Signed in as:
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Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
AB 28 (Gabriel) - Firearms and Ammunition: Excise Tax
As amended March 23, 2023, AB 28 by Assembly Member Jesse Gabriel (D/46-Woodland Hills) would impose an excise tax in the amount of 11% on the retail sale of all firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition. Coined the “Gun Violence Prevention, Healing, and Recovery Act”, this bill would require that the revenues collected be deposited in the “Gun Violence Prevention, Healing, and Recovery Fund” and used to fund various gun violence prevention, education, research, response, and investigation programs.
Implementing successful programs for addressing criminal gun violence is something which benefits all Californians. As such, all Californians should equally help fund their implementation. However, under AB 28 these programs would be fully funded only by law-abiding citizens who legally purchase firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition. As such, AB 28 could only be viewed as simply another attempt to price law-abiding Californians out of the firearms and ammunition market.
Additionally, by substantially raising the cost of owning a firearm in California, SB 8 would disproportionately impact the ability of economically disadvantaged communities and individuals to purchase a gun to protect themselves and their loved ones, as well as their equitable access to hunting and shooting sports – at a time when the Administration and the Legislature are seeking to increase participation in outdoor recreation and access for all Californians.
If enacted, AB 28 would double the excise tax currently assessed on the sales of firearms and ammunition. Law-abiding hunters and shooters already pay an 11% excise tax on long guns, ammunition, archery, and other hunting equipment and a 10% excise tax on handguns pursuant to federal Pittman-Robertson Act. But those dollars are appropriately allocated back to the states to fund positive programs – including wildlife habitat projects, hunter safety classes and shooting/target ranges. The Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) currently receives $30+ million annually in federal Pittman-Robertson Act funding for these purposes. Because AB 28 would have significantly raised the cost of firearms and ammunition, it would also decrease their sales and, as a result, the federal funding allocated to California each year for wildlife habitat programs and projects and other important uses.
Because AB 28 proposes a tax, the bill requires approval of 2/3rds of the membership of each house of the Legislature.
AB 28 PASSES OFF ASSEMBLY FLOOR!
On May 25th, AB 28 – legislation which would impose an additional 11% excise tax on the sale of all firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition sold in California – passed off of the Assembly Floor and over to the Senate. Needing a 2/3rds vote (54 of the 80 Assembly Members) to pass, AB 28 received 57 “aye” votes.
AB 28 must be heard in the Senate policy committee by July 14th to meet legislative deadline.
TO REVIEW THE LANGUAGE OF AB 28, BILL STATUS, COMMITTEE ANALYSIS AND OTHER DETAIL ON AB 28,
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SB 8 (Blakespear/Skinner) – Firearms Liability Insurance
As amended March 23, 2023, SB 8 – co-authored by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D/38-Laguna Hills) and Senator Nancy Skinner (D/9-Oakland) – would require gun owners to obtain and maintain a gun liability insurance policy which specifically would cover losses or damages resulting from any negligent or accidental use of that firearm, including death, injury, or property damage. The bill would also require written evidence of coverage in the place where a firearm is stored. SB 8 would require the Insurance Commissioner to set the minimum coverage for a policy required by the bill and to develop a standardized form of evidence of liability coverage. SB 8 would take effect on January 1, 2025.
As previously written, as amended on March 7th, SB 8 also proposed make a person who owns a firearm civilly liable for each incidence of property damage, bodily injury, or death resulting from the use of their firearm. That language has been deleted from the bill.
SB 8 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Insurance and is set to be heard on April 26th
SB 8 STALLS IN SENATE!
SB 8 – legislation which would require firearms owners to purchase gun liability insurance – was heard in the Senate Committee on Insurance on April 26th with testimony taken but no vote held. A representative from TOV was pleased to provide testimony in strong opposition to the bill in that hearing. Having missed the April 28th deadline for policy committees to hear and pass a bill introduced in their house, SB 8 is now a “two-year” bill and cannot be considered further until January 2024
TO REVIEW THE LANGUAGE OF SB 8, BILL STATUS, COMMITTEE ANALYSIS AND OTHER DETAIL ON SB 8,
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California AB 804 - legislation signed into law in 2021 - requires the Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to designate two days each year as “free hunting days”, beginning with the 2023/2024 hunting license year. To take part in a free hunting day, an unlicensed hunter who has completed the Hunter Safety Course, but not purchased their hunting license, may hunt if mentored by a licensed hunter, 21 years or older, who has held a valid hunting license for at least the last three consecutive years. To ensure safety in the field, mentors are restricted to only accompanying one unlicensed hunter at a time and must keep the unlicensed hunter within close visual and verbal contact. Those participating in the free hunting day are prohibited from taking any game species that would require a draw or a lottery to obtain a tag. Those participating in the free hunting day to taking only resident and migratory game birds, resident small game mammals, fur bearing mammals, nongame mammals, and - if 12 years or older - wild pigs with a wild pig tag.
"Free Hunting Days" goes into effect in California with the
July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
Hunting License Year
FOR MORE INFORMATION
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SB 772 (Dahle) – Jr. Hunting Licenses: Age of Eligibility California law currently requires that residents be 15 years of age and under to be eligible for a junior hunting license. With both cost and opportunity having been identified as major barriers to the recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of new hunters, the intent of SB 772 by Senator Brian Dahle (R/01-Redding) is to inspire youth to become life-long hunters and conservationists by allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to take advantage of the much less expensive junior hunting license and the many special “apprentice hunts” now made available by DFW, and many wildlife conservation organizations.
SB 772 HELD IN SENATE!
SB 772 was placed in the suspense file and held in the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 18th. Failing to be passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and to the Senate Floor by the May 19th deadline, SB 772 is now a “two-year” bill and cannot receive further consideration until the 2024 Session.
TO REVIEW THE LANGUAGE OF SB 772, BILL STATUS, COMMITTEE ANALYSIS AND OTHER DETAIL ON SB 772,
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