BILL NUMBER: AB 50 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 494
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 13, 2004
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 13, 2004
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 25, 2004
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 23, 2004
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 27, 2004
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 21, 2004
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 2, 2004
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 2, 2003
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 7, 2003
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 10, 2003
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Koretz
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chu, Goldberg, Hancock, Kehoe,
Levine, Lieber, Mullin, Ridley-Thomas, Vargas, and Yee)
(Coauthors: Senators Kuehl, Perata, Romero, Soto, and Torlakson)
DECEMBER 2, 2002
An act to amend Sections 245, 12011, 12022, 12022.5, 12275,
12275.5, 12280, 12285, 12286, 12287, 12288, 12288.5, 12289, and 12290
of, and to add Section 12278 to, the Penal Code, relating to
firearms.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 50, Koretz. .50 caliber BMG rifles.
Existing law makes it an offense for any person to commit an
assault upon the person of another with a machinegun or an assault
weapon. Existing law also makes it an offense for any person to
commit an assault upon the person of a peace officer or firefighter,
as specified, with a machinegun or assault weapon.
This bill would expand each of these offenses to include an
assault with a .50 BMG rifle, as defined.
By expanding the scope of existing crimes, this bill would impose
a state-mandated local program.
Existing law establishes the Prohibited Armed Persons File
database that tracks possession or ownership of firearms and assault
weapons, as specified.
This bill would include tracking the possession and ownership of .
50 BMG rifles in the database, as specified.
Existing law defines "assault weapon" for purposes of regulation.
This bill would define ".50 BMG rifle" and ".50 BMG cartridge" for
purposes of regulation.
Existing law makes it an offense, subject to certain exceptions,
for any person to manufacture or cause to be manufactured, import
into this state, transport, distribute, keep for sale, offer or
expose for sale, give, lend, or possess an assault weapon, as
specified, and provides a sentence enhancement for anyone who
transfers, lends, sells, or gives an assault weapon to a minor, as
specified.
This bill would extend those provisions to include a .50 BMG
rifle.
By expanding the scope of existing crimes and sentence
enhancements, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law provides a scheme for registration and issuance of
permits in connection with assault weapons.
This bill would establish similar provisions for the registration
and issuance of permits in connection with .50 BMG rifles. This bill
would authorize the Department of Justice to charge a registration
fee not exceeding $25 for the registration of a .50 BMG rifle, as
specified.
Existing law forbids the broadcast over police radio of
information that an individual has registered, or has a permit to
possess, an assault weapon, with specified exceptions.
This bill would expand those provisions to cover individuals who
register or have permits to possess .50 BMG rifles.
Existing law provides that persons may arrange to relinquish an
assault weapon to a police or sheriff's department.
This bill would similarly permit persons to arrange to relinquish
a .50 BMG rifle to a police or sheriff's department.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 245 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
245. (a) (1) Any person who commits an assault upon the person of
another with a deadly weapon or instrument other than a firearm or
by any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury shall be
punished by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four
years, or in a county jail for not exceeding one year, or by a fine
not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both the fine and
imprisonment.
(2) Any person who commits an assault upon the person of another
with a firearm shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison
for two, three, or four years, or in a county jail for not less than
six months and not exceeding one year, or by both a fine not
exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and imprisonment.
(3) Any person who commits an assault upon the person of another
with a machinegun, as defined in Section 12200, or an assault weapon,
as defined in Section 12276 or 12276.1, or a .50 BMG rifle, as
defined in Section 12278, shall be punished by imprisonment in the
state prison for 4, 8, or 12 years.
(b) Any person who commits an assault upon the person of another
with a semiautomatic firearm shall be punished by imprisonment in the
state prison for three, six, or nine years.
(c) Any person who commits an assault with a deadly weapon or
instrument, other than a firearm, or by any means likely to produce
great bodily injury upon the person of a peace officer or
firefighter, and who knows or reasonably should know that the victim
is a peace officer or firefighter engaged in the performance of his
or her duties, when the peace officer or firefighter is engaged in
the performance of his or her duties, shall be punished by
imprisonment in the state prison for three, four, or five years.
(d) (1) Any person who commits an assault with a firearm upon the
person of a peace officer or firefighter, and who knows or reasonably
should know that the victim is a peace officer or firefighter
engaged in the performance of his or her duties, when the peace
officer or firefighter is engaged in the performance of his or her
duties, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for
four, six, or eight years.
(2) Any person who commits an assault upon the person of a peace
officer or firefighter with a semiautomatic firearm and who knows or
reasonably should know that the victim is a peace officer or
firefighter engaged in the performance of his or her duties, when the
peace officer or firefighter is engaged in the performance of his or
her duties, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison
for five, seven, or nine years.
