CA State Gun Law Scorecard: Best in Nation
California Political Desk
February 20, 2010
Washington, D.C. – Once again, California holds the top spot with the nation´s strongest gun laws that help combat the illegal gun market, prevent the sale of guns without background checks and reduce risks to children, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. In the organization´s 2009 state scorecards released today for all 50 states, California earned 79 points out of a total of 100.
This past year, California further strengthened its laws by passing legislation to regulate the sale of handgun ammunition in the state. Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 962, sponsored by Assembly Member Kevin DeLeon (D-Los Angeles) last fall. It was the top priority of the California Brady Campaign Chapters and Women Against Gun Violence. "This important new law will help keep handgun ammunition out of the hands of dangerous people and give law enforcement an important new tool to track down armed criminals in possession of illegal guns and bullets," said Ellen Boneparth, spokesperson for the California Brady Campaign Chapters.
California has in place key laws to prevent gun trafficking such as mandatory background checks on all firearm purchases, a "one-handgun-a-month" law to stop large volume purchases that feed the illegal market, and other important laws to regulate gun dealers. In 2007, California advocates helped pass legislation to help law enforcement identify crime guns using new "Microstamping" technology. This new law, which will soon take effect, will give law enforcement a powerful investigative tool to solve more gun crimes and apprehend more armed criminals and gang members by identifying the crime gun – without the gun.
"California has done the best job in adopting laws designed to make it harder for criminals and other dangerous people to access guns, but there´s more that can be done to make our families safer," said Sheri Barnett, Executive Director of Women Against Gun Violence.
This year advocates will be pushing legislation, authored by Assembly Member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), to require that all firearms records be retained to give law enforcement another tool to track down people in possession of illegal firearms. "This legislation will close a glaring loophole and ensure that all firearm records, not just handgun records, are maintained for law enforcement purposes," continued Boneparth. Currently only handgun records are kept by the Department of Justice.
"California continues to make progress when it comes to common sense gun laws. For years, public officials in California have made it harder for dangerous people to get dangerous weapons, but there´s more that can be done," said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign.
The state´s complete scorecard results can be accessed at www.bradycampaign.org. The categories covered by the California 2009 scorecard are as follows:
>> States can earn up to 35 points by taking steps needed to "Curb Firearms Trafficking." States can fully regulate the gun dealers within its borders, limit bulk purchases of handguns, provide police certain technology to identify crime guns, and require lost or stolen guns to be reported to the police. California scored 27 points in this category.
>> States can earn up to 25 points by "Strengthening Brady Background Checks." This involves requiring universal background checks and requiring a comprehensive permit in order to purchase firearms. Short of universal background checks, states can also close the gun show loophole, at least requiring background checks for all gun show sales. California scored 24 points in this category.
>> States can earn up to 20 points by "Protecting Child Safety" when it comes to guns. States can require that only childproof handguns be sold within their borders, require child safety locks sold with each weapon, hold adults accountable for keeping guns away from kids and teens, and require gun purchasers to be at least 21 years of age. California scored 10 points in this category.
>> States can earn up to 10 points by "Banning Military-style Assault Weapons," as well as banning high-capacity ammunition magazines. California scored 10 points in this category.
>> In a miscellaneous category, states can earn up to eight points by restricting most "Guns In Public Places" to trained law enforcement and security and by "Preserving Local Control" over municipal gun laws. This includes keeping guns out of workplaces and college campuses, not forcing law enforcement to issue concealed handgun permits on demand, not permitting "shoot first" expansions to self-defense laws, and not preventing cities from passing their own gun laws. California scored eight points in this category.
The Brady Campaign acknowledges the research of Legal Community Against Violence on state gun laws. Their publication, "Regulating Guns in America," and website served as a basis for our analysis. For more information about Legal Community Against Violence, see www.lcav.org.
For more information about the Los Angeles-based Women Against Gun Violence, visit the organization´s website at www.wagv.org.
As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.
