BILL ANALYSIS AB 1471 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 1471 (Feuer) As Amended April 10, 2007 Majority vote PUBLIC SAFETY 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Ayes:|Solorio, De La Torre, |Ayes:|Leno, Caballero, Davis, | | |Leno, Ma, Portantino | |DeSaulnier, Huffman, | | | | |Karnette, Krekorian, | | | | |Lieu, Ma, Nava, Solorio, | | | | |Evans | | | | | | |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------| |Nays:|Aghazarian, Anderson |Nays:|Walters, Emmerson, La | | | | |Malfa, Nakanishi, Sharon | | | | |Runner | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY : Requires specified semiautomatic pistols to be equipped with microscopic identifying markings which are transferred to each cartridge case when the firearm is fired. Specifically, this bill : 1)States, beginning January 1, 2010, all semiautomatic pistols not already designated as safe handguns, as specified, to be equipped with microscopic characters that identify the make, model, and serial number of the pistol etched in two or more places on the interior surface or internal working parts of the pistol which are transferred by imprinting on each cartridge case when the firearm is fired. 2)Makes other technical, non-substantive changes. EXISTING LAW : 1)Requires, commencing January 1, 2001, that manufacturing, importing into California for sale, keeping for sale, offering or exposing for sale, giving, or lending any unsafe handgun is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in the county jail. 2)Defines "unsafe handgun" as any pistol, revolver, or other AB 1471 Page 2 firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, as specified, which lacks various safety mechanisms, as specified. 3)Requires any concealable firearm manufactured in California, imported for sale, kept for sale, or offered for sale to be tested within a reasonable period of time by an independent laboratory, certified by the Department of Justice (DOJ), to determine whether it meets required safety standards, as specified. 4)Requires DOJ, on and after January 1, 2001, to compile, publish, and thereafter maintain a roster listing all of the pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed upon the person that have been tested by a certified testing laboratory, have been determined not to be unsafe handguns, and may be sold in California, as specified. The roster shall list, for each firearm, the manufacturer, model number, and model name. 5)Provides that DOJ may charge every person in California who is licensed as a manufacturer of firearms, as specified, and any person in California who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into California for sale, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person in California, an annual fee not exceeding the costs of preparing, publishing, and maintaining the roster of firearms determined not be unsafe, and the costs of research and development, report analysis, firearms storage, and other program infrastructure costs, as specified. 6)Requires DOJ to maintain a registry of all handguns sold by a licensed dealer in California including, but not limited to, the buyer's name, address and other identifying information, as well as the serial number of the weapon sold. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, unknown, likely minor, non-reimbursable 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 : According to the author, "This bill is about catching AB 1471 Page 3 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 handgun crimes; (b) help reduce gang violence; and, (c) help reduce gun trafficking of new semi-automatic handguns. "One of the most important pieces of this legislation is that it places no additional burden to gun owners. The additional cost will be $0.50 to $2 a gun and no new licenses or permits are required. "California has an enormous and diverse problem of unsolved homicides committed with handguns. No arrest is made in approximately 45% of all homicides in California because police lack the evidence they need. Of the approximately 2,400 homicides in California per year over 60% are committed with handguns (2004 DOJ data). Approximately 70% of new handguns sold in California are semiautomatics ('Handgun Commerce in California 1999,' Sacramento: Violence Prevention Research Program, 2002). "Microstamping technology would give law enforcement a tool that will provide evidence to help investigate, arrest and convict more people who use semiautomatic handguns in crimes and will provide rapid leads in the first crucial hours after a homicide. "This bill will help law enforcement identify and apprehend armed gang members before they inflict more harm on others, including innocent bystanders. In instances of drive-by shootings where the only evidence at the crime scene may be a spent cartridge case, law enforcement could quickly obtain a critical lead." Please see the policy committee analysis for full discussion of this bill. Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Horiuchi / PUB. S. / (916) 319-3744 FN: 0000756