for my administration. This bill strengthens our ban on assault weapons and discourages lethal military style weapons from ending up in the hands of civilians. Weapons of war have no place on our City streets, and I thank Assemblymember David Chiu, Attorney General Kamala Harris, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, and other State leaders for taking a stand to reduce gun violence and keep all of our residents safe.” --San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee

“How many more massacres need to happen before we start doing something serious about gun safety? I thank Assemblymember Chiu for introducing this legislation. He has my full support.” --London Breed, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors

“Our country has an epidemic of gun violence and we need to make it harder to obtain guns whose only purpose is to shoot people. I applaud Assemblymember Chiu and Attorney General Harris’s leadership in taking the bold action necessary to prevent more gun violence in California.” --Scott Wiener, San Francisco Supervisor

“2016 is just 2 weeks old and yet there have been already 436 gun deaths in America this year. That means for every day of this new year, 31 people have lost their lives to gun violence. Every day is a mass shooting when you look at those numbers. Every day is a San Bernardino, an Aurora, a Sandy Hook. We deserve to live in a world where mass killings are only read about in history books, not in today’s paper.” --Jane Kim, San Francisco Supervisor

"Some of the most horrific mass shootings have taken place on college campuses," said City College Trustee Alex Randolph. "The safety of our staff, faculty, and students is a top priority and concern. This bill seeks to minimize the risk of these shootings and is long overdue. I am proud to join Assemblymember Chiu here today and support this common-sense legislation." --Alex Randolph, City College of San Francisco Trustee

“Our faith community was deeply affected by the mass shooting at AME in South Carolina last year. Gun violence affects all of us but especially communities of color,” said Dr. Aurelious Walker of True Hope Church in San Francisco. “I applaud Assemblymember Chiu for addressing this issue to prevent future tragedies.” --Dr. Arelious Walker, Pastor at True Hope Church in San Francisco

http://asmdc.org/members/a17/news-r...d-strengthen-california-s-assault-weapons-ban
 

night driver

ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
These folks need to watch a pro run an M-1 or M-14 with stripper clips....

Make sure they have depends in place...
 

sierra don

Veteran Member
I am so happy I am on my way out of this hell hole of a commie state. Lots of people are planning on leaving ca. and lots of others have already left......
 

Marthanoir

TB Fanatic
Now I'm not Ian V Hogg but this statement is nuts
Harris reports that the loophole allows the owner to use a button to quickly replace detachable magazines, within seconds, so that it becomes a semi-automatic weapon.

Fixed mag, detachable mag, blind mag, tube mag, doesn't make a lick of difference, it's still a freaking semi-automatic rifle, these eijits don't have a clue
 

Marthanoir

TB Fanatic
These folks need to watch a pro run an M-1 or M-14 with stripper clips....

Make sure they have depends in place...

Heck they should see a shooter running an Enfield No4 with stripper clips, see how fast a bolt action can go, no doubt they'd try and say it was semi auto too :lol:
 

Garryowen

Deceased
These folks need to watch a pro run an M-1 or M-14 with stripper clips....

Make sure they have depends in place...

Maybe they should just outlaw mass shootings. That should be at least as effective as outlawing drugs. Do any of these fools ever consider that we should stop turning loose criminals and stop importing jihadis? I didn't think so.

An expert with a MK IV Enfield sent 35 aimed rounds downrange in under a minute. I think the standard was hitting a 12" target at 200 yd.
 
Last edited:

Meadowlark

Has No Life - Lives on TB
After all these years I still have no idea what a bullet button is. Then again I don't live in Kommifornica.
 

Murt

Veteran Member
would require semi-automatic rifles sold or transferred in California to be manufactured with ammunition magazines that cannot be detached.

will police be subject to the same restriction

ALL manufacturers should make it know that they will only sell to police what the states allow their citizens to have
 

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
Bullet-Button-on-Ar-e1341529600626-300x168.jpg


-- http://californiabulletbutton.com/

What is a Bullet Button?

In brief, a Bullet Button is a California Compliant part that is substituted for the magazine release on an “Assault Rifle”. The purpose of the California Bullet Button is to create a “non-detachable magazine”.
 