(3) Any person who commits an assault with a machinegun, as
defined in Section 12200, or an assault weapon, as defined in Section
12276 or 12276.1, or a .50 BMG rifle, as defined in Section 12278,
upon the person of a peace officer or firefighter, and who knows or
reasonably should know that the victim is a peace officer or
firefighter engaged in the performance of his or her duties, shall be
punished by imprisonment in the state prison for 6, 9, or 12 years.
(e) When a person is convicted of a violation of this section in a
case involving use of a deadly weapon or instrument or firearm, and
the weapon or instrument or firearm is owned by that person, the
court shall order that the weapon or instrument or firearm be deemed
a nuisance, and it shall be confiscated and disposed of in the manner
provided by Section 12028.
(f) As used in this section, "peace officer" refers to any person
designated as a peace officer in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section
830) of Title 3 of Part 2.
SEC. 2. Section 12011 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12011. The Prohibited Armed Persons File database shall function
as follows:
(a) Upon entry into the Automated Criminal History System of a
disposition for a conviction of any felony, a conviction for any
firearms-prohibiting charge specified in Section 12021, a conviction
for an offense described in Section 12021.1, a firearms prohibition
pursuant to Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, or any firearms possession prohibition identified by the
federal National Instant Check System, the Department of Justice
shall determine if the subject has an entry in the Consolidated
Firearms Information System indicating possession or ownership of a
firearm on or after January 1, 1991, or an assault weapon
registration, or a .50 BMG rifle registration.
(b) Upon an entry into any department automated information system
that is used for the identification of persons who are prohibited
from acquiring, owning, or possessing firearms, the department shall
determine if the subject has an entry in the Consolidated Firearms
Information System indicating ownership or possession of a firearm on
or after January 1, 1991, or an assault weapon registration, or a .
50 BMG rifle registration.
(c) If the department determines that, pursuant to subdivision (a)
or (b), the subject has an entry in the Consolidated Firearms
Information System indicating possession or ownership of a firearm on
or after January 1, 1991, or an assault weapon registration, or a .
50 BMG rifle registration, the following information shall be entered
into the Prohibited Armed Persons File:
(1) The subject's name.
(2) The subject's date of birth.
(3) The subject's physical description.
(4) Any other identifying information regarding the subject that
is deemed necessary by the Attorney General.
(5) The basis of the firearms possession prohibition.
(6) A description of all firearms owned or possessed by the
subject, as reflected by the Consolidated Firearms Information
System.
SEC. 3. Section 12022 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12022. (a) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (c) and (d),
any person who is armed with a firearm in the commission of a felony
or attempted felony shall be punished by an additional and
consecutive term of imprisonment in the state prison for one year,
unless the arming is an element of that offense. This additional
term shall apply to any person who is a principal in the commission
of a felony or attempted felony if one or more of the principals is
armed with a firearm, whether or not the person is personally armed
with a firearm.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (c), and notwithstanding
subdivision (d), if the firearm is an assault weapon, as defined in
Section 12276 or Section 12276.1, or a machinegun, as defined in
Section 12200, or a .50 BMG rifle, as defined in Section 12278, the
additional and consecutive term described in this subdivision shall
be three years whether or not the arming is an element of the offense
of which the person was convicted. The additional term provided in
this paragraph shall apply to any person who is a principal in the
commission of a felony or attempted felony if one or more of the
principals is armed with an assault weapon or machinegun, or a .50
BMG rifle, whether or not the person is personally armed with an
assault weapon or machinegun, or a .50 BMG rifle.
(b) (1) Any person who personally uses a deadly or dangerous
weapon in the commission of a felony or attempted felony shall be
punished by an additional and consecutive term of imprisonment in the
state prison for one year, unless use of a deadly or dangerous
weapon is an element of that offense.
(2) If the person described in paragraph (1) has been convicted of
carjacking or attempted carjacking, the additional term shall be
one, two, or three years.
(3) When a person is found to have personally used a deadly or
dangerous weapon in the commission of a felony or attempted felony as
provided in this subdivision and the weapon is owned by that person,
the court shall order that the weapon be deemed a nuisance and
disposed of in the manner provided in Section 12028.
(c) Notwithstanding the enhancement set forth in subdivision (a),
any person who is personally armed with a firearm in the commission
of a violation or attempted violation of Section 11351, 11351.5,
11352, 11366.5, 11366.6, 11378, 11378.5, 11379, 11379.5, or 11379.6
of the Health and Safety Code, shall be punished by an additional and
consecutive term of imprisonment in the state prison for three,
four, or five years.
(d) Notwithstanding the enhancement set forth in subdivision (a),
any person who is not personally armed with a firearm who, knowing
that another principal is personally armed with a firearm, is a
principal in the commission of an offense or attempted offense
specified in subdivision (c), shall be punished by an additional and
consecutive term of imprisonment in the state prison for one, two, or
three years.
