Bill Text: CA SR61 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Senate Resolution 61 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relative to gun violence.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 29-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-06 - January 14 hearing postponed by committee. [SR61 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SR61-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Resolution

No. 61

Introduced by Senators McGuire, Allen, Archuleta, Atkins, Beall, Bradford, Caballero, Dodd, Durazo, Galgiani, Glazer, Lena Gonzalez, Hertzberg, Hill, Hueso, Hurtado, Jackson, Leyva, Mitchell, Monning, Pan, Portantino, Roth, Rubio, Skinner, Stern, Umberg, Wieckowski, and Wiener

August 20, 2019

Relative to gun violence.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SR 61, as introduced, McGuire.

WHEREAS, The mass shootings in the Cities of Gilroy, California, El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, demonstrate the need for stronger, commonsense gun laws to prevent gun violence and mass shootings in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Numerous factors contribute to the occurrence of mass shootings, including unregulated access to military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, nonstandardized background checks, failing to require private gun sales to go through licensed dealers, needed improvements to our mental health system, and the growth of the white-supremacist terror movement, among others; and

WHEREAS, Assault weapons designed as weapons of war allow for the rapid fire of potentially large numbers of bullets, and are distinguishable from standard sporting firearms by features such as the ability to accept detachable magazines, pistol grips, and folding or telescoping stocks; and

WHEREAS, A nationwide study released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in June 2018 found that between 2000 and 2013, 75 percent of firearms used in an active shooting, known as a “mass shooting,” were legally purchased or already possessed by the active shooter; and

WHEREAS, In the first month since California’s ammunition background check law took effect, more than 100 people were prevented from purchasing bullets illegally; and

WHEREAS, As of August 5, 2019, there have been 255 mass shootings and 33,237 total shooting incidents in the United States, resulting in the deaths of 8,796 people as a result of gun violence; and

WHEREAS, The United States has the worst rate of violent gun deaths compared to other Western nations, including Germany and the United Kingdom; and

WHEREAS, On August 8, 2019, 214 bipartisan mayors from across America sent a letter to the United States Senate Majority Leader and Minority Leader urging the Senate to take action on bipartisan gun legislation; and

WHEREAS, The criminal use of guns and related gun violence has become a public health matter of epidemic proportions, causing children and families across the country to endure the loss of loved ones to gun violence, get caught in the crossfire of firearm-related domestic violence, and live in fear of being struck by random bullets; and

WHEREAS, Despite alarming statistics and growing public concern about gun violence, the United States Senate has consistently failed to successfully pass commonsense gun legislation that would have provided American citizens with additional protections from gun violence; and

WHEREAS, The health and safety of the American people should be the top priority of any federal administration, state and local lawmakers, and all other local officials; and

WHEREAS, There should be enhanced coordination between federal law enforcement agencies and state governments to crack down on the scourge of white-supremacist organizations; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California,That a federal assault weapons ban be passed by Congress to protect all Americans from senseless gun violence; and be it further

Resolved, That a comprehensive federal approach by the United States Senate to reducing and preventing gun violence is needed to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens while ensuring that our communities are safe from future mass shootings; and be it further

Resolved,That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Majority and Minority leaders of the United States Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.