For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read Paul Helmke's blog at www.bradycampaign.org/blog/. Visit the Brady Campaign website at www.bradycampaign.org or the California Brady Campaign Chapters website at www.bradycampaign.org/CA.
This past year, California further strengthened its laws by passing legislation to regulate the sale of handgun ammunition in the state. Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 962, sponsored by Assembly Member Kevin DeLeon (D-Los Angeles) last fall. It was the top priority of the California Brady Campaign Chapters and Women Against Gun Violence. "This important new law will help keep handgun ammunition out of the hands of dangerous people and give law enforcement an important new tool to track down armed criminals in possession of illegal guns and bullets," said Ellen Boneparth, spokesperson for the California Brady Campaign Chapters.
California has in place key laws to prevent gun trafficking such as mandatory background checks on all firearm purchases, a "one-handgun-a-month" law to stop large volume purchases that feed the illegal market, and other important laws to regulate gun dealers. In 2007, California advocates helped pass legislation to help law enforcement identify crime guns using new "Microstamping" technology. This new law, which will soon take effect, will give law enforcement a powerful investigative tool to solve more gun crimes and apprehend more armed criminals and gang members by identifying the crime gun – without the gun.
"California has done the best job in adopting laws designed to make it harder for criminals and other dangerous people to access guns, but there´s more that can be done to make our families safer," said Sheri Barnett, Executive Director of Women Against Gun Violence.
This year advocates will be pushing legislation, authored by Assembly Member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), to require that all firearms records be retained to give law enforcement another tool to track down people in possession of illegal firearms. "This legislation will close a glaring loophole and ensure that all firearm records, not just handgun records, are maintained for law enforcement purposes," continued Boneparth. Currently only handgun records are kept by the Department of Justice.
"California continues to make progress when it comes to common sense gun laws. For years, public officials in California have made it harder for dangerous people to get dangerous weapons, but there´s more that can be done," said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign.
The state´s complete scorecard results can be accessed at www.bradycampaign.org. The categories covered by the California 2009 scorecard are as follows:
>> States can earn up to 35 points by taking steps needed to "Curb Firearms Trafficking." States can fully regulate the gun dealers within its borders, limit bulk purchases of handguns, provide police certain technology to identify crime guns, and require lost or stolen guns to be reported to the police. California scored 27 points in this category.
>> States can earn up to 25 points by "Strengthening Brady Background Checks." This involves requiring universal background checks and requiring a comprehensive permit in order to purchase firearms. Short of universal background checks, states can also close the gun show loophole, at least requiring background checks for all gun show sales. California scored 24 points in this category.
>> States can earn up to 20 points by "Protecting Child Safety" when it comes to guns. States can require that only childproof handguns be sold within their borders, require child safety locks sold with each weapon, hold adults accountable for keeping guns away from kids and teens, and require gun purchasers to be at least 21 years of age. California scored 10 points in this category.
>> States can earn up to 10 points by "Banning Military-style Assault Weapons," as well as banning high-capacity ammunition magazines. California scored 10 points in this category.
>> In a miscellaneous category, states can earn up to eight points by restricting most "Guns In Public Places" to trained law enforcement and security and by "Preserving Local Control" over municipal gun laws. This includes keeping guns out of workplaces and college campuses, not forcing law enforcement to issue concealed handgun permits on demand, not permitting "shoot first" expansions to self-defense laws, and not preventing cities from passing their own gun laws. California scored eight points in this category.
The Brady Campaign acknowledges the research of Legal Community Against Violence on state gun laws. Their publication, "Regulating Guns in America," and website served as a basis for our analysis. For more information about Legal Community Against Violence, see www.lcav.org.
For more information about the Los Angeles-based Women Against Gun Violence, visit the organization´s website at www.wagv.org.
As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.
For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read Paul Helmke's blog at www.bradycampaign.org/blog/. Visit the Brady Campaign website at www.bradycampaign.org or the California Brady Campaign Chapters website at www.bradycampaign.org/CA.
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