Calif. lawmakers seek toughest gun laws in nation

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, left, glances over to pair of semi-automatic rifles as he discusses his support for proposed gun control legislation at news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Feb. 7, 2013. / AP

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Weeks after New York enacted the nation's toughest gun laws, California lawmakers said Thursday they want their state to do even more in response to recent mass shootings, particularly the Connecticut school massacre.

Democrats who control the state Legislature revealed 10 proposals that they said would make California the most restrictive state for possessing firearms.

They were joined at a Capitol news conference by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, along with several police chiefs.

"California has always been a leader on the issue of gun safety," Villaraigosa said. "New York has stepped up and stepped forward. California needs to answer the call."

Among the measures is one that would outlaw the future sale of semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines. The restriction would prevent quick reloading by requiring bullets to be loaded one at a time.

Lawmakers also want to make some prohibitions apply to current gun owners, not just to people who buy weapons in the future.

Like New York, California also would require background checks for buying ammunition and would add to the list of prohibited weapons.

Those buying ammunition would have to pay a fee and undergo an initial background check by the state Department of Justice, similar to what is required now before buyers can purchase a weapon. Subsequent background checks would be done instantly by an ammunition seller checking the Justice Department's records.

The legislation also would ban possession of magazines holding more than 10 bullets, even by those who now own them legally. All weapons would have to be registered.

Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California, promised that gun proponents will fight the measures in court if they become law.

"It strikes me as if these folks are playing some sort of game of one-upsmanship with New York at the expense of law-abiding citizens, and that's just unconscionable," he said about lawmakers.

Republicans say the Democrats are exploiting the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary to push their own agendas, reports CBS Sacramento station KOVR-TV. "The laws they are (proposing) would have made no difference in the Connecticut shooting whatsoever," Sen. Dan Logue said.

He added that lawmakers need to focus on other issues that lead to violence. "We've got the issue of PlayStations, where there is violent games," Logue said. "I mean, what about Hollywood and what they are putting out?"

Three bills have been introduced, with others to come before this month's deadline for submitting legislation.

The measures are the most stringent to date among numerous proposals introduced this year to strengthen California's firearm regulations.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said he is confident Democrats can use their majorities in the Assembly and Senate to send the measures to Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown this year.

Brown has declined to comment on weapons legislation before it reaches him.

Steinberg said the measures are designed to close numerous loopholes that gun manufacturers have exploited to get around California's existing restrictions.

Those measures had been the strongest in the nation until Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed New York's new law last month.

Other proposed measures in California would ban so-called "bullet buttons" that can be used to quickly detach and reload magazines in semi-automatic rifles, and update the legal definition of shotguns to prohibit a new version that can rapidly fire shotgun shells and .45-caliber ammunition.

The state also would restrict the lending of guns to keep weapons from felons, mentally ill people and others who are prohibited from ownership.

[DavidRed22]

Politicians are like ban wagon fans, they see a situation where they can pass their convoluted legislation and they hop on acting like they genuinely care. Exploiting the deaths of children for their agenda, SICK!

[belair56]

Didnt the Dept of Homeland security just do a RFP for 7,000 automatic weapons???????????????????????? Must be LAPD is going to shoot more innocent folks and another Operation Fast and Furious is in the works.

[ColoradoScubafreak]

Given that virtually EVERY SINGLE SUCCESSFUL mass shooting has occurred in a "GUN FREE ZONE", and that violent crime is always worst where law abiding citizens are treated as helpless sheep by Elected officialdom, I fail to see how expanding the hunting grounds for twisted lunatics helps ANYONE. Democrats aren't pro-Safety, they are Pro-Mass-Murder. We don't need more phony gun control laws that are designed to ONLY affect decent citizens, we need to re institute lunatic control, which was eliminated by the Democrat party to boost homeless rolls in the early '80s

[V1per63a]

Clearing the liberal smoke that distracts us from REAL issues...Here is the law that is ALREADY on the BOOKS! It is ALREADY "Illegal to possess, import, or purchase assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles, unless such weapons were acquired by the owner prior to June 1, 1989. Legally defined assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles listed by make and model by the DOJ must be registered. Their sale and transfer is prohibited. Military look-alike rifles that are not chambered for .50 BMG and are not on the DOJ roster are legal to purchase or possess, with some restrictions in configuration—known as "banned features." Active-duty military members residing out of state and assigned to duty in California may bring personally-owned assault weapons into the state. The military member's residence must be in a state that permits private citizens to own and possess assault weapons, and the firearms must be registered with the California Department of Justice prior to the servicemember's arrival in California by submitting the registration form with a copy of the member's Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders." SOOOOOOOOOO - what are these liberals REALLY talking about? Why would they drone on and on about something that is already on the books? Your guess is as good as mine. There were zero (0) crimes committed with "Assault Weapons" in CA, CT, NY..etc, so what are the liberals really up to?