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
Considering that it wasn't all that long ago that this state was politically "moderate liberal" as opposed to full out "left" it is going to have to get economically and politically more "failed" before this now prevalent ideology, in all of its facets, gets "retired" by the electorate. Part of the problem is that there is still enough money coming into the two major metro areas to fund these people and their beliefs, unlike more failed "progressive" bastions.
 

Last Resort

Veteran Member
Guess the race and political affiliation.


Go on. I'll wait. I lived in San Diego close to 10 years, loved the place, met and married my wife there (not a Californian), hated the people and LA and the politicians in Sacramento. One of the happiest days of my life was seeing "Welcome to California" in the rearview mirror.
 

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
Guess the race and political affiliation.


Go on. I'll wait. I lived in San Diego close to 10 years, loved the place, met and married my wife there (not a Californian), hated the people and LA and the politicians in Sacramento. One of the happiest days of my life was seeing "Welcome to California" in the rearview mirror.

My people have been here since the Gold Rush. Familial responsibilities keep me here. I've watched this state slip to the dogs (and that's a bad rap on dogs).
 

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
Bullet-Button-on-Ar-e1341529600626-300x168.jpg


-- http://californiabulletbutton.com/

What is a Bullet Button?

In brief, a Bullet Button is a California Compliant part that is substituted for the magazine release on an “Assault Rifle”. The purpose of the California Bullet Button is to create a “non-detachable magazine”.

Who else doubts that this "California Compliant part" was on the two ARs used in San Bernardino despite them being probably sold with them installed?
 

Doat

Veteran Member
Just have to say it again...Rule of Law. They will continue to make laws until they take everything you own.
 

sierra don

Veteran Member
Please tell the liberal people to stay they created that Paradise they can simmer in it.;)

No problem there, the progs/libies are more than happy to stay and glad to see us go, after all it's their kind of place, the land of Fruits and Nuts. It's so bad entire counties plan on leaving and joining "The State Of Jefferson", my current county is one of them and I hope it happens though I will be long gone by then.
 

cuz1961

Membership Revoked
How the hell do you load a Ruger 10/22 magazine?
,,through the damn breach?

That's not even possible is it?,,,I don't think it is,,

I know they never showed us how to load an M16 magazine through the breach when I was in boot.

But then again that's probably their whole plan isn't it,,,to make a whole buttload of rifles
unable to be legally loaded, much less reloaded.

Who needs confiscation, if they can just make them illegal to load the magazine in the first place,,,
turning rifles into clubs.

I don't think they will get away with this, not even if it is California.
 

kittyluvr

Veteran Member
From NRA-IL e-mail I just received:

California: Two Anti-Gun Bills that will have a Serious Affect on Semi-Automatic Firearms have been Introduced

On Thursday, January 14, California’s NRA-PVF “F”-rated Attorney General, Kamala Harris, announced her support of freshman Assemblymember David Chiu’s introduction of Assembly Bill 1663 in a press release. AB 1663 would expand the classification of “assault weapons” to include all detachable magazine semi-automatic rifles and any rifle that uses a “bullet button.1” Gun owners who possess these firearms would be required to register them as “assault weapons” or face potential felony penalties, arrest, and confiscation of the firearm. AB 1663 will also ban the future sale of these firearms.

On the same day, NRA-PVF “F”-rated Assemblymembers Marc Levine and Phil Ting introduced a second anti-gun bill, Assembly Bill 1664. AB 1664 would ban the use of a “bullet button.”

The use of a “bullet button” currently keeps semi-automatics with detachable magazines from being classified as an “assault weapon.” In banning the use of a “bullet button” the possessor will now have possession of what California law considers an “assault weapon.” With this being said, the possessor will have to register that firearm as an “assault weapon” or face potential felony penalties, arrest, and confiscation of the firearm. AB 1664 will also ban the future sale of these firearms.

