The Golden State is once again attempting to raise the barriers higher between law-abiding citizens and the free exercise of their Second Amendment rights.
This time, it’s Senate Bill 948, which could best be described as a solution looking for a problem. It singles out lawful gun owners who—perhaps mistakenly—move to California and bring their legal firearms with them.
State lawmakers never stop concocting new schemes for more oppressive gun control
California law already requires anyone who owns or receives a weapon to have a Firearm Safety Certificate. As for new residents, the existing statute requires them to obtain this certificate within 60 days, and the new proposal would extend that period to 180 days.
Good news, right?
Wrong. Lawmakers want to dramatically raise the bar for new taxpayers by requiring a four-hour government course that includes live fire.
Exercising a constitutional right should not come with a steep price tag
According to the bill’s language, the new arrival must get the training and provide a valid copy to the state. “The bill would prohibit a person from bringing a firearm into this state without obtaining a valid firearm safety certificate within 180 days, except as specified, and make a violation of this provision a misdemeanor.”
Gun Owners of California’s Adam Wilson revealed that incoming license applicants would be burdened with an estimated $400 compliance cost under the new law.
The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the measure on a party-line vote, and the only good news was that the training requirement for new residents was reduced from eight hours to four.
Supporters argue that SB 948 is “essential in preventing firearm-related incidents, especially those involving children.” They somehow believe that making it harder for upstanding citizens to keep and bear arms will stop criminal violence.
That is simply false. The proposal, which will almost certainly become law, is yet more political grandstanding passing for a sensible solution to violent crime.
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