On Tuesday, June 11, at 9 a.m., the Assembly Public Safety Committee is scheduled to hear Senate Bill 53, concerning mandatory storage legislation, in State Capitol room 126.
California has some of the strictest laws regarding firearm storage. The Sportsmen’s Alliance believes in the safe storage of firearms, but not when the government mandates exactly how this storage must take place in OUR own homes and only with its approved equipment.
Current law gives sportsmen a choice on how to store their firearms:
a) The firearm is maintained within a locked container.
b) The firearm is disabled by a firearm safety device.
c) The firearm is maintained within a locked gun safe.
d) The firearm is maintained within a locked trunk.
e) The firearm is locked with a specified locking device which has rendered the firearm inoperable.
f) The firearm is carried on the person or within close enough proximity thereto that the individual can readily retrieve and use the firearm as if carried on the person. (Pen. Code § 25135(a))
SB 53 mandates a person shall not keep or store a firearm in any residence owned or controlled by that person unless the firearm meets both of the following conditions:
a) Stored in a locked box or safe that is listed on the DOJ’s list of approved safety devices and
b) Properly engaged so as to render that firearm inaccessible by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user.
Please use our Take Action button to email the committee urging them to vote “No” on SB 53. The bill does nothing to help reduce gun violence in the Golden State. Criminals do not follow the current strict mandatory storage laws. They will certainly not be heading to the nearest sporting goods store to purchase a DOJ-approved lock box or safe, if SB 53 is signed into law.
Do not forget to share this alert with your family, friends, fellow sportsmen, and gun owners. Ask them to use the Take Action and email the committee urging them to vote “No” on SB 53. The Golden State needs all its sportsmen and gun owners to stay actively involved in the fight to protect hunting, shooting, and self-defense for future generations.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance and its supporting Foundation protect and defend America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. The organization accomplishes this mission through several distinct programs, including public education, advocacy, litigation and research. Stay connected to the Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
