BILL NUMBER: AB 295 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 247
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 30, 1999
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR AUGUST 27, 1999
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 26, 1999
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 25, 1999
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 24, 1999
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 23, 1999
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 8, 1999
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 24, 1999
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 26, 1999
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 28, 1999
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 15, 1999
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Corbett and Wright
(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Romero and Villaraigosa)
(Principal coauthor: Senator Baca)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aroner, Ducheny, Knox, Kuehl,
Machado, Scott, Shelley, Steinberg, and Vincent)
(Coauthors: Senators Hughes, Peace, Perata, Rainey, and Solis)
FEBRUARY 8, 1999
An act to amend Sections 171b and 12071.1 of, and to add Section
12071.4 to, the Penal Code, relating to firearms.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 295, Corbett. Firearms: gun show promoters.
Existing law provides, with specified exceptions, that it is an
offense to bring or possess, among other things, a firearm within any
state or local public building.
This bill would, in addition, provide an exception for guns
brought to gun shows, as specified. By changing the definition of a
crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law prohibits a person from promoting or otherwise
organizing a gun show or event, as defined, unless that person
possesses a valid certificate of eligibility. Existing law requires
specified information regarding participants who will sell or
transfer firearms at a gun show to be provided to local law
enforcement within specified time limits. A violation of these
provisions is a misdemeanor, and renders a person ineligible for a
certificate of eligibility for a period of one year, as specified.
This bill would define a licensed gun show promoter as a person
who has obtained a certificate of eligibility, and would require a
licensed gun show promoter to pay an annual fee of $85 to the
Department of Justice. This bill would require additional
information regarding participants who will sell or transfer firearms
at a gun show to be provided to the Department of Justice and local
law enforcement within other specified time limits. This bill would
also provide that failure by a firearms dealer to provide specified
information needed by the promoter, or failure by the promoter to
supply certain information, as specified, would result in the dealer
being prohibited from participating in the gun show or prohibit the
gun show from commencing, respectively.
Existing law generally regulates the transfer or sale of firearms
at gun shows.
This bill would, (1) require contracts between gun show producers
and gun show vendors, (2) impose certain requirements upon vendors in
connection with the sale and display of firearms and ammunition at a
gun show, as specified, (3) prohibit, except for gun show vendors,
peace officers and security personnel, any person at a gun show from
simultaneously possessing ammunition and a firearm, (4) require the
posting of specified notices in regard to enforcement of firearms
sales, (5) require each vendor to provide specified information
regarding persons working in the vendor's display area to be kept by
the show producer, (6) require all firearms brought onto the premises
to be checked and tagged, as specified, (7) provide that no minor
shall be admitted to, or be permitted to remain at, a gun show or
event unless the minor is accompanied by the minor's parent,
grandparent, or legal guardian at all times while at the gun show or
event, and (8) provide that a violation of these provisions shall be
an infraction or misdemeanor, as specified, thereby creating a new
crime and a state-mandated local program.
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 171b of the Penal Code is amended to read:
171b. (a) Any person who brings or possesses within any state or
local public building or at any meeting required to be open to the
public pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part
1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of, or Article 9 (commencing with Section
11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of, the
Government Code, any of the following is guilty of a public offense
punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one
year, or in the state prison:
(1) Any firearm.
(2) Any deadly weapon described in Section 653k or 12020.
(3) Any knife with a blade length in excess of four inches, the
blade of which is fixed or is capable of being fixed in an unguarded
position by the use of one or two hands.
(4) Any unauthorized tear gas weapon.
(5) Any taser or stun gun, as defined in Section 244.5.
(6) Any instrument that expels a metallic projectile, such as a BB
or pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or
spring action, or any spot marker gun or paint gun.
(b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to, or affect, any of the
following:
(1) A person who possesses weapons in, or transports weapons into,
a court of law to be used as evidence.
(2) (A) A duly appointed peace officer as defined in Chapter 4.5
(commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a retired peace
officer with authorization to carry concealed weapons as described in
subdivision (a) of Section 12027, a full-time paid peace officer of
another state or the federal government who is carrying out official
duties while in California, or any person summoned by any of these
officers to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while he
or she is actually engaged in assisting the officer.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), subdivision (a) shall apply
to any person who brings or possesses any weapon specified therein
within any courtroom if he or she is a party to an action pending
before the court.