The explanation of registration in both bills means paying a registration fee and completing a registration form that contains:

  • A description of the firearm and unique identifiers;
  • The date the firearm was acquired
  • The name and address of the individual from whom, or business from which the firearm was acquired;
  • Registrant’s full name, address, telephone number, date of birth, height, weight, eye color, hair color, and;
  • California driver’s license number or California identification card number.
These bills are detrimental to the Golden State’s law-abiding gun owners, which number in the hundreds of thousands. They would turn legally-owned semi-automatic firearms into what California law defines as an “assault weapon.” These same firearms are used in hunting, competitive shooting and for general legal use throughout the United States.

Assemblymembers David Chiu, Marc Levine, and Phil Ting must hear from all of California’s Second Amendment supporters opposing these erroneous bills. It is IMPERATIVE for you to forward this CRITICAL alert to your family, friends, fellow sportsmen, gun owners, and Second Amendment supports.

Contact information can be found below.

Assemblymember David Chiu (D-17)

(916) 319-2017

Contact page

assemblymember.chiu@assembly.ca.gov



Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-10)

(916) 319-2010

Contact page

levineforassembly@gmail.com



Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-19)

(916) 319-2019

Contact page

phil@philting.com



1 A bullet button is a device used to permanently fix a magazine in a semiautomatic rifle that was originally built to accept a detachable magazine in order to comply with California’s current gun laws. A “bullet button” replaces the magazine release with a block and the user needs to remove the magazine by using a tool. The name came about due to a 1999 California State law which said that a "bullet or ammunition cartridge is considered a tool."
 

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
Some things to contemplate....


Mosin Vs. Mauser Bolt-Action Rifle Challenge
TFB TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzNlGlRHpMo

(Particularly the 114 year old Mauser...)


Lee Enfield No. 4 Rifle: Run and Gun Shooting
TFB TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0IGkABKvY0


WWII German G43 Run and Gun
TFB TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4EJlZGZKaM


2-Gun Action Challenge Match: SVT40 vs M1 Garand
Forgotten Weapons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jW0q794-cI


Little Bighorn Memorial 2-Gun Match, with a Winchester 1866
Forgotten Weapons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZIxezwmPEQ


Swiss K31 in the 2-Gun Action Challenge Match
Forgotten Weapons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOEJ7hiS7mQ

ETA: Krag vs Mauser vs Sauer vs (a)g3
MrKragjorgensen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK8fSVuxVaU
 
Last edited:

subnet

Boot
Some things to contemplate....


Mosin Vs. Mauser Bolt-Action Rifle Challenge
TFB TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzNlGlRHpMo

(Particularly the 114 year old Mauser...)


Lee Enfield No. 4 Rifle: Run and Gun Shooting
TFB TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0IGkABKvY0


WWII German G43 Run and Gun
TFB TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4EJlZGZKaM


2-Gun Action Challenge Match: SVT40 vs M1 Garand
Forgotten Weapons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jW0q794-cI


Little Bighorn Memorial 2-Gun Match, with a Winchester 1866
Forgotten Weapons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZIxezwmPEQ


Swiss K31 in the 2-Gun Action Challenge Match
Forgotten Weapons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOEJ7hiS7mQ

All great thoughts but I would prefer to see machinists take up the challenge and create a top load AR similar to the SKS maybe. Of course I just want to see Dems squirm every-time ingenuity kicks their ass.
 

L.A.B.

Goodness before greatness.
I took a "Bullet Button" dumbed down M-4 wanna B to the range and put it through its steps like a guy with 40 years experience on this type of platform might do...

I was so pi$$3d off with the magazine characteristics, I felt like clubbing the 4" x 4" post nearby with the empty $1,100.00 7 pound paper weight. That's an assault weapon. When I turn my rifle into a hammer! I ended up selling it to a 4473 shop.

Face it folks. The West Coast has f@&&0+ gun laws for the same reason a foreign sub was allowed to creep up 35 miles offshore of Los Angeles and pop a SLBM into our Western test range.

LOL

Bring in the clowns. We're ready for the show.
 
Last edited:

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
I took a "Bullet Button" dumbed down M-4 wanna B to the range and put it through its steps like a guy with 40 years experience on this type of platform might do...

