New
California gun laws for are now in effect for 2013 with a "new" firearms law that's a blast from the past.
The list of new California gun laws for 2013 signed by Governor Jerry Brown also includes two delayed gun laws which go into effect on the first of next year.
Following afterward are existing state firearms laws that took effect last year.
New California Gun Laws 2013
AB 1471 (2007) Firearms Microstamping
Mandates that all new semi-automatic handguns sold in California must utilize bullet microstamping technology that identifies the gun make, model and serial number whenever the weapon is fired.
Law now in effect after a six-year delay. Read "
California Gun Microstamping Law" for more.
AB 1527 - Long Gun Open Carry Ban
The new gun law prohibits open carry of unloaded long guns, such as rifles and shotguns, in public places. This is a follow-up to last year's AB 144, which prohibited the open carry of unloaded handguns in public places. Read the official
text of AB 1527 because there are several other provisions within the new gun law.
Law now in effect.
SB 1315 - Imitation Firearms
The new gun law authorizes Los Angeles County to enact and enforce an ordinance that is stricter than state law regarding the manufacture, sale, possession or use of any BB device, toy gun, replica of a firearm or other device that is so substantially similar in coloration and overall appearance to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to perceive that the device is a firearm and that expels a projectile that is no more than 16 millimeters in diameter. Read the official
text of SB 1315.
Law now in effect.
Senate Bill 1367 - Deer, Archery Season, Concealed Firearms
The new gun law revises the Fish and Game Code authorizes a peace officer, whether active or honorably retired, or a person with a valid license to carry a firearm on his or her person while engaged in the taking of deer with bow and arrow, but prohibits taking or attempting to take deer with that firearm. Read the official
text of SB 1367.
Law now in effect.
Next Year's California Guns Laws Not Yet In Effect
AB 809 - Long Gun Registration Law 2014
AB 809 will require the registration of any newly purchased long guns, starting in
2014.
Critics of this new gun law say it violates Second Amendment rights by
forcing state registration of rifles and shotguns, and that the only
value of long gun registration is in assisting governments to locate and
confiscate firearms in the future.
Law effective January 1, 2014.
AB 1559 - Firearms Dealer Regulatory Reform 2014
The new gun law provides that, beginning in
2014,
the Department of Justice will only charge one fee for a single
transaction on the same date and time for taking title or possession of
any number of firearms. The new law also clarifies the process for
issuance of permits for short-barreled rifles used in the motion picture
industry. Read the official
text of AB 1559.
Law effective January 1, 2014.
Last Year's California Gun Laws Still In Effect
SB 610 - Concealed Handgun Permit Application
SB 610 standardizes the application process for a concealed handgun permit and removes the mandate that a CCW applicant purchase liability insurance before getting the permit. The loudest criticism remains that the concealed handgun permit is still too difficult to obtain --- and perhaps too "political" in the process.
Law in effect since last year.
SB 819 - Transfer of Background Check Fees
SB 819 lets the Department of Justice utilize the Dealer Record of Sales (DROS) funds to pay for enforcement of California firearm possession laws in the Armed & Prohibited Persons Systems program.
DROS funds were originally collected from firearm purchasers to pay for the administrative process for background checks. SB 819 amends Section 28225 of the Penal Code.
Critics of this new gun law say that, by diverting DROS background check fees toward gun possession law enforcement, the DROS fund will be depleted of money and necessitate another increase in California fees for background checks in the state.
Law in effect since last year.
AB 144 - Unloaded Handgun Open Carry Ban
AB 144 makes the open carrying of an unloaded handgun illegal in California. Critics of this new gun law say the open carrying of firearms by law-abiding Californians results from arbitrary concealed carry laws, which let gun owners from one county get a permit while gun owners in the next county are denied the right.
Law in effect since last year.
