California Democrats recognize the increasing impact of gun violence on the lives of all Americans, particularly in communities of color. California leads the nation with some of the most stringent gun laws, reducing our state’s firearm mortality by 55% since 1993. Still, 3,000 Californians die as a result of gun violence every year.
To advance the cause of ending gun violence, California Democrats will:
- Support a federal ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines;
- Support federal expansion of universal criminal background checks to include the sale of every gun, ammunition, and “ghost gun” component;
- Support legislation that would prohibit those with a history of violence, domestic abuse, or mental health concerns from purchasing or owning a weapon of any kind;
- Support requiring educational programs on safe use and storage of firearms and ammunition before any purchase approval;
- Support requiring all gun owners to pay an annual registration fee and carry liability insurance for each gun owned;
- Support requiring all gun owners to have a picture identification that shows the types of guns they are trained to operate;
- Support requiring all guns have serial numbers and all gun sales, commercial and private, are to be reported to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms or appropriate state agency;
- Support policies that would restrict access to firearms by children, suicidal persons, and those in emotional crisis;
- Support legislation that would hold gun owners liable for any crimes committed with their firearms for failure to follow safe storage practices;
- Support providing necessary resources and funding to implement training and enforcement of California’s existing gun laws, including the Armed Prohibited Persons System Program and the Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO), and means to trace all guns and to investigate all denied firearm purchasers;
- Support the expansion of petitioners of GVROs to include co-workers, teachers, principals, employers, and mental health workers;
- Support efforts to protect California’s gun laws from court challenges;
- Support the repeal of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which protects firearms manufacturers and dealers from liability when crimes have been committed with their products;
- Support the creation of tracking software that would trace weapons used in crimes back to the dealer who sold them;
- Oppose any school administration with plans to arm teachers;
- Work to ensure that California schools have adequate counseling resources to address bullying, domestic violence, suicide awareness, and trauma;
- Advocate for adequate funding for community-based organizations dedicated to stopping the cycle of violence;
- Support public outreach and law enforcement training for new and existing law enforcement professionals on the implementation of California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO);
- Support laws and policies that serve to aid in the investigation and prosecution of radicalized domestic terrorists and hate groups;
- Encourage candidates running for office in local, statewide, and federal elections to advocate for common-sense gun laws and to support research, community investment, safe storage, and public education focused on reducing gun violence;
- Strongly discourage candidates from accepting campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association (NRA) or other gun-rights organizations; and,
- Urge Congress to take action by passing common-sense gun safety legislation.
- Support the creation, distribution and training of smart gun technology for members of Law Enforcement;
- Support the transition to smart gun technology for all new guns manufactured;
- Support stiffer penalties for those dealers who participate in illegal in illegal sales including straw purchases; and
- Support amending the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in order to clarify that the right to bear arms applies to a well-regulated militia and is not an unlimited individual right.