I was so pi$$3d off with the magazine characteristics, I felt like clubbing the 4" x 4" post nearby with the empty $1,100.00 7 pound paper weight. That's an assault weapon. When I turn my rile into a hammer!

Face it folks. The West Coast has f@&&0+ gun laws for the same reason a foreign sub was allowed to creep up 35 miles offshore of Los Angeles and pop a SLBM into our Western test range.

LOL

Bring in the clowns. We're ready for the show.

Yup.
 

TheSearcher

Are you sure about that?
Now I'm not Ian V Hogg but this statement is nuts

Fixed mag, detachable mag, blind mag, tube mag, doesn't make a lick of difference, it's still a freaking semi-automatic rifle, these eijits don't have a clue

Yeah, I definitely was scratching my head at that statement.
 

Snyper

Veteran Member
Who else doubts that this "California Compliant part" was on the two ARs used in San Bernardino despite them being probably sold with them installed?

The two shooters there fired about 75 rounds before leaving, so it's possible only one bothered to change mags at all
 

Thomas Paine

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I think an 8mm mauser or a K-98 converted to 7.62x51mm with a 10 or 20 round trench mag would be just the ticket.
 

vestige

Deceased
would require semi-automatic rifles sold or transferred in California to be manufactured with ammunition magazines that cannot be detached.

will police be subject to the same restriction

ALL manufacturers should make it know that they will only sell to police what the states allow their citizens to have


^^^^^^^^ The answer.
 

Housecarl

On TB every waking moment
I think an 8mm mauser or a K-98 converted to 7.62x51mm with a 10 or 20 round trench mag would be just the ticket.

I trust you've seen the 2 gun match run I posted involving a WW1 Mauser in that set up in the Firearms, Hunting and Fieldcraft sub-forum......2-Gun Match: 1918 Sturmtruppen vs rear line Landser......

(ETA: Reproduction Mauser Gewehr 98 "trench mags" can be had for $30...example)

Yeah. Chambered in rimless in any caliber sufficient to take a deer, a smooth fast action (Mauser, Mauser derived or straight pull like a Schmidt–Rubin or Mannlicher M1895), stripper clip guide (even with a detachable magazine), and take your choice on sights (and the Picatinny rail system allows for a lot of options there).....Basically taking the scout/utility rifle updated to the current era. (ETA: Heck LanTac and Bradley Arms (UK market) and POF (their ReVolt line) and Crosshill Technologies are examples of offering "straight pull" uppers for AR lowers.)

Heck, like anything else, something as simple as an Israeli K98 in 7.62 NATO with an aperture rear sights set up replacing the original rear sight or taking one of the various main line "scouts" as a starting point and modifying from there. The only real limits are money, imagination and what you consider practical for what you're doing with it (though leaning towards "KISS" usually won't steer you wrong).
 
Last edited:

byronandkathy2003

Veteran Member
by the way just did the math 8 12ga shells with #1 buck shot = 128 .30 cal round balls ..

so a 12ga can in 8 shots shoots 128 bullets before you need to reload it.

so at short range it beats an AR hands down for projectiles out the barrel before you need to reload it.
 

kittyluvr

Veteran Member
I just received this e-mail from Firearms Policy Coalition:

ALERT: California Senate Democrats introduce third "assault weapon" gun ban bill of 2016

SACRAMENTO - Yesterday, two California Senators joined forces to introduce the third gun control bill of 2016 that would increase the scope of the state's already expansive ban on so-called "assault weapons."

Senate Bill 880, authored by Senators Isadore Hall, III (D - Compton) and Steve Glazer (D - Orinda) would change the definition of “assault weapon” to include a semi-automatic, centerfire rifle, or a semi-automatic pistol, that does not have a “fixed magazine” but has any one of the listed “evil features.”

The language of SB 880 would define "fixed magazine" as one that "cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action."

Should SB 880 pass, potentially millions of locked-magazine or “Bullet Button”-equipped firearms would need to be registered with the Department of Justice.

Text of SB880:


SB-880 Firearms: assault weapons.(2015-2016)

January 15, 2016

An act to amend Sections 30515 and 30900 of, and to add Section 30680 to, the Penal Code, relating to firearms.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 880, as introduced, Hall. Firearms: assault weapons.

