The California State Senate’s Democratic leadership is rolling out a package of 10 measures it says will help reduce gun violence.
Lawmakers want to eliminate what they call loopholes in the state’s current laws. For example, California currently bans the sale or manufacture of ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds. A bill by Senator Loni Hancock would ban the possession of them as well.
“The grandfathering-in of weapons is something that our police chiefs have told us and law enforcement has told us makes it very difficult to enforce existing law,” said Hancock.
Other proposals from Democratic State Senators include a ban on semi-automatic rifles that can accept detachable magazines, and a requirement for handgun owners to obtain safety certificates from annual training sessions.
Republican Assemblyman Dan Logue says Democrats are exploiting last year’s school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. He says the proposals wouldn’t solve the problem of gun violence – but would punish law-abiding citizens.