[V1per63a]

Clearing the liberal smoke that distracts us from REAL issues...Here is the law that is ALREADY on the BOOKS! It is ALREADY "Illegal to possess, import, or purchase assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles, unless such weapons were acquired by the owner prior to June 1, 1989. Legally defined assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles listed by make and model by the DOJ must be registered. Their sale and transfer is prohibited. Military look-alike rifles that are not chambered for .50 BMG and are not on the DOJ roster are legal to purchase or possess, with some restrictions in configuration—known as "banned features." Active-duty military members residing out of state and assigned to duty in California may bring personally-owned assault weapons into the state. The military member's residence must be in a state that permits private citizens to own and possess assault weapons, and the firearms must be registered with the California Department of Justice prior to the servicemember's arrival in California by submitting the registration form with a copy of the member's Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders." SOOOOOOOOOO - what are these liberals REALLY talking about? Why would they drone on and on about something that is already on the books? Your guess is as good as mine. There were zero (0) crimes committed with "Assault Weapons" in CA, CT, NY..etc, so what are the liberals really up to?

[stevehamilton858]

New York and California are going to lead the way out of the crazy gun ownership situation this country is in.

Why does the NRA want to allow citizens to carry only some WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION? Why just allow assault rifles and 200 round ammunition clips? What about howitzers, bazookas, flame throwers, tanks, rocket launched hand grenades, IED's, submarines, battleships fighter aircraft, high altitude bombers? What kind of twit do you have to be to think that a bunch of citizens owning assault weapons would make any difference at all in the outcome of an insurrection led by citizens that don't like the government. The only difference would be a few million more dead insurrectionists and a few hundred thousand more dead American military personnel.

[V1per63a]

It is ALREADY "Illegal to possess, import, or purchase assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles, unless such weapons were acquired by the owner prior to June 1, 1989. Legally defined assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles listed by make and model by the DOJ must be registered. Their sale and transfer is prohibited. Military look-alike rifles that are not chambered for .50 BMG and are not on the DOJ roster are legal to purchase or possess, with some restrictions in configuration—known as "banned features." Active-duty military members residing out of state and assigned to duty in California may bring personally-owned assault weapons into the state. The military member's residence must be in a state that permits private citizens to own and possess assault weapons, and the firearms must be registered with the California Department of Justice prior to the servicemember's arrival in California by submitting the registration form with a copy of the member's Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders." So what's up?

[V1per63a]

Why can your car go faster than the speed limit, if the the speed limit is the law?

[eddee4911]

I am also a law-abiding citizen who does not own a gun. Are only those with guns have the right to be heard when it comes to gun control?

[V1per63a]

"Assault Weapons" are ALREADY Illegal in EVERY STATE! So why are you allowing yourself to be distracted by the politicians who are raising your taxes and failing to create jobs or improve the economy? They throw you some meat (emotional hot topic issue) and off we go ranting on the web while the idiots in DC puts the screws to us AGAIN!

[Illunz]

There's a certain irony that this time last year people were arguing men had no right to be heard when it came to women's health issues. The "men" in that case argued that it was a matter of saving innocent lives.

Everyone has a right to be heard on every issue. That said, it must be informed and reasoned opinion to have any impact on those who disagree with you. Relying on language steeped in fear or anger will never appeal to those whose convictions you disagree with. Particularly not if you take the viewpoint many do that those who disagree with you are inherently inferior.

[johnlockesghost]

The headline should read: Calif. Democrats seek toughest gun laws in nation.

Likely their gun law will be unconstitutional just as New York's.

[V1per63a]

"Assault Weapons" are ALREADY Illegal in EVERY STATE! So why are we allowing ourselves to be distracted by the politicians who are raising our taxes and selling out the future with more debt! We can't pay the debt we have today and they want to spend more! Come on people...

[jgg000010]

let us know when oakland and south central become vacation destinations.

[Cowmpound]

Nice.

[obwon2008]

California a leader in gun safety? What a laugh! About a safe as Mexico where all guns are illegal, RIGHT? Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is obviously trying to change California into a place as safe as MEXICO....hahahahaha What a bunch of Maroons.

[Segregated]

I was taught that gun safety was how safe I was when using my guns. I even took a gun safety course, and a hunters safety course. Gun control wasn't even mentioned in either course. I think someone, or a whole lot of someones in CA have gun safety either confused with or combined with, or confusingly combined with gun control. In any case, unfortunately, the innocent, law abiding citizens of CA are the ones that will suffer from the legislation that is now proposed. I feel for the citizens and hope that the legislators can see the simple truth before too many of them are seriously injured or worse.

[Segregated]

Oops. I guess if you want to include "always keep control of your weapon" as in muzzle always pointed in the safest direction and keeping the butt solid to your shoulder for the recoil as gun control being mentioned.