Stone, Melendez Oppose Governor's Action on Gun Bills

Two local legislators spoke out in opposition today to Governor Jerry Brown's signing into law six gun-control bills and vetoing a bill that would've made all firearms thefts a felony offense.

Senator Jeff Stone (R-Temecula) released a statement criticizing the governor's decision to sign bills that will limit the ability of Californians to legally own, possess and use firearms. The legislation will require background checks to purchase ammunition; ban possession of ammunition magazines with more than 10 bullets; and restrict loaning of guns without background checks to close family members.

"I am disappointed that the governor sided with those who do not believe the Second Amendment to the Constitution should be respected and followed," Stone said in his statement. "The bills the governor signed today that target law-abiding citizens who choose to exercise their Constitutional rights to keep and bear arms will do nothing to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

"Many of the bills signed today will certainly be litigated as they clearly are in violation of the Second Amendment. We all want to see a decrease in gun violence, but criminalizing gun ownership instead of prosecuting criminals who use guns to commit crime is not the answer."

The other voice of opposition came from Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore), who introduced a bill that would've reinstated felony penalties for firearm theft that had been reduced under Prop. 47.

"Apparently, Governor Brown believes stealing a gun isn’t a serious threat to public safety," said Melendez, the vice chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. "I ask the governor to tell that to the families who have had loved ones murdered by stolen firearms.

"It's baffling. After a week where the Legislature passed numerous anti-gun laws aimed not at criminals, but at law abiding citizens, the only sensible legislation that specifically targeted criminals, the governor vetoes," said Melendez. "When will the Democrats stop protecting criminals and start defending the rights of Californians?"

A similar bill previously introduced by Melendez was killed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.