Local Lawmakers React To Governor’s Signing of Six New Control Bills Into Law

Governor Jerry Brown signed six new gun control bills into law on Friday, solidifying California’s status as one of the strictest regulators in the country.

One of the new laws bans the sale of semi-automatic rifles with bullet buttons.

“In a lot of these mass shootings, it is high capacity ammunition clips and bullet buttons that enable that many rounds to be fired before law enforcement is able to get on scene,” said Assemblymember Das Williams. “I don’t represent that this can stop people from doing crazy acts, but what it can do is reduce the amount of people they can kill or wound in those acts.”

Another new law will require background checks for gun owners buying ammunition.

Governor Brown also vetoed five measures, including a bill authored by Sen. Hannah Beth-Jackson, D-Santa Barbara. It would have required stolen or lost guns to be reported within five days.

“We all know where our cell phones are just about at all times. There’s no reason with a firearm, that we shouldn’t also have that knowledge,” Jackson said. “The governor felt that this was not going to deter criminals. Frankly, I think that the data confirms it will in fact.”

Another bill vetoed by the governor would have made the theft of a firearm a grand theft to be treated as a felony.

Williams said he was disappointed that law was vetoed and believes it is important to get tough on people who steal weapons.