Portantino Continues to Take on Gun Lobby as Governor Signs Bills to Limit Access to High-Powered Weapons & to Help Department of Justice Better Control Unlicensed Gun Sales

Sacramento, California – Senator Anthony J. Portantino’s (D – La Cañada Flintridge) sensible gun control bills SB 61 and SB 376 have been signed by Governor Newsom. SB 61 would limit the purchase of a center-fire, semi-automatic firearm to one per month.  Additionally, SB 61 would prohibit the sale of these high-powered weapons to anyone under 21.

SB 376 seeks to address the disparity and confusion in the way unlicensed firearms dealers are treated based on the definition of the word “infrequent.” It would reduce the number of firearms an unlicensed individual is annually able to sell and the frequency with which they are able to sell.  This will end a suspect practice and keep more guns off the streets of California.

“It's a solemn day for me as I wish Washington would act at the National level to take needed and prudent gun control steps.  Washington's inaction has again forced me to author and pass two important gun control bills for California.  It is my hope that keeping these high capacity weapons out of the wrong hands will prevent a future horrendous violent action,” commented Senator Portantino.

Senator Portantino has a long history as a leading advocate for smart and sensible solutions to our nation’s tragic history of gun violence. During his time in the Assembly, the Senator successfully banned the open carry of handguns and rifles on Main Street California and last year he raised the general gun purchase age in California to 21. SB 61 and SB 376 continue the trend of the Senator championing common sense gun control reforms.

 "We are grateful to Senator Portantino for his long-established leadership on sensible gun violence prevention legislation,” said Samantha Dorf, volunteer leader with the California chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Moms Demand Action is committed to working to prevent gun violence in all its forms, and we're grateful to have Senator Portantino as a partner working in concert with us. We all have a role to play in ending gun violence and we'll continue to fight for a safer future for California families."

SB 61 is supported by Brady California United Against Gun Violence, the Bay Area Student Activists, the City of Los Angeles, Gifford’s Law Center, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and the Coalition Against Gun Violence.

Senator Portantino worked in concert with the California Department of Justice on SB 376 for this much-needed legislative fix. The Department of Justice, Youth Alive, Bay Area Student Activists, and the Brady California United Against Gun Violence all support the bill.

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Website of Senator Anthony J. Portantino: http://sd25.senate.ca.gov/

Sen. Portantino represents nearly 930,000 people in the 25th Senate District, which includes Altadena, Atwater Village, Bradbury, Burbank, Claremont, Duarte, Glendale, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Lake View Terrace, La Verne, Los Feliz, Monrovia, Montrose, Pasadena, San Dimas, San Marino, Shadow Hills, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Sunland-Tujunga, and Upland.