(e) For purposes of imposing an enhancement under Section 1170.1,
the enhancements under this section shall count as one, single
enhancement.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court may
strike the additional punishment for the enhancements provided in
subdivision (c) or (d) in an unusual case where the interests of
justice would best be served, if the court specifies on the record
and enters into the minutes the circumstances indicating that the
interests of justice would best be served by that disposition.
SEC. 4. Section 12022.5 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12022.5. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), any person
who personally uses a firearm in the commission of a felony or
attempted felony shall be punished by an additional and consecutive
term of imprisonment in the state prison for 3, 4, or 10 years,
unless use of a firearm is an element of that offense.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any person who personally
uses an assault weapon, as specified in Section 12276 or Section
12276.1, or a machinegun, as defined in Section 12200, in the
commission of a felony or attempted felony, shall be punished by an
additional and consecutive term of imprisonment in the state prison
for 5, 6, or 10 years.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1385 or any other provisions of law,
the court shall not strike an allegation under this section or a
finding bringing a person within the provisions of this section.
(d) Notwithstanding the limitation in subdivision (a) relating to
being an element of the offense, the additional term provided by this
section shall be imposed for any violation of Section 245 if a
firearm is used, or for murder if the killing is perpetrated by means
of shooting a firearm from a motor vehicle, intentionally at another
person outside of the vehicle with the intent to inflict great
bodily injury or death.
(e) When a person is found to have personally used a firearm, an
assault weapon, a machinegun, or a .50 BMG rifle, in the commission
of a felony or attempted felony as provided in this section and the
firearm, assault weapon, machinegun, or a .50 BMG rifle, is owned by
that person, the court shall order that the firearm be deemed a
nuisance and disposed of in the manner provided in Section 12028.
(f) For purposes of imposing an enhancement under Section 1170.1,
the enhancements under this section shall count as one, single
enhancement.
SEC. 5. Section 12275 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12275. This chapter shall be known as the Roberti-Roos Assault
Weapons Control Act of 1989 and the .50 Caliber BMG Regulation Act of
2004.
SEC. 6. Section 12275.5 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12275.5. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the
proliferation and use of assault weapons poses a threat to the
health, safety, and security of all citizens of this state. The
Legislature has restricted the assault weapons specified in Section
12276 based upon finding that each firearm has such a high rate of
fire and capacity for firepower that its function as a legitimate
sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the
danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings. It is
the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to place
restrictions on the use of assault weapons and to establish a
registration and permit procedure for their lawful sale and
possession. It is not, however, the intent of the Legislature by
this chapter to place restrictions on the use of those weapons which
are primarily designed and intended for hunting, target practice, or
other legitimate sports or recreational activities.
(b) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the
proliferation and use of .50 BMG rifles, as defined in Section 12278,
poses a clear and present terrorist threat to the health, safety,
and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, based
upon findings that those firearms have such a high capacity for long
distance and highly destructive firepower that they pose an
unacceptable risk to the death and serious injury of human beings,
destruction or serious damage of vital public and private buildings,
civilian, police and military vehicles, power generation and
transmission facilities, petrochemical production and storage
facilities, and transportation infrastructure. It is the intent of
the Legislature in enacting this chapter to place restrictions on the
use of these rifles and to establish a registration and permit
procedure for their lawful sale and possession.
SEC. 7. Section 12278 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
12278. (a) As used in this chapter, a ".50 BMG rifle" means a
center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not
already an assault weapon pursuant to Section 12276, 12276.1, or
12276.5, or a machinegun, as defined in Section 12200.
(b) As used in this chapter, a ".50 BMG cartridge" means a
cartridge that is designed and intended to be fired from a center
fire rifle and that meets all of the following criteria:
(1) It has an overall length of 5.54 inches from the base to the
tip of the bullet.
(2) The bullet diameter for the cartridge is from .510 to, and
including, .511 inch.
(3) The case base diameter for the cartridge is from .800 inch to,
and including, .804 inch.
(4) The cartridge case length is 3.91 inches.
(c) A ".50 BMG rifle" does not include any "antique firearm," nor
any curio or relic as defined in Section 178.11 of Title 27 of the
Code of Federal Regulations.
(d) As used in this section, "antique firearm" means any firearm
manufactured prior to January 1, 1899.
SEC. 8. Section 12280 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12280. (a) (1) Any person who, within this state, manufactures or
causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into
the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who
gives or lends any assault weapon or any .50 BMG rifle, except as
provided by this chapter, is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction
shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for four, six,
or eight years.
(2) In addition and consecutive to the punishment imposed under
paragraph (1), any person who transfers, lends, sells, or gives any
assault weapon or any .50 BMG rifle to a minor in violation of
paragraph (1) shall receive an enhancement of one year.
(b) Any person who, within this state, possesses any assault
weapon, except as provided in this chapter, is punishable by
imprisonment in a county jail for a period not exceeding one year, or
by imprisonment in the state prison. However, a first violation of
these provisions is punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred
dollars ($500), if the person was found in possession of no more than
two firearms in compliance with subdivision (c) of Section 12285 and
the person meets all of the following conditions:
(1) The person proves that he or she lawfully possessed the
assault weapon prior to the date it was defined an assault weapon
pursuant to Section 12276, 12276.1, or 12276.5.
