BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                                                                  SB 52
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          Date of Hearing:   June 26, 2001
          Counsel:        Fredericka McGee


                         ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
                               Carl Washington, Chair

                      SB 52 (Scott) - As Amended:  June 4, 2001


           SUMMARY  :  Repeals the Basic Firearms Safety and Certificate  
          (BFSC) program administered by the Department of Justice (DOJ)  
          and replaces it with a handgun safety licensing program funded  
          from fees.  Specifically,  this bill  :   

          1)Provides definitions for "handgun", "basic firearms safety  
            certificate", "firearms safety certificate" and "handgun  
            safety license". 

          2)Provides that effective January 1, 2003, no person shall  
            purchase, or receive through gift, loan, transfer, or bequest,  
            any handgun, without a valid handgun safety license issued by  
            DOJ pursuant to this bill.

          3)Provides that effective January 1, 2003, no person shall sell,  
            or deliver through gift, loan, transfer, or bequest, any  
            handgun, to any individual without assuring that the  
            individual has a valid handgun safety license issued by DOJ  
            pursuant to this bill.

          4)Prohibits the issuance of a handgun safety license to any  
            person under the age of 21 or to any person who is included in  
            any of the classes of persons prohibited from owning or  
            possessing a firearm by Penal Code Sections 12021 or 12021.1  
            or Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 8100 or 8103.

          5)Requires DOJ to develop and make available a handgun safety  
            license application form (including availability on the  
            Internet); instructional materials in both English and  
            Spanish; coursework for the class; and a handgun safety  
            license card. 

          6)Provides that an application for a handgun safety license  
            shall include the following information:  name; current  
            mailing address; any aliases ever used, or other names by  









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            which the applicant has ever been known; date and place of  
            birth; an indication as to whether the applicant is prohibited  
            from possessing or controlling firearms; a statement that the  
            applicant has read/agrees to comply with conditions of the  
            license; date of application; and signature.

          7)Requires that the applicant:

             a)   Complete and pass a written test, the content, form, and  
               manner of which shall be prescribed by DOJ.  The test shall  
               be administered by an instructor certified by DOJ who shall  
               certify completion of the test.  The test is to be taken in  
               English or Spanish; if the person taking the test is unable  
               to read, the test is to be done orally; and,

             b)   Perform a safe handling demonstration encompassing both  
               a semi-automatic pistol and a revolver, the content, form,  
               and manner of which shall be prescribed by DOJ, as  
               specified.  The demonstration shall be performed for an  
               instructor certified by DOJ.

          8)Provides, within six months, the completed application, proof  
            of completion of the written test, and safe handling  
            demonstration all be submitted in person to either a chief of  
            police or a sheriff in California, or to an agent of the those  
            law enforcement offices, as specified.

          9)Provides for a thumbprint taken by the chief of police or the  
            sheriff which is to be maintained with the applicant's  
            application.

          10)Provides that the chief of police or sheriff shall witness  
            the signature, require clear evidence of identity and age - a  
            California driver's license or identification card - and proof  
            of California residency, such as a utility bill from within  
            the past three months, a residential lease, or a property  
            record.

          11)Provides that the chief law enforcement officer shall verify  
            the applicant's name, date of birth, valid driver's license or  
            state identification card, and documentation that the  
            individual is a California resident; shall retain a copy of  
            the application and thumbprint and return the original to the  
            applicant at the time of the application; and that the chief  
            law enforcement officer shall stamp and endorse the original  









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            to certify his or her review and approval.

          12)Provides that within one year of completing the written test  
            and the safe handling demonstration, the applicant must  
            personally submit the original application certified by the  
            chief law enforcement officer to a licensed California dealer  
            or sheriff.

          13)Requires that a licensed California dealer or sheriff shall,  
            within two business days, forward the completed application to  
            DOJ and requires DOJ to complete an investigation to determine  
            whether the applicant is eligible to possess a firearm, and,  
            if the applicant qualifies, to forward a handgun safety  
            license to the applicant via United States mail within 15 days  
            of receiving the application.  If a firearm is purchased at  
            the same time as the application is submitted, the applicant  
            shall only be required to pay for and undergo one background  
            check.

