Amid Rise in Political Violence and Extremism Across the Nation, Assemblymember Zbur Introduced AB 1333 Aimed at Promoting Safety and Clarifying State’s Self-Defense Laws
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statements after Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur introduced first-in-the-nation legislation to clarify the state’s self-defense laws. The legislation explicitly underscores that Californians must avoid resorting to fatal actions when they have the opportunity to de-escalate or disengage from a conflict outside their homes, with the aim of preventing violent confrontations. It also clarifies legal accountability for individuals who choose not to take these precautionary measures.
“This legislation builds on California’s gun safety legacy and lays the blueprint for the rest of the nation,” Monisha Henley, senior vice president for government affairs at Everytown for Gun Safety. “White supremacists and other extremists have hidden behind self-defense laws to fire a gun and turn any conflict into a death sentence. Now, lawmakers have an opportunity to help stop that and save lives. We thank Assemblymember Zbur for his commitment to gun safety and listening to advocates and experts on ways to keep Californians safe from gun violence.”
“As Washington’s priorities remain misplaced, California has a responsibility to step-up – and this legislation is crucial to saving lives,” said Cassandra Whetstone, a volunteer with the California chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Our self defense laws should protect people responding to the imminent risk of harm to themselves or others, not those who are willingly putting themselves and others in danger. From a road rage incident to a conversation gone wrong, we have witnessed far-too-many senseless acts of gun violence across California and the country and we thank Assemblymember Zbur for stepping up to tackle this issue head on.”
“Our leaders have a responsibility to reject hateful rhetoric. Yet, it’s no secret that some of those in power have chosen to embrace, rather than condemn bigotry,” said Roan Thibault, a volunteer leader with the University of California, Davis Students Demand Action chapter. “Those choices have now emboldened extremists to take violent actions against vulnerable communities. We refuse to stand on the sidelines and watch that happen. I’m proud of Assemblymember Zbur’s steps to combat white supremacy and I know my generation will continue fighting for the safety and inclusion of communities across California.”
Following the Supreme Court’s reckless Bruen decision, California has seen an increase in applications for permits to carry loaded firearms in public. Even though the legislature acted in 2023 by passing SB 2 to strengthen concealed carry permitting requirements, there are more guns in more places across California. With more guns in public, AB 1333 will ensure it’s clear that you cannot kill someone if you have a safe and easy way to de-escalate and leave — and that those who create violent confrontations will be held accountable under the law.
In recent years the gun industry has used paranoia to profit and foster armed extremism and militias making weapons available to anyone, anywhere, at any time and presented as the only option for self-defense. Simultaneously, we have seen a rise in cases of armed extremism and militias intimidating protestors shooting and shooting fatally in the name of self-defense. In August 2021, Everytown and the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) released a first-of-its-kind report examining the rise of armed demonstrations since 2020: events at which demonstrators, counter-demonstrators, or other individuals or groups were present and carried or brandished firearms.
Last month, Everytown unveiled a new report that found that California leads the Nation for the strength of its gun laws for the fourth year in a row. More information about the gun safety laws championed by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers in California is available here. Statistics about gun violence in California are available here, and Everytown’s Gun Law Navigator – which shows how California’s gun laws compare to those of other states – is available here.
To speak with a policy expert at Everytown or a local volunteer with Moms Demand Action or Student Demand Action, please reach out to [email protected].