(2) The person has not previously been convicted of a violation of
this section.
(3) The person was found to be in possession of the assault weapon
within one year following the end of the one-year registration
period established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 12285.
(4) The person relinquished the firearm pursuant to Section 12288,
in which case the assault weapon shall be destroyed pursuant to
Section 12028.
(c) Any person who, within this state, possesses any .50 BMG
rifle, except as provided in this chapter, is punishable by a fine of
one thousand dollars ($1,000), imprisonment in a county jail for a
period not to exceed one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
However, a first violation of these provisions is punishable by a
fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), if the person was
found in possession of no more than two firearms in compliance with
subdivision (a) of Section 12285 and the person meets the conditions
set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3):
(1) The person proves that he or she lawfully possessed the .50
BMG rifle prior to January 1, 2005.
(2) The person has not previously been convicted of a violation of
this section.
(3) The person was found to be in possession of the .50 BMG rifle
within one year following the end of the .50 BMG rifle registration
period established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 12285.
(4) Firearms seized pursuant to this subdivision from persons who
meet all of the conditions set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)
shall be returned unless the court finds in the interest of public
safety, after notice and hearing, that the .50 BMG rifle should be
destroyed pursuant to Section 12028. Firearms seized from persons
who do not meet the conditions set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and
(3) shall be destroyed pursuant to Section 12028.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 654 or any other provision of law, any
person who commits another crime while violating this section may
receive an additional, consecutive punishment of one year for
violating this section in addition and consecutive to the punishment,
including enhancements, which is prescribed for the other crime.
(e) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) shall not apply to the sale to,
purchase by, importation of, or possession of assault weapons or a .
50 BMG rifle by the Department of Justice, police departments,
sheriffs' offices, marshals' offices, the Youth and Adult Corrections
Agency, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, district
attorneys' offices, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Parks
and Recreation, or the military or naval forces of this state or of
the United States, or any federal law enforcement agency for use in
the discharge of their official duties.
(f) (1) Subdivisions (b) and (c) shall not prohibit the possession
or use of assault weapons or a .50 BMG rifle by sworn peace officer
members of those agencies specified in subdivision (e) for law
enforcement purposes, whether on or off duty.
(2) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) shall not prohibit the
delivery, transfer, or sale of an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle
to, or the possession of an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle by, a
sworn peace officer member of an agency specified in subdivision (e),
provided that the peace officer is authorized by his or her employer
to possess or receive the assault weapon or the .50 BMG rifle.
Required authorization is defined as verifiable written certification
from the head of the agency, identifying the recipient or possessor
of the assault weapon as a peace officer and authorizing him or her
to receive or possess the specific assault weapon. For this
exemption to apply, in the case of a peace officer who possesses or
receives the assault weapon prior to January 1, 2002, the officer
shall register the assault weapon pursuant to Section 12285 on or
before April 1, 2002; in the case of a peace officer who possesses or
receives the assault weapon on or after January 1, 2002, the officer
shall register the assault weapon pursuant to Section 12285 not
later than 90 days after possession or receipt. In the case of a
peace officer who possesses or receives a .50 BMG rifle on or before
January 1, 2005, the officer shall register the .50 BMG rifle on or
before April 30, 2006. In the case of a peace officer who possesses
or receives a .50 BMG rifle after January 1, 2005, the officer shall
register the .50 BMG rifle not later than one year after possession
or receipt. The peace officer must include with the registration, a
copy of the authorization required pursuant to this paragraph.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or
prohibit the delivery, transfer, or sale of an assault weapon or a .
50 BMG rifle to, or the possession of an assault weapon or a .50 BMG
rifle by, a member of a federal law enforcement agency provided that
person is authorized by the employing agency to possess the assault
weapon or .50 BMG rifle.
(g) Subdivision (b) shall not apply to the possession of an
assault weapon during the 90-day period immediately after the date it
was specified as an assault weapon pursuant to Section 12276.5, or
during the one-year period after the date it was defined as an
assault weapon pursuant to Section 12276.1, if all of the following
are applicable:
(1) The person is eligible under this chapter to register the
particular assault weapon.
(2) The person lawfully possessed the particular assault weapon
prior to the date it was specified as an assault weapon pursuant to
Section 12276.5, or prior to the date it was defined as an assault
weapon pursuant to Section 12276.1.
(3) The person is otherwise in compliance with this chapter.
(h) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) shall not apply to the
manufacture by persons who are issued permits pursuant to Section
12287 of assault weapons or .50 BMG rifles for sale to the following:
(1) Exempt entities listed in subdivision (e).
(2) Entities and persons who have been issued permits pursuant to
Section 12286 or 12287.
