Melendez Firearms Possession Bill Clears State Assembly

News release from the office of Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez:

SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Melissa A. Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, announced today that her bill, AB 950, which provides an alternative for responsible gun owners to maintain possession of their firearms, has cleared the California State Assembly.

"Gun violence restraining orders now allow firearms and ammunition to be seized from otherwise law-abiding citizens, based solely on the word of an individual or relative," said Melendez. "Firearms are now allowed to be seized without probable cause, evidence of wrong-doing, or threats of violence. There is no option for Californians to simply transfer their guns to a licensed dealer for safe keeping. My bill would make this an option for them."

The bill will now go the state Senate for consideration. It will first be heard in the Senate Public Safety Committee.

The recently-enacted gun violence restraining order law, AB 1014 (Skinner, 2014) requires a person subject to a gun violence restraining order to either sell their firearms or surrender them to law enforcement with no option to transfer the firearms to a federal firearms licensee (FFL) dealer for safe keeping.

AB 950 would give Californians subject to gun violence restraining orders the option of transferring their firearms and ammunition to a FFL dealer to hold for the duration of the order. This will allow individuals to maintain ownership of their firearms after the gun violence restraining order expires.

"The legislation passed last year poses a very real threat to an individual’s Second Amendment right," said Melendez. "None of us want to see another instance of tragic gun violence, but taking away an individual’s guns without probable cause is very troubling."

Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez represents the 67th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar and a portion of Hemet. It also includes the Riverside County unincorporated areas of Lake Mathews, Good Hope, Nuevo, and Winchester.