(3) A person holding a valid license to carry the firearm pursuant
to Article 3 (commencing with Section 12050) of Chapter 1 of Title 2
of Part 4.
(4) A person who has permission to possess that weapon granted in
writing by a duly authorized official who is in charge of the
security of the state or local government building.
(5) A person who lawfully resides in, lawfully owns, or is in
lawful possession of, that building with respect to those portions of
the building that are not owned or leased by the state or local
government.
(6) A person licensed or registered in accordance with, and acting
within the course and scope of, Chapter 11.5 (commencing with
Section 7512) or Chapter 11.6 (commencing with Section 7590) of
Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code who has been hired by
the owner or manager of the building if the person has permission
pursuant to paragraph (5).
(7) (A) A person who, for the purpose of sale or trade, brings any
weapon that may otherwise be lawfully transferred, into a gun show
conducted pursuant to Sections 12071.1 and 12071.4.
(B) A person who, for purposes of an authorized public exhibition,
brings any weapon that may otherwise be lawfully possessed, into a
gun show conducted pursuant to Sections 12071.1 and 12071.4.
(c) As used in this section, "state or local public building"
means a building that meets all of the following criteria:
(1) It is a building or part of a building owned or leased by the
state or local government, if state or local public employees are
regularly present for the purposes of performing their official
duties. A state or local public building includes, but is not
limited to, a building that contains a courtroom.
(2) It is not a building or facility, or a part thereof, that is
referred to in Section 171c, 171d, 626.9, 626.95, or 626.10 of this
code, or in Section 18544 of the Elections Code.
(3) It is a building not regularly used, and not intended to be
used, by state or local employees as a place of residence.
SEC. 2. Section 12071.1 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12071.1. (a) No person shall produce, promote, sponsor, operate,
or otherwise organize a gun show or event, as specified in
subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section
12071, unless that person possesses a valid certificate of
eligibility from the Department of Justice. Unless the department's
records indicate that the applicant is a person prohibited from
possessing firearms, a certificate of eligibility shall be issued by
the Department of Justice to an applicant provided the applicant does
all of the following:
(1) Certifies that he or she is familiar with the provisions of
this section and Section 12071.4.
(2) Ensures that liability insurance is in effect for the duration
of an event or show in an amount of not less than one million
dollars ($1,000,000).
(3) Provides an annual list of the gun shows or events that the
applicant plans to promote, produce, sponsor, operate, or otherwise
organize during the year for which the certificate of eligibility is
issued, including the date, time, and location of the gun shows or
events.
(b) If during that year the information required by paragraph (3)
of subdivision (a) changes, or additional gun shows or events will be
promoted, produced, sponsored, operated, or otherwise organized by
the applicant, the producer shall notify the Department of Justice no
later than 30 days prior to the gun show or event.
(c) As used in this section, a "licensed gun show producer" means
a person who has been issued a certificate of eligibility by the
Department of Justice pursuant to subdivision (a). No regulations
shall be required to implement this subdivision.
(d) The Department of Justice shall adopt regulations to
administer the certificate of eligibility program under this section
and shall recover the full costs of administering the program by fees
assessed applicants who apply for certificates. A licensed gun show
producer shall be assessed an annual fee of eighty-five dollars
($85) by the department.
(e) (1) A willful failure by a gun show producer to comply with
any of the requirements of this section, except for the posting of
required signs, shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to
exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000), and shall render the producer
ineligible for a gun show producer license for one year from the date
of the conviction.
(2) The willful failure of a gun show producer to post signs as
required by this section shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine
not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the first offense and
not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000) for the second or
subsequent offense, and with respect to the second or subsequent
offense, shall render the producer ineligible for a gun show producer
license for one year from the date of the conviction.
(3) Multiple violations charged pursuant to paragraph (1) arising
from more than one gun show or event shall be grounds for suspension
of a producer's certificate of eligibility pending adjudication of
the violations.