(3) Entities outside the state who have, in effect, a federal
firearms dealer's license solely for the purpose of distribution to
an entity listed in paragraphs (4) to (6), inclusive.
(4) Federal military and law enforcement agencies.
(5) Law enforcement and military agencies of other states.
(6) Foreign governments and agencies approved by the United States
State Department.
(i) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to a person who is the
executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault
weapon or a .50 BMG rifle registered under Section 12285 or that was
possessed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) which is
disposed of as authorized by the probate court, if the disposition is
otherwise permitted by this chapter.
(j) Subdivisions (b) and (c) shall not apply to a person who is
the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault
weapon or a .50 BMG rifle registered under Section 12285 or that was
possessed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) if the assault
weapon or .50 BMG rifle is possessed at a place set forth in
paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 12285 or as authorized by
the probate court.
(k) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to:
(1) A person who lawfully possesses and has registered an assault
weapon or .50 BMG rifle pursuant to this chapter who lends that
assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle to another if all the following
apply:
(A) The person to whom the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is lent
is 18 years of age or over and is not in a class of persons
prohibited from possessing firearms by virtue of Section 12021 or
12021.1 of this code or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code.
(B) The person to whom the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is lent
remains in the presence of the registered possessor of the assault
weapon or .50 BMG rifle.
(C) The assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is possessed at any of the
following locations:
(i) While on a target range that holds a regulatory or business
license for the purpose of practicing shooting at that target range.
(ii) While on the premises of a target range of a public or
private club or organization organized for the purpose of practicing
shooting at targets.
(iii) While attending any exhibition, display, or educational
project that is about firearms and that is sponsored by, conducted
under the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency or a
nationally or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or
promotes education about, firearms.
(2) The return of an assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle to the
registered possessor, or the lawful possessor, which is lent by the
same pursuant to paragraph (1).
(l) Subdivisions (b) and (c) shall not apply to the possession of
an assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle by a person to whom an assault
weapon or .50 BMG rifle is lent pursuant to subdivision (k).
(m) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) shall not apply to the
possession and importation of an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle
into this state by a nonresident if all of the following conditions
are met:
(1) The person is attending or going directly to or coming
directly from an organized competitive match or league competition
that involves the use of an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle.
(2) The competition or match is conducted on the premises of one
of the following:
(A) A target range that holds a regulatory or business license for
the purpose of practicing shooting at that target range.
(B) A target range of a public or private club or organization
that is organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at targets.
(3) The match or competition is sponsored by, conducted under the
auspices of, or approved by, a law enforcement agency or a nationally
or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or promotes
education about, firearms.
(4) The assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is transported in
accordance with Section 12026.1 or 12026.2.
(5) The person is 18 years of age or over and is not in a class of
persons prohibited from possessing firearms by virtue of Section
12021 or 12021.1 of this code or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code.
(n) Subdivisions, (b) and (c) shall not apply to any of the
following persons:
(1) A person acting in accordance with Section 12286 or 12287.
(2) A person who has a permit to possess an assault weapon or a .
50 BMG rifle issued pursuant to Section 12286 or 12287 when he or she
is acting in accordance with Section 12285, 12286, or 12287.
(o) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) shall not apply to any of the
following persons:
(1) A person acting in accordance with Section 12285.
(2) A person
acting in accordance with Section 12286, 12287, or 12290.
(p) Subdivisions (b) and (c) shall not apply to the registered
owner of an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle possessing that firearm
in accordance with subdivision (c) of Section 12285.
(q) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to the importation into this
state of an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle by the registered owner
of that assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle, if it is in accordance
with the provisions of subdivision (c) of Section 12285.
(r) Subdivision (a) shall not apply during the first 180 days of
the 2005 calendar year to the importation into this state of a .50
BMG rifle by a person who lawfully possessed that .50 BMG rifle in
this state prior to January 1, 2005.
(s) Subdivision (c) shall not apply to the possession of a .50 BMG
rifle that is not defined or specified as an assault weapon pursuant
to this chapter, by any person prior to May 1, 2006 if all of the
following are applicable:
(1) The person is eligible under this chapter to register that .50
BMG rifle.
(2) The person lawfully possessed the .50 BMG rifle prior to
January 1, 2005.
(3) The person is otherwise in compliance with this chapter.
(t) Subdivisions (a), (b) and (c) shall not apply to the sale of
assault weapons or .50 BMG rifles by persons who are issued permits
pursuant to Section 12287 to any of the following:
(1) Exempt entities listed in subdivision (e).
(2) Entities and persons who have been issued permits pursuant to
Section 12286 or 12287.
(3) Federal military and law enforcement agencies.
(4) Law enforcement and military agencies of other states.
(5) Foreign governments and agencies approved by the United States
State Department.
(6) Officers described in subdivision (f) who are authorized to
possess assault weapons or .50 BMG rifles pursuant to subdivision
(f).
