CA Gov. Signs New Gun Control Laws, Citing Violence 'Epidemic'

SACRAMENTO, CA — Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 15 bills Friday morning that strengthen the state's gun control laws, including measures that limit the purchase of semiautomatic weapons to once per month, and ban their sale to anyone under 21.

Other measures expand the state's gun violence restraining order program: AB 61 makes more people able to request restraining orders against employees, coworkers or teachers who they think may become violent and should have their firearms taken away. (The law currently only allows law enforcement and families to file those requests, the Los Angeles Times reported). And AB 12 extends the length of a gun violence restraining order to up to five years.

The semiautomatic weapons bills — SB 61 and SB 376 — were not the only bills targeting gun sellers. Others include SB 376, which will prevent anyone from selling more than 50 guns in a year without being a licensed dealer. Meanwhile, AB 1669 targets the so-called "gun show loophole" by putting the same regulations on gun show sales that currently apply to dealers and vendors.

Aiming to tackle gun-related suicides, another new law, AB 645 will require packaging on firearms to contain "a warning statement on suicide prevention."

The new restrictions on gun purchases were opposed by both the National Rifle Association and its statewide affiliate, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“This bill places burdens on law-abiding residents,” NRA spokesperson Amy Hunter told the Times.

But at the State Capitol on Thursday, Newsom said the legislation was necessary to treat the "epidemic" of gun violence in the U.S.

“While Washington has refused to act on even the most basic gun safety reforms, California is once again leading the nation in passing meaningful gun safety reforms," Newsom said.