          14)Provides that the handgun safety license shall be issued by  
            DOJ with specified information on a paper card that tears out  
            of the license form.  The license number will generally be a  
            person's California driver's license number.

          15)Provides that certification that the requirements regarding  
            safe handling, proficiency in shooting, and passing a written  
            test shall be provided to law enforcement in a form prescribed  
            by DOJ and with the handgun safety license course certificate.

          16)Sets limits on costs to the amount DOJ finds sufficient to  
            completely fund the costs incurred by DOJ in administering the  
            handgun safety licensing program, not to exceed $25 per  
            license application and allows the chief law enforcement  
            officer to charge the applicant an administrative fee solely  
            to fund the costs incurred by the chief law enforcement  
            officer in processing applications pursuant to this section,  
            not to $12 per license application.  These costs may be  
            adjusted every calendar year by DOJ by an amount, rounded to  
            the nearest whole dollar, by which inflation has occurred.

          17)Provides that to renew a handgun safety license, the licensee  
            must first retake the written test to be administered by an  
            instructor certified by DOJ and requires a firearms dealer to  
            transmit the renewal application to DOJ to conduct a  
            background investigation within 15 days.









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          18)Provides that the handgun safety license shall be presented  
            at the point of purchase or transfer by the licensee when  
            purchasing or taking possession of a handgun in California. 

          19)Provides that the provisions of the bill are cumulative and  
            shall not be construed as restricting the application of any  
            other law.  However, an act or omission punishable in  
            different ways by the provisions of this bill and different  
            provisions of the Penal Code shall not be punished under more  
            than one provision.

          20)Exempts from the thumbprint and firearm demonstration  
            requirements of the handgun safety license requirements the  
            following: 

             a)   Individuals who have a valid concealed weapons permit if  
               DOJ determines that the training completed for the permit  
               is at a minimum equivalent to the safe handling  
               demonstration required by the bill. 

             b)   Reserve peace officers, as defined in Penal Code Section  
               832.6, if DOJ determines that the training completed by the  
               reserve peace officer is, at a minimum, equivalent to the  
               safe handling demonstration required for the handgun safety  
               license. 

             c)   Active and honorably retired military and military  
               reserve personnel. 

             d)   Any person who is allowed to carry loaded firearms  
               pursuant to Penal Code Section 12031(c) or (d), i.e.,  
               patrol special officers, animal control officers, labor  
               police officers, guards or messengers of financial  
               institutions, animal vehicle guards, private investigators  
               and private patrol operators, uniformed security guards. 

             e)   Persons who are the holders of a special weapons permit  
               issued by DOJ.

             f)   Retired peace officers as defined in Penal Code Sections  
               830.1, 830.2, and 830.5(c).

          21)Exempts from the handgun safety license requirement to  
            purchase or obtain handguns the following: 









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             a)   Any California or federal peace officer authorized to  
               carry a firearm while on duty. 

             b)   Any honorably retired peace officer, as specified, who  
               was authorized to carry a firearm on duty. 

             c)   A federally licensed collector who is acquiring or being  
               loaned a handgun that is a curio or relic, as defined in  
               Section 178.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal  
               Regulations, who have a current certificate of eligibility  
               issued to him or her by DOJ. 

             d)   A person to whom a handgun is being returned, where the  
               person receiving the firearm is the owner of the firearm. 

             e)   The following persons who take title or possession of a  
               handgun by operation of law in a representative capacity,  
               until or unless they transfer title ownership of the  
               handgun to themselves in a personal capacity: 

               i)     The executor or administrator of an estate. 

               ii)    A secured creditor, an agent, or employee thereof  
                 when the firearms are possessed as collateral for, or as  
                 a result of, or an agent or employee thereof when the  
                 firearms are possessed as collateral for, or as a result  
                 of, a default under a security agreement under the  
                 Commercial Code. 

               iii)   A levying officer, as defined in the Code of Civil  
                 Procedure Sections 481.140, 511.060, or 680.260.  

               iv)    A receiver performing his or her functions as a  
                 receiver.

               v)     A trustee in bankruptcy performing his or her  
                 duties. 

               vi)    As assignee for the benefit of creditors performing  
                 his or her functions as an assignee. 

             f)   A family of a peace officer or deputy sheriff from a  
               local agency who receives a firearm pursuant to Government  
               Code Section 50081.