(u) As used in this chapter, the date a firearm is an assault
weapon is the earliest of the following:
(1) The effective date of an amendment to Section 12276 that adds
the designation of the specified firearm.
(2) The effective date of the list promulgated pursuant to Section
12276.5 that adds or changes the designation of the specified
firearm.
(3) The operative date of Section 12276.1, as specified in
subdivision (d) of that section.
SEC. 9. Section 12285 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12285. (a) (1) Any person who lawfully possesses an assault
weapon, as defined in Section 12276, prior to June 1, 1989, shall
register the firearm by January 1, 1991, and any person who lawfully
possessed an assault weapon prior to the date it was specified as an
assault weapon pursuant to Section 12276.5 shall register the firearm
within 90 days with the Department of Justice pursuant to those
procedures that the department may establish. Except as provided in
subdivision (a) of Section 12280, any person who lawfully possessed
an assault weapon prior to the date it was defined as an assault
weapon pursuant to Section 12276.1, and which was not specified as an
assault weapon under Section 12276 or 12276.5, shall register the
firearm within one year of the effective date of Section 12276.1,
with the department pursuant to those procedures that the department
may establish. The registration shall contain a description of the
firearm that identifies it uniquely, including all identification
marks, the full name, address, date of birth, and thumbprint of the
owner, and any other information that the department may deem
appropriate. The department may charge a fee for registration of up
to twenty dollars ($20) per person but not to exceed the actual
processing costs of the department. After the department establishes
fees sufficient to reimburse the department for processing costs,
fees charged shall increase at a rate not to exceed the legislatively
approved annual cost-of-living adjustment for the department's
budget or as otherwise increased through the Budget Act. The fees
shall be deposited into the Dealers' Record of Sale Special Account.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 12280, any
person who lawfully possesses any .50 BMG rifle prior to January 1,
2005, that is not specified as an assault weapon under Section 12276
or 12276.5 or defined as an assault weapon pursuant to Section
12276.1, shall register the .50 BMG rifle with the department no
later than April 30, 2006, pursuant to those procedures that the
department may establish. The registration shall contain a
description of the firearm that identifies it uniquely, including all
identification marks, the full name, address, date of birth, and
thumbprint of the owner, and any other information that the
department may deem appropriate. The department may charge a fee for
registration of twenty-five dollars ($25) per person to cover the
actual processing and public education campaign costs of the
department. The fees shall be deposited into the Dealers' Record of
Sale Special Account. Data-processing costs associated with
modifying the department's data system to accommodate .50 caliber BMG
rifles shall not be paid from the Dealers Record of Sale Special
Account.
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no assault weapon
possessed pursuant to this section may be sold or transferred on or
after January 1, 1990, to anyone within this state other than to a
licensed gun dealer, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 12290,
or as provided in Section 12288. Any person who (A) obtains title to
an assault weapon registered under this section or that was
possessed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section
12280 by bequest or intestate succession, or (B) lawfully possessed a
firearm subsequently declared to be an assault weapon pursuant to
Section 12276.5, or subsequently defined as an assault weapon
pursuant to Section 12276.1, shall, within 90 days, render the weapon
permanently inoperable, sell the weapon to a licensed gun dealer,
obtain a permit from the Department of Justice in the same manner as
specified in Article 3 (commencing with Section 12230) of Chapter 2,
or remove the weapon from this state. A person who lawfully
possessed a firearm that was subsequently declared to be an assault
weapon pursuant to Section 12276.5 may alternatively register the
firearm within 90 days of the declaration issued pursuant to
subdivision (f) of Section 12276.5.
(2) A person moving into this state, otherwise in lawful
possession of an assault weapon, shall do one of the following:
(A) Prior to bringing the assault weapon into this state, that
person shall first obtain a permit from the Department of Justice in
the same manner as specified in Article 3 (commencing with Section
12230) of Chapter 2.
(B) The person shall cause the assault weapon to be delivered to a
licensed gun dealer, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 12290,
in this state in accordance with Chapter 44 (commencing with Section
921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations
issued pursuant thereto. If the person obtains a permit from the
Department of Justice in the same manner as specified in Article 3
(commencing with Section 12230) of Chapter 2, the dealer shall
redeliver that assault weapon to the person. If the licensed gun
dealer, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 12290, is prohibited
from delivering the assault weapon to a person pursuant to this
paragraph, the dealer shall possess or dispose of the assault weapon
as allowed by this chapter.
(3) Except as provided in paragraph (4), no .50 BMG rifle
possessed pursuant to this section may be sold or transferred on or
after January 1, 2005, to anyone within this state other than to a
licensed gun dealer, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 12290,
or as provided in Section 12288. Any person who obtains title to a .