(1) Existing law generally prohibits the possession or transfer of assault weapons, except for the sale, purchase, importation, or possession of assault weapons by specified individuals, including law enforcement officers. Under existing law, “assault weapon” means, among other things, a semiautomatic centerfire rifle or a semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and has any one of specified attributes, including, for rifles, a thumbhole stock, and for pistols, a second handgrip.
This bill would revise this definition of “assault weapon” to mean a semiautomatic centerfire rifle, or a semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of those specified attributes. The bill would also define “fixed magazine” to mean an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.
By expanding the definition of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(2) Existing law requires that any person who, within this state, possesses an assault weapon, except as otherwise provided, be punished as a felony or for a period not to exceed one year in a county jail.
This bill would exempt from punishment under that provision a person who possessed an assault weapon since prior to January 1, 2017, if specified requirements are met.

(3) Existing law requires that, with specified exceptions, any person who, prior to January 1, 2001, lawfully possessed an assault weapon prior to the date it was defined as an assault weapon, and which was not specified as an assault weapon at the time of lawful possession, register the firearm with the Department of Justice. Existing law permits the Department of Justice to charge a fee for registration of up to $20 per person but not to exceed the actual processing costs of the department. Existing law, after the department establishes fees sufficient to reimburse the department for processing costs, requires fees charged to increase at a rate not to exceed the legislatively approved annual cost-of-living adjustment for the department’s budget or as otherwise increased through the Budget Act. Existing law requires those fees to be deposited into the Dealers’ Record of Sale Special Account. Existing law, the Administrative Procedure Act, establishes the requirements for the adoption, publication, review, and implementation of regulations by state agencies.

This bill would require that any person who, from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2016, inclusive, lawfully possessed an assault weapon that does not have a fixed magazine, as defined, and including those weapons with an ammunition feeding device that can be removed readily from the firearm with the use of a tool, register the firearm with the Department of Justice before July 1, 2017, but not before the effective date of specified regulations. The bill would permit the department to increase the $20 registration fee as long as it does not exceed the reasonable processing costs of the department. The bill would also require registrations to be submitted electronically via the Internet utilizing a public-facing application made available by the department. The bill would require the registration to contain specified information, including, but not limited to, a description of the firearm that identifies it uniquely and specified information about the registrant. The bill would permit the department to charge a fee of up to $15 per person for registration through the Internet, not to exceed the reasonable processing costs of the department to be paid and deposited, as specified, for purposes of the registration program. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations for the purpose of implementing those provisions and would exempt those regulations from the Administrative Procedure Act. The bill would also make technical and conforming changes.

(4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.


Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.
Section 30515 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

30515.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 30510, “assault weapon” also means any of the following:

(1) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:

(A) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
(B) A thumbhole stock.
(C) A folding or telescoping stock.
(D) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
(E) A flash suppressor.
(F) A forward pistol grip.

(2) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

(3) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.

(4) A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:

(A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.
(B) A second handgrip.
(C) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearer’s hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.
(D) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.
(5) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
(6) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:

(A) A folding or telescoping stock.
(B) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.

(7) A semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine.
(8) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.

(b) For purposes of this section, “fixed magazine” means an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.

(b)

(c) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting from the definition of “assault weapon” pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of “assault weapon” pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subdivision (c). (d).

(c)
(d) “Assault weapon” does not include either of the following:

(1) Any antique firearm.
(2) Any of the following pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subdivision
(b): (c):

MANUFACTURER MODEL CALIBER

BENELLI MP90 .22LR
BENELLI MP90 .32 S&W LONG
BENELLI MP95 .22LR
BENELLI MP95 .32 S&W LONG
HAMMERLI 280 .22LR
HAMMERLI 280 .32 S&W LONG
HAMMERLI SP20 .22LR
HAMMERLI SP20 .32 S&W LONG
PARDINI GPO .22 SHORT
PARDINI GP-SCHUMANN .22 SHORT
PARDINI HP .32 S&W LONG
PARDINI MP .32 S&W LONG
PARDINI SP .22LR
PARDINI SPE .22LR
WALTHER GSP .22LR
WALTHER GSP .32 S&W LONG
WALTHER OSP .22 SHORT
WALTHER OSP-2000 .22 SHORT