(f) Prior to the commencement of a gun show or event, the producer
thereof shall, upon written request, within 48 hours, or a later
time specified by the requesting law enforcement agency, make
available to the requesting law enforcement agency with jurisdiction
over the facility, a complete and accurate list of all persons,
entities, and organizations that have leased or rented, or are known
to the producer to intend to lease or rent, any table, display space,
or area at the gun show or event for the purpose of selling,
leasing, or transferring firearms.
The producer shall thereafter, upon written request, for every day
the gun show or event operates, within 24 hours, or a later time
specified by the requesting law enforcement agency, make available to
the requesting law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the
facility, an accurate, complete, and current list of the persons,
entities, and organizations that have leased or rented, or are known
to the producer to intend to lease or rent, any table, display space,
or area at the gun show or event for the purpose of selling,
leasing, or transferring firearms.
This subdivision applies to persons, entities, and organizations
whether or not they participate in the entire gun show or event, or
only a portion thereof.
(g) The information that may be requested by the law enforcement
agency with jurisdiction over the facility, and that shall be
provided by the producer upon request, may include, but is not
limited to, the following information relative to a vendor who offers
for sale firearms manufactured after December 31, 1898: his or her
complete name, and a driver's license or identification card number.
(h) The producer and facility manager shall prepare an annual
event and security plan and schedule that shall include, at a
minimum, the following:
(1) The type of shows or events including, but not limited to,
antique or general firearms.
(2) The estimated number of vendors offering firearms for sale or
display.
(3) The estimated number of attendees.
(4) The number of entrances and exits at the gun show or event
site.
(5) The location, dates, and times of the shows or events.
(6) The contact person and telephone number for both the producer
and the facility.
(7) The number of sworn peace officers employed by the producer or
the facilities manager who will be present at the show or event.
(8) The number of nonsworn security personnel employed by the
producer or the facility's manager who will be present at the show or
event.
(i) The annual event and security plan shall be submitted by
either the producer or the facility's manager to the Department of
Justice and the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the
facility. Not later than 15 days prior to the commencement of the
gun show or event, the producer shall submit to the department, the
law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the facility site, and
the facility's manager a revised event and security plan if
significant changes have been made since the annual plan was
submitted, including a revised list of vendors that the producer
knows, or reasonably should know, will be renting tables, space, or
otherwise participating in the gun show or event. The event and
security plan shall be approved by the facility's manager prior to
the event or show after consultation with the law enforcement agency
with jurisdiction over the facility. No gun show or event shall
commence unless the requirements of this subdivision are met.
(j) The producer shall be responsible for informing prospective
gun show vendors of the requirements of this section and of Section
12071.4 that apply to vendors.
(k) The producer shall, within seven calendar days of the
commencement of the show or event, but not later than noon on Friday
for a show or event held on a weekend, submit a list of all
prospective vendors and designated firearms transfer agents who are
licensed firearms dealers to the Department of Justice for the
purpose of determining whether these prospective vendors and
designated firearms transfer agents possess valid licenses and are
thus eligible to participate as licensed dealers at the show or
event. The department shall examine its records and if it determines
that a dealer's license is not valid, it shall notify the show or
event producer of that fact prior to the commencement of the show or
event.
(l) If a licensed firearms dealer fails to cooperate with a
producer or fails to comply with the applicable requirements of this
section or Section 12071.4, that person shall not be allowed to
participate in that show or event.
(m) If a producer fails to comply with subdivision (j) or (k), the
gun show or event shall not commence until those requirements are
met.
(n) All producers shall have written contracts with all gun show
vendors selling firearms at the show or event.
(o) The producer shall require that signs be posted in a readily
visible location at each public entrance to the show containing, but
not limited to, the following notices:
(1) This gun show follows all federal, state, and local firearms
and weapons laws without exception.
(2) All firearms carried onto the premises by members of the
public will be checked, cleared of any ammunition, secured in a
manner that prevents them from being operated, and an identification
tag or sticker will be attached to the firearm prior to the person
being allowed admittance to the show.
(3) No member of the public under the age of 18 years shall be
admitted to the show unless accompanied by a parent, grandparent, or
legal guardian.
(4) All firearms transfers between private parties at the show
shall be conducted through a licensed dealer in accordance with
applicable state and federal laws.
