BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1471
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Date of Hearing: May 16, 2007
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mark Leno, Chair
AB 1471 (Feuer) - As Amended: April 10, 2007
Policy Committee: Public
SafetyVote: 5-2
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires, effective January 1, 2010, all semiautomatic
pistols not already designated as safe handguns, pursuant to the
Department of Justice's (DOJ) registry, to be equipped with
microscopic characters, identifying the make, model, and serial
number of the pistol, imprinted in two or more places, onto the
interior surface or internal working parts of the pistol, which
are transferred by imprinting on each cartridge case when the
gun is fired.
FISCAL EFFECT
Unknown, likely minor, nonreimbursable local law enforcement
costs for increased county jail commitments for misdemeanor
possession or sale of unsafe handguns, the category of which
would expand pursuant to this bill.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . Microstamping uses lasers to make precise
microscopic engravings on the firing pin and the interior
surfaces of the firing chamber of a gun. Those markings, which
include the make, model and serial number of the gun, are
imprinted on the cartridge case when the gun is fired.
Examining a spent cartridge case can identify the
microstampings of the gun that fired the round.
According to the author, "This bill is about catching
criminals. This bill will allow law enforcement to positively
link used cartridge casings recovered at crime scenes to the
crime gun. This bill will: (a) help law enforcement solve
AB 1471
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handgun crimes; (b) help reduce gang violence; and, (c) help
reduce gun trafficking of new semi-automatic handguns."
2)Proponents , including the Brady Campaign to Stop Gun Violence
and a number of police chiefs contend microstamping provides
an opportunity for assisting law enforcement in solving gun
crimes. With microstamping, state and local law enforcement
agencies need not maintain computer equipment or databases.
Cartridge cases recovered at crime scenes can lead
investigators to the guns that fired them via existing
systems.
According to the Brady Campaign, "Micro-stamping will not
impose a new cost on the state of California as no new
database or procedures are required. California already has a
system for tracking guns and their owners. At the scene of a
crime, law enforcement will simply check the existing
database. Buyers of micro-stamping handguns will notice no
change in the purchasing process as no new permitting or
information is needed. Existing handguns and existing handgun
owners will not be impacted by this bill since the law only
applies to new handguns.
3)Opponents , generally gun-related groups, contend criminals
could circumvent microstamping by defacing the microstamp,
tossing dummy shell casings at a crime scene, or simply by
using a revolver that does not eject a shell casing.
4)Current law requires that manufacturing, selling, furnishing
or possessing an unsafe handgun is a misdemeanor, punishable
by up to one year in the county jail. An unsafe handgun is
defined as any handgun that lacks specified safety mechanisms.
DOJ maintains a registry of all safe handguns sold by a
licensed dealer in California including, but not limited to,
the buyer's name, address and other identifying information,
including serial number.
5)Prior Legislation . AB 352 (Koretz), 2005-06, was similar to AB
1471. AB 352 passed the Assembly and the Senate, with 41 and
22 votes respectively, and failed on concurrence in the
Assembly.
AB 1471
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Analysis Prepared by : Geoff Long / APPR. / (916) 319-2081