(3) The Department of Justice shall create a program that is consistent with the purposes stated in subdivision (b) (c) to exempt new models of competitive pistols that would otherwise fall within the definition of “assault weapon” pursuant to this section from being classified as an assault weapon. The exempt competitive pistols may be based on recommendations by USA Shooting consistent with the regulations contained in the USA Shooting Official Rules or may be based on the recommendation or rules of any other organization that the department deems relevant.

SEC. 2.
Section 30680 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

30680.
Notwithstanding the meaning of “assault weapon” under Section 30515, as amended by the act that added this section, Section 30605 does not apply to the possession of an assault weapon by a person who has possessed the assault weapon prior to January 1, 2017, if all of the following are applicable:

(a) Prior to January 1, 2017, the person was eligible to register that assault weapon pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 30900.

(b) The person lawfully possessed that assault weapon prior to January 1, 2017.

(c) The person registers the assault weapon by July 1, 2017, in accordance with subdivision (c) of Section 30900.

SEC. 3.
Section 30900 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

30900.
(a) (1) Any person who, prior to June 1, 1989, lawfully possessed an assault weapon, as defined in former Section 12276, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, shall register the firearm by January 1, 1991, and any person who lawfully possessed an assault weapon prior to the date it was specified as an assault weapon pursuant to former Section 12276.5, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989 or as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990 or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, shall register the firearm within 90 days with the Department of Justice pursuant to those procedures that the department may establish.

(b)
(2) Except as provided in Section 30600, any person who lawfully possessed an assault weapon prior to the date it was defined as an assault weapon pursuant to former Section 12276.1, as it read in Section 7 of Chapter 129 of the Statutes of 1999, and which was not specified as an assault weapon under former Section 12276, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989 or as amended at any time before January 1, 2001, or former Section 12276.5, as added by Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989 or as amended at any time before January 1, 2001, shall register the firearm by January 1, 2001, with the department pursuant to those procedures that the department may establish.

(c)
(3) The registration shall contain a description of the firearm that identifies it uniquely, including all identification marks, the full name, address, date of birth, and thumbprint of the owner, and any other information that the department may deem appropriate.

(d)
(4) The department may charge a fee for registration of up to twenty dollars ($20) per person but not to exceed the actual reasonable processing costs of the department. After the department establishes fees sufficient to reimburse the department for processing costs, fees charged shall increase at a rate not to exceed the legislatively approved annual cost-of-living adjustment for the department’s budget or as otherwise increased through the Budget Act. Act but not to exceed the reasonable costs of the department. The fees shall be deposited into the Dealers’ Record of Sale Special Account.

(b) (1) Any person who, from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2016, inclusive, lawfully possessed an assault weapon that does not have a fixed magazine, as defined in Section 30515, including those weapons with an ammunition feeding device that can be readily removed from the firearm with the use of a tool, shall register the firearm before July 1, 2017, but not before the effective date of the regulations adopted pursuant to paragraph (5), with the department pursuant to those procedures that the department may establish by regulation pursuant to paragraph (5).

(2) Registrations shall be submitted electronically via the Internet utilizing a public-facing application made available by the department.

(3) The registration shall contain a description of the firearm that identifies it uniquely, including all identification marks, the date the firearm was acquired, the name and address of the individual from whom, or business from which, the firearm was acquired, as well as the registrant’s full name, address, telephone number, date of birth, sex, height, weight, eye color, hair color, and California driver’s license number or California identification card number.

(4) The department may charge a fee in an amount of up to fifteen dollars ($15) per person but not to exceed the reasonable processing costs of the department. The fee shall be paid by debit or credit card at the time that the electronic registration is submitted to the department. The fee shall be deposited in the Dealers’ Record of Sale Special Account to be used for purposes of this section.

(5) The department shall adopt regulations for the purpose of implementing this subdivision. These regulations are exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

SEC. 4.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB880
 
Top