Yesterday the California Assembly Public Safety Committee voted to move forward with SB 918, legislation to improve California’s concealed carry law in the wake of the Supreme Court decision in NYSRPA v. Bruen.
The Supreme Court’s decision declared invalid a key provision of California’s concealed carry license system, which required a person to show “good cause” to carry a firearm in public. Without further action, the loss of this provision could lead to irresponsible and dangerous people carrying in public, and to more people carrying guns in sensitive places like schools and public transportation. Despite the Supreme Court’s opinion, states can still pass and enforce responsible gun laws to keep communities safe from gun violence. The concealed carry requirements in SB 918 are fully consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen, while including necessary requirements to protect public safety. California’s strong gun laws, including its concealed carry licensing law, have made it one of the safest states in the country.
SB 918 makes several improvements to California’s concealed carry license system, including ensuring that licenses are not granted to people who are found to be a danger to self or others based on a thorough background check. The bill prohibits guns from sensitive areas such as schools, playgrounds, and hospitals, improves training requirements for concealed carry, and raises the age to carry a handgun in public from 18 to 21. The bill now heads from the Assembly Public Safety Committee to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
“SB 918 will make sure California’s concealed carry laws stay strong and keep Californians safe from gun violence,” said Krystal LoPilato, a volunteer with the California chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We’re grateful to our state lawmakers for moving swiftly to update California’s concealed carry laws in the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision. We urge the California legislature to keep pushing for common sense gun laws, and advocating for this important legislation.”
In addition to SB 918, the California legislature is voting on multiple Gun Safety Bills this week. These bills include:
- AB 1621, legislation to further regulate ghost guns
- AB 1594, legislation that establishes firearm industry accountability
- SB 1327, legislation to allow private individuals to sue one another for the illegal manufacture or sale of guns in California
- AB 1929, legislation to create a community violence prevention and recovery program covered as a Medi-Cal benefit
- AB 2156, legislation to crack down on the manufacture of firearms–including 3D printing–by unlicensed persons
- AB 2571, legislation to prohibit a firearm industry from marketing any firearm-related to minors
Every year, over 3,000 Californians are shot and killed and over 6,800 are wounded. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in California. More information about gun violence in California is available here.
