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Following Advocacy and Testimony from California Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers, Senate Committee Advances Legislation to Strengthen Concealed Carry Laws

March 28, 2023

Over 300 Gun Safety Advocates Gathered in Sacramento this Month to Rally for the Passage of SB 2 and other Gun Safety Measures 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statement today after lawmakers in the Senate Public Safety Committee advanced SB 2, a bill that seeks to strengthen California’s concealed carry laws following the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The Bruen decision struck down an important provision of New York State’s concealed carry permitting law, invalidating a similar law in California. 

“California continues to be an example of how gun safety laws work. This bill seeks to save lives and renew our state’s commitment to being a national leader in the fight against gun violence,” said Lisa Henry, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action in California. “We are proud to stand with our gun sense champions today who are advancing this key legislation to protect our communities after SCOTUS put them at risk with their reckless decision in Bruen.”

At the hearing, lawmakers heard from Mia Tretta, a volunteer with Students Demand Action in California and a wounded survivor of the 2019 shooting at Saugus High School who said that, “The thought that just anyone could be carrying a firearm in places that are intended to be safe – like parks or libraries or colleges, universities – horrifies me. This bill will help me and other students that live in fear…. I refuse to search for my exit signs every day. This is the land of the free and we can be free of gun violence. But it will take ALL of us. So, I beg of you to support SB2 so we can continue to lead the nation in Gun Violence Prevention.” 

The Bruen decision dangerously lowered the bar for who can carry guns in public.  SB 2 responds to the heightened risk created by the court’s ruling by setting strong minimum standards for who may obtain a license to carry concealed guns in public and the type of training they must undergo, and creates clear rules on where those who have obtained permits are prohibited from bringing their firearms.

This critical legislation is designed to update and strengthen the portions of California’s licensing law that were weakened by the Bruen decision and to address the potential dangers posed by an increased number of people carrying concealed firearms in California, including by prohibiting guns from playgrounds, preschools, college campuses, polling places, and other sensitive locations. Information about gun violence in California is available here

Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers also showed up in support of SB 838, legislation to remove unjust barriers impeding access to healing resources for victims of police violence and their loved ones, and AB 1089, legislation to continue strengthening California’s ghost gun laws.

If you have questions, or to request an interview with a volunteer from California Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action about advocacy and gun violence prevention in the state, please reach out to [email protected]

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