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          22)Makes changes to the admonition that licensed firearm dealers  
            are required to post on their business premises in order to  
            reflect the current provisions contained in Penal Code Section  
            12035.

          23)Prohibits a licensed firearms dealer from delivering a  
            handgun being purchased, transferred, or loaned without the  
            recipient presenting a basic firearm safety certificate.

          24)States that it is the intent of the Legislature to:

             a)   Require handgun purchasers and transferees to have a  
               basic familiarity with those firearms. 

             b)   Require a firearms safety certificate for the purchase,  
               transfer and loan of a handgun, as specified.

          25)Requires DOJ, prior to January 1, 2002 to:

             a)   Develop the course content and instructional materials  
               in English and Spanish for a firearm safety course which  
               shall consist of not less than two, nor more than eight  
               hours of instruction, including, but not limited to,  
               instruction in specified areas; 

             b)   Develop an instructional manual and, if deemed  
               necessary, audiovisual materials, to be issued to a handgun  
               safety license instructor certified by DOJ; to make the  
               instructional manual available to firearms dealers who  
               shall have it available to the general public; 

             c)   Prescribe a minimum level of skill, knowledge, and  
               competency to be required of all handgun safety license  
               instructors and develop and provide the guidelines to be  
               used to certify the instructors. 

             d)   Solicit input from any reputable association or  
               organization that has, as one of its objectives, the  
               promotion of firearms safety in the development of the  
               basic firearms safety course.

          26)Authorizes DOJ impose a $10 fee for the firearms safety  
            course to fund costs and to pursue an internal loan from  
            special fund revenues to fund the start-up costs of this Act. 









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          27)Provides that no reimbursement will be provided to local  
            agencies under this Act for new crimes or infractions, but  
            allows up to $1 million in reimbursement for other costs. 

          28)Contains a severability provision so that if any provision of  
            handgun safety license law or its application is held invalid,  
            that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or  
            applications that can be given effect without the invalid  
            provision or application. 

          29)Makes a number of changes to law pertaining to transfers of  
            firearms so that handgun transfers, such as those by operation  
            of law pertaining to a bequest, require that transferees  
            obtain a handgun safety license and adds specific restrictions  
            and exemptions pertaining to specified loans and transfers of  
            handguns. 

          30)Adds a specific provision to Penal Code Section 12072  
            pertaining to sale or delivery of firearms:  that no person,  
            corporation, or firm shall sell, loan, or transfer a firearm  
            to a minor, nor a handgun to anyone under 21 years of age.

           EXISTING LAW :

          1)Provides that DOJ shall permanently maintain records of  
            handgun transactions (handgun registry).  [Penal Code Section  
            11106(b)(1).]

          2)Provides that any person who produces, promotes, sponsors, or  
            otherwise organizes a gun show must obtain a Certificate of  
            Eligibility from DOJ to be a "licensed gun show producer."   
            (Penal Code Section 12021.1.)

          3)Provides that "[n]o permit or license to purchase, own,  
            possess, keep, or carry either openly or concealed, shall be  
            required of any citizen of the United States or legal resident  
            over the age of 18 years who resides or is temporarily within  
            this state?."  [Penal Code Section 12026(b).]

          4)Provides for the issuance of a license to carry a concealable  
            weapon in public.  (Penal Code Sections 12050 - 12054.)

          5)Requires a license for persons who sell firearms commercially  
            and sets forth the requirements of that license.  (Penal Code  









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            Sections 12070 and 12071.)

          6)Generally requires that the sale, loan or transfer of a  
            firearm (handguns, rifles and shotguns) in California must be  
            conducted through a state-licensed firearms dealer or through  
            a local sheriff's department in counties of less than 200,000  
            population.  That requirement is applicable to both purchases  
            from a licensed firearms dealer and private party  
            transactions, which must be made through a licensed dealer or  
            a local sheriff's department in smaller counties.  A 10-day  
            waiting period, background check, and handgun safety  
            certificate for handgun transfers are required prior to  
            delivery of the firearm.  [Penal Code Sections 12072(c) and  
            (d) and 12084.]

