(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Today, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) announced legislation to increase transparency in gun sales. AB 2459 will increase transparency by requiring all gun transactions to be video recorded, ban residential gun sales, require gun dealers to hold insurance and provide the Attorney General appropriate powers to enforce.
“As a local elected official, I authored successful measures to crack down on illegal gun and ammunition sales,” stated Assemblymember McCarty. “As a State Assemblymember, I am proud to author AB 2459, which I believe will have a strong impact statewide in the effort to keep guns out of the wrong hands.”
“Firearms dealers are subject to very little federal oversight and are a major source of trafficked guns,” stated Juliet Leftwich, Legal Director of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. “This bill will help ensure that firearms dealers in California operate responsibly by requiring them to videotape all gun sales, obtain liability insurance and conduct business from a commercial storefront. We have worked with cities and counties throughout the state on similar laws for decades and applaud Assemblymember McCarty for his leadership in bringing this important measure to the Legislature.”
"We applaud Assemblymember McCarty for introducing this legislation which will help ensure that gun stores are not a source of illegal guns in California," said Amanda Wilcox, Legislative Co-Chair for the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "A key component of the bill is the requirement to videotape all gun sales. This would undoubtedly deter straw purchasers, those customers who buy guns for other people who cannot pass a background check. The bill furthers our goal of keeping guns out of dangerous hands and disrupting the flow of crime guns into California communities.”
A study by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, found that 60% of legally purchased weapons found at crime scenes came from 1% of gun dealers. Residential gun sales are gun transactions completed by a licensed gun dealer out of their private residence; they are banned in 59 cities and counties in California, including Sacramento.
AB 2459 will be eligible for hearings this spring.