[color:#3333FF]Link..![/color][/b] SACRAMENTO -- Less than three weeks after the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, the California Legislature on Thursday approved a raft of bills that aim to keep the state's citizens safer from deadly gun violence by placing sweeping new restrictions on firearms owners.
[b]The Assembly endorsed legislation that seeks to ban possession of high-capacity ammunition magazines and close a loophole in the state's existing assault weapons ban by prohibiting long guns with "bullet buttons" that make it easier for shooters to swap magazines.
In the Senate, lawmakers advanced bills that would restrict residents from buying more than one long gun in a 30-day period and expand the group of people who may request a gun violence restraining order. They will consider a few more bills later today.
"This is designed to try to (prevent) a tragedy just waiting to happen," said Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, speaking about
Assembly Bill 2607, which would allow people to ask judges to confiscate guns from coworkers they believe to be dangerous.The package of a dozen bills had been introduced following last December's terrorist killings in San Bernardino, and lawmakers planned to act on the measures this summer before the recent massacre at an Orlando gay nightclub, where 49 people were slaughtered. So the timing of the votes has put California in a national spotlight because it's widely assumed the Republican Congress won't endorse any gun bills this year -- despite Democrats' recent protests.
All but a few Democrats voted in favor of the four measures the Assembly considered over the passionate objections of many Republicans, who insisted the bills will do nothing to keep guns or bullets out of criminals' hands.
"Many want to blame those horrors and those terrorist attacks on law-abiding citizens," said Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, speaking about the mass shootings in Orlando and San Bernardino. "But you can't control murder. You can't stop insanity."
Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León's bill to require background checks for ammunition sales sparked the greatest debate in the Assembly because it seeks to override a provision of Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom's gun control ballot measure before voters have even considered it.
Successful legislation authored by de León in 2009 regulated the sale of ammunition, but a judge later ruled that its definition of ammunition was too vague to enforce.
De León's Senate Bill 1235 seeks to remedy the problem by defining ammunition as "one or more loaded cartridges consisting of a primer case, propellant and with one or more projectiles."
Newsom's Safety for All initiative also seeks to regulate the sale of ammunition and require background checks for prospective bullet buyers, but the bill and the ballot measure differ in their approach on this issue. And in a brazen move, de León amended SB 1235 to state that his bill's ammunition background check system must take effect should Newsom's initiative pass in November.
"This bill is a classic razzle dazzle rigmarole bait and switch," said Assemblyman Brian Jones, R-Santee, who joined a chorus of GOP Assembly members who questioned whether de León actions were even legal. The nonpartisan Legislative Counsel, however, says they are.
The Senate on Thursday morning overwhelmingly approved legislation that aims to place a measure on the November ballot to amend Proposition 47 by classifying the theft of a firearm as a felony even if the value of the gun is less than $950. It passed 33-1.
Legislation requiring background checks for the purchase of gun parts that could be used to assemble a firearm also cleared the upper house easily.
The only bill that struggled to win enough support to advance was Assemblyman Phil Ting's AB 2607 to expand the group of people who may request gun violence restraining orders.
While the current law only applies to family members and law enforcement officers, the new legislation would extend that right to mental health workers, employers, co-workers and school employees.Sen. Anthony Cannella, R-Ceres, argued the proposal would be ripe for abuse, especially in the workplace. "(Have) you ever had co-workers that you haven't gotten along with?" he asked, insisting that coworkers who have been hostile to one another would use the legislation.
Initially, only 18 senators voted in favor of the bill, but three Democrats later added their support, giving the legislation the 21 votes it needed to advance.
In a rare move, Gov. Jerry Brown may act on the package of bills as soon as this afternoon ahead of a midnight deadline for Newsom to decide whether to pull his gun control initiative from the November ballot.
The measure tackles some of the same topics addressed by the legislation.