          7)Provides where neither party to the transaction holds a  
            firearms dealer's license, the parties to the transaction  
            shall complete the sale, loan, or transfer of that firearm  
            through either a licensed dealer or a sheriff's office in  
            smaller counties.  Violations involving handguns shall be  
            punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one  
            year or in the state prison, or by a fine not to exceed  
            $1,000, or by both the fine and imprisonment.  [Penal Code  
            Section 12072(d) and (g)(3)(E).]

          8)Requires each firearm dealer to keep a written record of each  
            firearm transaction, and to send copies of those records to  
            DOJ.  (Penal Code Section 12073 and 12076.)

          9)Requires the register of sale of a concealable handgun to  
            contain the following information:

             a)   Date and time of sale;

             b)   Make, type and caliber of firearm;

             c)   Peace officer exempt status, if applicable, and the  
               agency name;

             d)   Dealer waiting period exemption, if applicable;

             e)   California firearms dealer number;

             f)   Dangerous weapons permit holder waiting period  
               exemption, if applicable;









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             g)   Purchaser's basic firearms safety certificate number;

             h)   Manufacturer's name if stamped on the firearm, serial  
               number and any identification number or mark assigned to  
               the firearm;

             i)   Whether the firearm is new or used;

             j)   Barrel length and color of the firearm;

             aa)  Full name of the purchaser;

             bb)  Purchaser's complete date and place of birth, local  
               address and the permanent address if local address is  
               temporary and complete telephone number;

             cc)  Identification of purchaser;

             dd)  Purchaser's occupation;

             ee)  Purchaser's gender and physical description;

             ff)  All legal names and aliases ever used by purchaser;

             gg)  Whether the purchaser has suffered specified criminal  
               convictions, or has a history of specified mental health  
               alerts;

             hh)  Signatures of purchaser and salesperson;

             ii)  Name, complete address and telephone number of the  
               dealer selling the firearm; and,

             jj)  Statement of the penalties for any person who uses a  
               fictitious name or address, or for knowingly furnishing  
               incorrect information, or omitting information required for  
               the register.  [Penal Code Section 12077(b).]

          10)Requires a license for persons to manufacture firearms in  
            California.  (Penal Code Section 12085.)
           
          11)Provides for DOJ to issue a permit for possession,  
            manufacture, or transportation of machine guns.  (Penal Code  
            Section 12230.)









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          12)Sets forth the requirements for DOJ's creation of the  
            requisite handgun safety certificate and provides exemptions  
            for specified classes of persons who do not need to either  
            successfully take the course or challenge the course with a  
            specified exam.  (Penal Code Sections 12081 and 12800 -  
            12809.)

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown

           COMMENTS  :   

           1)Author's Statement:   According to the author, "SB 52 will  
            reduce crime and decrease the number of injuries and deaths  
            from firearms by enacting a handgun safety licensing in  
            California.  After January 1, 2003, purchasers of handguns  
            would have to obtain a handgun safety license before buying  
            handguns. 

          "The rationale behind SB 52 is simple:  new handgun buyers  
            should know how to use handguns before buying them.  SB 52  
            requires purchasers of new handguns to pass basic written and  
            safe use demonstration tests, and have a criminal background  
            check, including a thumbprint.  The concept is so deeply  
            rooted in common sense that many Californians are shocked to  
            discover that our state has no such requirements now. 

          "SB 52 minimizes impact on law enforcement by only requiring  
            peace officers to take a thumbprint from purchasers, verify  
            purchasers' identities, and make copies of their license  
            applications.  Their increased workload will be offset by a  
            $12 fee paid by applicants.  SB 52 is supported by many law  
            enforcement agencies, including the California Attorney  
            General's Office, California Organization of Police and  
            Sheriffs, the Police Chiefs Association, the Los Angeles  
            County Sheriffs Association, the Alameda County Sheriff's  
            Association, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department, the  
            Los Angeles Police Department, and many others.

          "The program is designed to be self-funded with license and  
            application fees by its third year."