50 BMG rifle registered under this section or that was possessed
pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section 12280 by
bequest or intestate succession shall, within 180 days of receipt,
render the weapon permanently inoperable, sell the weapon to a
licensed gun dealer, obtain a permit from the Department of Justice
in the same manner as specified in Article 3 (commencing with Section
12230) of Chapter 2, or remove the weapon from this state.
(4) A person moving into this state, otherwise in lawful
possession of a .50 BMG rifle, shall do one of the following:
(A) Prior to bringing the .50 BMG rifle into this state, that
person shall first obtain a permit from the Department of Justice in
the same manner as specified in Article 3 (commencing with Section
12230) of Chapter 2.
(B) The person shall cause the .50 BMG rifle to be delivered to a
licensed gun dealer, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 12290
in this state in accordance with Chapter 44 (commencing with Section
921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued
pursuant thereto. If the person obtains a permit from the
Department of Justice in the same manner as specified in Article 3
(commencing with Section 12230) of Chapter 2, the dealer shall
redeliver that .50 BMG rifle to the person. If the licensed gun
dealer, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 12290 is prohibited
from delivering the .50 caliber BMG rifle to a person pursuant to
this paragraph, the dealer shall dispose of the .50 BMG rifle as
allowed by this chapter.
(c) A person who has registered an assault weapon or registered a
.50 BMG rifle under this section may possess it only under any of
the following conditions unless a permit allowing additional uses is
first obtained under Section 12286:
(1) At that person's residence, place of business, or other
property owned by that person, or on property owned by another with
the owner's express permission.
(2) While on the premises of a target range of a public or private
club or organization organized for the purpose of practicing
shooting at targets.
(3) While on a target range that holds a regulatory or business
license for the purpose of practicing shooting at that target range.
(4) While on the premises of a shooting club which is licensed
pursuant to the Fish and Game Code.
(5) While attending any exhibition, display, or educational
project which is about firearms and which is sponsored by, conducted
under the auspices of, or approved by a law enforcement agency or a
nationally or state recognized entity that fosters proficiency in, or
promotes education about, firearms.
(6) While on publicly owned land if the possession and use of a
firearm described in Section 12276, 12276.1, 12276.5, or 12278, is
specifically permitted by the managing agency of the land.
(7) While transporting the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle between
any of the places mentioned in this subdivision, or to any licensed
gun dealer, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 12290, for
servicing or repair pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 12290, if
the assault weapon is transported as required by Section 12026.1.
(d) No person who is under the age of 18 years, no person who is
prohibited from possessing a firearm by Section 12021 or 12021.1, and
no person described in Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code may register or possess an assault weapon or .50
BMG rifle.
(e) The department's registration procedures shall provide the
option of joint registration for assault weapons or .50 BMG rifle
owned by family members residing in the same household.
(f) For 90 days following January 1, 1992, a forgiveness period
shall exist to allow persons specified in subdivision (b) of Section
12280 to register with the Department of Justice assault weapons that
they lawfully possessed prior to June 1, 1989.
(g) (1) Any person who registered a firearm as an assault weapon
pursuant to the provisions of law in effect prior to January 1, 2000,
where the assault weapon is thereafter defined as an assault weapon
pursuant to Section 12276.1, shall be deemed to have registered the
weapon for purposes of this chapter and shall not be required to
reregister the weapon pursuant to this section.
(2) Any person who legally registered a firearm as an assault
weapon pursuant to the provisions of law in effect prior to January
1, 2005, where the assault weapon is thereafter defined as a .50
caliber BMG rifle pursuant to Section 12278, shall be deemed to have
registered the weapon for purposes of this chapter and shall not be
required to reregister the weapon pursuant to this section.
(h) Any person who registers his or her assault weapon during the
90-day forgiveness period described in subdivision (f), and any
person whose registration form was received by the Department of
Justice after January 1, 1991, and who was issued a temporary
registration prior to the end of the forgiveness period, shall not be
charged with a violation of subdivision (b) of Section 12280, if law
enforcement becomes aware of that violation only as a result of the
registration of the assault weapon. This subdivision shall have no
effect upon persons charged with a violation of subdivision (b) of
Section 12280 of the Penal Code prior to January 1, 1992, provided
that law enforcement was aware of the violation before the weapon was
registered.
SEC. 10. Section 12286 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12286. Any person who lawfully acquired an assault weapon before
June 1, 1989, or a .50 BMG rifle before January 1, 2005, and wishes
to use it in a manner different than specified in subdivision (c) of
Section 12285, who lawfully acquired an assault weapon between June
1, 1989, and January 1, 1990, and wishes to keep it after January 1,
1990, or who wishes to acquire an assault weapon after January 1,
1990, or a .50 BMG rifle after January 1, 2005, shall first obtain a
permit from the Department of Justice in the same manner as specified
in Article 3 (commencing with Section 12230) of Chapter 2.