(5) Persons possessing firearms on this facility must have in
their immediate possession government-issued photo identification,
and display it upon request to any security officer or any peace
officer, as defined in Section 830.
(p) The show producer shall post, in a readily visible location at
each entrance to the parking lot at the show, signage that states:
"The transfer of firearms on the parking lot of this facility is a
crime."
(q) It is the intent of the Legislature that the certificate of
eligibility program established pursuant to this section be
incorporated into the certificate of eligibility program established
pursuant to Section 12071 to the maximum extent practicable.
SEC. 3. Section 12071.4 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
12071.4. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited as,
the Gun Show Enforcement and Security Act of 2000.
(b) All gun show or event vendors shall certify in writing to the
producer that they:
(1) Will not display, possess, or offer for sale any firearms,
knives, or weapons for which possession or sale is prohibited.
(2) Acknowledge that they are responsible for knowing and
complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws dealing
with the possession and transfer of firearms.
(3) Will not engage in activities that incite or encourage hate
crimes.
(4) Will process all transfers of firearms through licensed
firearms dealers as required by state law.
(5) Will verify that all firearms in their possession at the show
or event will be unloaded, and that the firearms will be secured in a
manner that prevents them from being operated except for brief
periods when the mechanical condition of a firearm is being
demonstrated to a prospective buyer.
(6) Have complied with the requirements of subdivision (e).
(7) Will not display or possess black powder, or offer it for
sale.
(c) All firearms transfers at the gun show or event shall be in
accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
(d) Except for purposes of showing ammunition to a prospective
buyer, ammunition at a gun show or event may be displayed only in
closed original factory boxes or other closed containers.
(e) Prior to the commencement of a gun show or event, each vendor
shall provide to the producer all of the following information
relative to the vendor, the vendor's employees, and other persons,
compensated or not, who will be working or otherwise providing
services to the public at the vendor's display space if firearms
manufactured after December 31, 1898, will be offered for sale:
(1) His or her complete name.
(2) His or her driver's license or state-issued identification
card number.
(3) His or her date of birth.
The producer shall keep the information at the show's or event's
onsite headquarters for the duration of the show or event, and at the
producer's regular place of business for two weeks after the
conclusion of the show or event, and shall make the information
available upon request to any sworn peace officer for purposes of the
officer's official law enforcement duties.
(f) Vendors and employees of vendors shall wear name tags
indicating first and last name.
(g) No person at a gun show or event, other than security
personnel or sworn peace officers, shall possess at the same time
both a firearm and ammunition that is designed to be fired in the
firearm. Vendors having those items at the show for sale or
exhibition are exempt from this prohibition.
(h) No member of the public who is under the age of 18 years shall
be admitted to, or be permitted to remain at, a gun show or event
unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Any member of the
public who is under the age of 18 shall be accompanied by his or her
parent, grandparent, or legal guardian while at the show or event.
(i) Persons other than show or event security personnel, sworn
peace officers, or vendors, who bring firearms onto the gun show or
event premises shall sign in ink the tag or sticker that is attached
to the firearm prior to being allowed admittance to the show or
event, as provided for in subdivision (j).
(j) All firearms carried onto the premises of a gun show or event
by members of the public shall be checked, cleared of any ammunition,
secured in a manner that prevents them from being operated, and an
identification tag or sticker shall be attached to the firearm, prior
to the person being allowed admittance to the show. The
identification tag or sticker shall state that all firearms transfers
between private parties at the show or event shall be conducted
through a licensed dealer in accordance with applicable state and
federal laws. The person possessing the firearm shall complete the
following information on the tag before it is attached to the
firearm:
(1) The gun owner's signature.
(2) The gun owner's printed name.
(3) The identification number from the gun owner's
government-issued photo identification.
(k) All persons possessing firearms at the gun show or event shall
have in his or her immediate possession, government-issued photo
identification, and display it upon request, to any security officer,
or any peace officer.
(l) Unless otherwise specified, a first violation of this section
is an infraction. Any second or subsequent violation is a
misdemeanor. Any person who commits an act which he or she knows to
be a violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor for a first
offense.
SEC. 4. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.