           2)Background  :  Handgun owners are not required to possess  
            licenses or to register their firearms under current  
            California law.  Penal Code Section 12026(b) provides that  









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            "[no] permit or license to purchase, own, possess, keep, or  
            carry either openly or concealed shall be required of any  
            citizen of the United States or legal resident over the age of  
            18 years who resides or is temporarily within this state."   
            However, after April 1, 1994, any person seeking to purchase  
            or receive from some other type of transfer a handgun was  
            required to obtain a basic firearms safety certificate after  
            taking a two- to four-hour course of instruction.

          In 1990, AB 497 (Connelly-Peace), Chapter 9, Statutes of 1990,  
            provided that all transfers, loans and sales of firearms  
            generally must be conducted through a dealer.  Certain  
            intra-familial transfers and certain loans between persons  
            personally known to each other were exempt, under certain  
            conditions.  However, prior to AB 482 (Peace), Chapter 23,  
            Statutes of 1994, there was no procedure in place which  
            allowed dealers or law enforcement agencies to process loans  
            of firearms in the same way as sales and transfers.  AB 482  
            provided that the procedure currently in place which allowed  
            dealers or law enforcement agencies to process loans of  
            firearms in the same way as sales and transfers of guns.

          Further, individuals who possess certain assault weapons as  
            defined in Penal Code Section 12285 must register these  
            firearms with local law enforcement agencies.  DOJ may also  
            issue permits to any person who lawfully acquired an assault  
            weapon before June 1, 1989 under specified conditions.  
           
           3)Gun Control in Other States  :  Several states require a  
            concealed weapon permit to carry a concealed handgun.  Twelve  
            states (Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois,<1> Iowa, Massachusetts,  
                                                                                   Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York  
            and North Carolina) and the District of Columbia (D.C.)  
            require a permit to purchase a handgun.  Three states,  
            California, Hawaii and Michigan, require handguns to be  
            registered.

          The following three states and the D.C. also require the  
            licensing of handgun owners: 

              a)   District of Columbia  :  The D.C. has two sets of laws  
               applicable to firearms.  One law, passed by Congress, is  
               part of the D.C. Code (Section 22:3201-3217) and regulates  
               the purchase, possession and carrying of firearms.  A newer  



             --------------------------
          <1> A Firearms Owner's Identification Card (FOID) is required.








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               law, passed in 1976 by the D.C. City Council, requires all  
               firearms to be registered, all owners to be licensed, and  
               prohibits the sale of new handguns.  That law also  
               prohibits any person from bringing a handgun into the  
               District or transporting a handgun through the city.  
              
              b)   Massachusetts  :  Firearms and firearm feeding devices are  
               divided into classes. Depending on the class, a firearm  
               identification card (FID) or Class A license or Class B  
               license is required to possess, purchase, or carry a  
               firearm, ammunition therefor, or firearm feeding device, or  
               large capacity feeding device.

             A Class A carry license is required to possess, purchase, or  
               carry any large capacity firearm (handgun, rifle, or  
               shotgun), large capacity ammunition feeding devices  
               therefor, and ammunition therefor.  The license "may" be  
               issued by the same issuing authority as for a card to a  
               person at least 21 of age who is eligible for a card and  
               demonstrates he or she is a "suitable person" and "has good  
               reason to fear injury to his person or property, or for any  
               other reason, including...sport or target practice only."   
               Restrictions may be placed on the license.  

             A Class B carry license is required to possess, purchase, or  
               carry any non-large capacity handgun, feeding device, and  
               ammunition therefor; large capacity rifle and shotgun; and  
               feeding devices and ammunition therefor.  The requirements  
               for the license are the same as for a Class A license.   
               Restrictions may be placed on the license.  As in a Class A  
               license, the Class B license shall be issued or denied  
               within 40 days of application.  
              
              c)   New Jersey  :  It is unlawful to knowingly possess any  
               handgun, including any antique handgun, without first  
               having obtained a Permit to Carry.  It is also unlawful to  
               sell, give, transfer, assign, or otherwise dispose of, or  
               receive, purchase, or otherwise acquire a handgun unless  
               the purchaser, assignee, donee, receiver, or holder is  
               licensed as a dealer under New Jersey law or has first  
               secured a Permit to Purchase a handgun.  No handgun shall  
               be delivered to any person unless accompanied by a trigger  
               lock or a locked case, gun box, container or other secure  
               facility.  This does not apply to antique handguns.  
              