SEC. 11. Section 12287 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12287. (a) The Department of Justice may, upon a finding of good
cause, issue permits for the manufacture or sale of assault weapons
or .50 BMG rifles for the sale to, purchase by, or possession of
assault weapons or .50 BMG rifles by, any of the following:
(1) The agencies listed in subdivision (e), and the officers
described in subdivision (f) of Section 12280.
(2) Entities and persons who have been issued permits pursuant to
this section or Section 12286.
(3) Entities outside the state who have, in effect, a federal
firearms dealer's license solely for the purpose of distribution to
an entity listed in paragraphs (4) to (6), inclusive.
(4) Federal law enforcement and military agencies.
(5) Law enforcement and military agencies of other states.
(6) Foreign governments and agencies approved by the United States
State Department.
(b) Application for the permits, the keeping and inspection
thereof, and the revocation of permits shall be undertaken in the
same manner as specified in Article 3 (commencing with Section 12230)
of Chapter 2.
SEC. 12. Section 12288 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12288. Any individual may arrange in advance to relinquish an
assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle to a police or sheriff's
department. The assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle shall be transported
in accordance with Section 12026.1.
SEC. 13. Section 12288.5 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12288.5. (a) No peace officer or dispatcher shall broadcast over
a police radio that an individual has registered, or has obtained a
permit to possess, an assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle pursuant to
this chapter, unless there exists a reason to believe in good faith
that one of the following conditions exist:
(1) The individual has engaged, or may be engaged, in criminal
conduct.
(2) The police are responding to a call in which the person
allegedly committing a criminal violation may gain access to the
assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle.
(3) The victim, witness, or person who reported the alleged
criminal violation may be using the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle
to hold the person allegedly committing the criminal violation or may
be using the weapon in defense of himself, herself, or other
persons.
(b) This section shall not prohibit a peace officer or dispatcher
from broadcasting over a police radio that an individual has not
registered, or has not obtained a permit to possess, an assault
weapon or .50 BMG rifle pursuant to this chapter.
(c) This section does not limit the transmission of an assault
weapon or a .50 BMG rifle ownership status via law enforcement
computers or any other medium that is legally accessible only to
peace officers or other authorized personnel.
SEC. 14. Section 12289 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12289. (a) The Department of Justice shall conduct a public
education and notification program regarding the registration of
assault weapons and the definition of the weapons set forth in
Section 12276.1. The public education and notification program shall
include outreach to local law enforcement agencies and utilization
of public service announcements in a variety of media approaches, to
ensure maximum publicity of the limited forgiveness period of the
registration requirement specified in subdivision (f) of Section
12285 and the consequences of nonregistration. The department shall
develop posters describing gunowners' responsibilities under this
chapter which shall be posted in a conspicuous place in every
licensed gun store in the state during the forgiveness period. For .
50 BMG rifles, the department's education campaign shall provide
materials to dealers of .50 BMG rifles, and to recognized national
associations that specialize in .50 BMG rifles.
(b) Any costs incurred by the Department of Justice to implement
this section which cannot be absorbed by the department shall be
funded from the Dealers' Record of Sale Special Account, as set forth
in subdivision (d) of Section 12076, upon appropriation by the
Legislature.
SEC. 15. Section 12290 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12290. (a) Any licensed gun dealer, as defined in subdivision
(c), who lawfully possesses an assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle
pursuant to Section 12285, in addition to the uses allowed in Section
12285, may transport the firearm between dealers or out of the state
if that person is permitted pursuant to the National Firearms Act,
display it at any gun show licensed by a state or local governmental
entity, sell it to a resident outside the state, or sell it to a
person who has been issued a permit pursuant to Section 12286. Any
transporting allowed by this section must be done as required by
Section 12026.1.
(b) (1) Any licensed gun dealer, as defined in subdivision (c),
may take possession of any assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle for the
purposes of servicing or repair from any person to whom it is legally
registered or who has been issued a permit to possess it pursuant to
this chapter.
(2) Any licensed gun dealer, as defined in subdivision (c), may
transfer possession of any assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle received
pursuant to paragraph (1), to a gunsmith for purposes of
accomplishing service or repair of the same. Transfers are
permissible only to the following persons:
(A) A gunsmith who is in the dealer's employ.
(B) A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for gunsmithing
services. In order for this subparagraph to apply, the gunsmith
receiving the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle shall hold all of the
following:
(i) A dealer's license issued pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing
with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the
regulations issued pursuant thereto.
(ii) Any business license required by a state or local
governmental entity.
(c) The term "licensed gun dealer," as used in this article, means
a person who is licensed pursuant to Section 12071 and who has a
permit to sell assault weapons or .50 BMG rifles pursuant to Section
12287.
SEC. 16. It is not the intent of the Legislature in amending
Section 12280 of the Penal Code by this act to supersede, restrict,
or affect the application of any other law, and to that end the
amendments are cumulative. However, an act or omission punishable
under different ways by these amended sections and other provisions
of law shall not be punished under more than one provision.
SEC. 17. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.