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              d)   New York  :  A license is needed to possess a handgun in  
               one's home or place of business. Application is made to the  
               "licensing officer" of the city or county where the  
               applicant resides, is principally employed or where his  
               principal place of business as a merchant or storekeeper is  
               located.  An applicant for a license to carry must be  
               required to show, in addition to the requirement for  
               possession, that "proper cause exists" for the issuance of  
               such a license; for example, for target shooting, hunting,  
               or self-defense. The license can be amended to include one  
               or more additional or different handguns. The licensee is  
               required to carry the license on his person at all times  
               when carrying a handgun.

             Handgun licenses issued elsewhere in New York State are not  
               valid in New York City. New York City licenses are valid  
               throughout New York State.  However, a New York State  
               license to carry or possess will be valid in New York City  
               in the absence of a New York City license provided that the  
               handguns are transported by the licensee in a locked  
               container and the trip through New York City is continuous  
               and uninterrupted.

           1)Current Number of Handgun Transfers  :  DOJ has indicated that  
            in 1999, there were 224,336 handgun transfers that were added  
            to the Automated Firearms System (AFS).  There is currently a  
            one handgun purchase per 30-day period limit in California,  
            effective January 1, 2000.  The 1999 handgun dealer of record  
            sale (DROS) figures do show dramatic numerical differences by  
            county.  For example, Los Angeles County had 47,099 DROS  
            additions to the AFS system while Sierra County had 17.  It is  
            not possible to determine exactly how many individual  
            purchasers were involved since some purchasers purchased more  
            than one handgun in that year.  Also, the numbers for 1999  
            could have been "inflated" by Y2K concerns; 2000 numbers  
            should be available soon.  Handgun DROS numbers for 1998 is  
            181,421; 1997 is 195,338; and 1991 is 311,154.  
           
           2)Thumbprint  :  This bill requires that a person seeking a  
            firearms safety certificate have a thumbprint taken through a  
            local law enforcement agency.  However, the thumbprint is not  
            required to be submitted with the application for a handgun  
            safety license.  Should the applicant be required to submit  
            the original thumbprint with his or her application?   
           









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           3)Comparison to AB 35 (Shelley)  :  As amended on June 4, 2001,  
            both this bill and AB 35 establish a more rigorous version of  
            the basic firearms safety certificate (including safe handling  
            and discharge of a firearm requirements.)  Each bill in prior  
            versions sought to establish handgun licensing type programs.   
            While this bill continues to use the term "licensing", this  
            bill is primarily a program increasing the safe handling of  
            handguns.  
           
           4)Recommended Technical Amendments:  

             a)   Page 19, line 3 strike (5) and insert: (6)  
              
             b)   Page 53, line 4 strike (1) and insert: (3)  
              
           5)Arguments in Support  :  According to the Children's Advocacy  
            Institute, "[c]urrent federal and state laws do not require  
            handgun buyers to know how to operate a handgun or its safety  
            features and do not need to know the safety measure to take to  
            ensure its safety before purchasing it.  On the other hand,  
            drivers are expected to pass a driving test, cosmetologists  
            are required to have license to practice, yet handgun  
            purchasers have no such requirement.  The transfer of a gun  
            from one party to another does not guarantee that the second  
            party understands and knows [how] to handle a handgun.  As  
            such, handguns are often times in the hands of person who  
            don't know how to operate them and unintentional injuries and  
            deaths occur.  Indeed, every year there are over 730 reported  
            injuries and 252 deaths involving children in California.   
            These are all preventable injuries and deaths that did not  
            have to occur.  A responsible licensing law would require  
            person who are given, loaned or bequeathed a handgun to be  
            subject to a handgun safety license." 

          According to the League of California Cities, "?this bill would  
            require the chief law enforcement officer to verify certain  
            personal information including proof of California resident  
            status and then certify the application prior to submitting it  
            to DOJ for a final background check.  The additional measures  
            would add a level of accountability to the system that ensures  
            individuals purchasing firearms from a licensed dealer have  
            technical qualifications and moral character necessary to  
            safely own and operate a firearm in the state of California."  
           
           6)Arguments in Opposition  :  According to the Peace Officers  









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            Research Association of California (PORAC), "PORAC, as have  
            most of the other law enforcement organizations, have asked  
            the Legislature to hold off on the introduction of legislation  
            making any changes to the current gun law in order for the  
            most recent law passed in the last two years to be implemented  
            and evaluated for their effectiveness.

          "As to SB 52 itself, PORAC feels this bill imposes numerous  
            requirements on law enforcement that are redundant and  
            unwarranted, as California law enforcement is required to show  
            proficiency and knowledge of gun law in California as part of  
            their profession."  

          According to the National Rifle Association (NRA), "[t]he NRA is  
            opposed to SB 52 based on its intrusive, overly burdensome,  
            unnecessary and misdirected approach to achieving its alleged  
            goal of improving safety.  The fatal accident rate in the  
            United States involving firearms is at its lowest level since  
            1903.  The accident rate has declined almost 40% in the past  
            25 years alone and the decline in the fatal firearm accidents  
            has occurred in a century which has seen a 400% increase in  
            the number of firearms in the United States."  
           
           7)Related Legislation:   AB 35 (Shelley) establishes a statewide  
            handgun certificate program which requires any person who  
            wants to buy a handgun to obtain a handgun safety certificate  
            approved by DOJ.  AB 35 is pending hearing by the Senate  
            Committee on Public Safety.  

          AB 1139 (Thomson) makes changes to handgun loans which involve  
            age limits and registry requirements.  AB 1139 is pending  
            hearing by the Senate Committee on Public Safety.  
           
           8)Prior Legislation  :  AB 273 (Scott), of the 1999-2000  
            Legislative Session, failed passage on Assembly Concurrence.   
            AB 1607 (Shelley), of the 1999-2000 Legislative Session, was  
            held on Assembly Appropriations Committee Suspense File.  AB  
            863 (Honda), of the 1999-2000 Legislative Session, was amended  
            and relevant provisions were removed from the bill.  SB 1275  
            (Hart), of the 1993-94 Legislative Session, failed passage in  
            Senate Appropriations Committee.  SBx1 1 (Hart), of the  
            1993-94 First Extraordinary Legislative Session, was never  
            heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :









                                                                  SB 52
                                                                  Page P

           Support 
           
          Alameda County Sheriff's Office
          Alameda Police Department
          American Academy of Pediatrics
          American Association of University Women - California
          American College of Emergency Physicians (California Chapter)
          Attorney General
          California Organization of Police and Sheriffs
          California Police Chiefs Association, Inc.
          Children's Advocacy Institute
          Claremont Untied Church of Christ, Congregational
          Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
          Eureka Communities (San Diego)
          Gray Panthers of Sacramento
          Handgun Control
          Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association
          League of California Cities
          League of Women Voters of California
          Legal Community Against Violence
          Los Angeles City Councilmember Michael Feuer (5th District)
          Los Angeles Police Department 
          Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
          Million Mom March (Orange County Chapter)
          Million Mom March (San Diego Chapter)
          Million Mom March (West Los Angeles Chapter) 
          National Black Police Association
          National Council of Jewish Women
          National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives 
          Orange County Citizens for the Prevention of Gun Violence
          Physicians for Social Responsibility
          Physicians for a Violence-Free Society
          Sheriff, County of San Mateo
          Temple Solel
          Trauma Foundation
          Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater Los Angeles
          Women Against Gun Violence
           
            Opposition 
           
          Butte County Sheriff
          California Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc.
          California Sportsman's Lobby, Inc.
          California State Sheriffs' Association









                                                                  SB 52
                                                                  Page Q
          California Shooting Sports Association
          County of Tuolumne Sheriff's Department
          National Rifle Association of America
          Orange County Office of the Sheriff-Coroner
          Outdoor Sportsmen's Coalition of California 
          Peace Officers Research Association of California
          Safari Club International (California Chapters)
          San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
          4 private citizens


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Fredericka McGee / PUB. S. / (916)  
          319-3744