Senator Portantino Attends White House Ceremony Celebrating the Safer Communities Act Gun Reform
For Immediate Release: July 11, 2022
Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400
Senator Portantino Attends White House Ceremony Celebrating the Safer Communities Act Gun Reform
Sacramento, CA – At the invitation of President Biden, Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) attended the White House ceremony today celebrating the passage of S.2938, the historic Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The Act was drafted and passed in the wake of the recent tragic shootings in Texas. During his speech, President Biden said that “lives will be saved” through the passage of the Act and he further called for a national “safe gun storage effort.” Senator Portantino authored and passed California’s safe gun storage legislation and currently has SB 906 on the Governor’s desk, waiting signature. SB 906 calls on school districts to educate parents about safe storage and also requires robust investigations of violent threats made to school campuses.
“It was an honor to attend the White House ceremony to celebrate the passage of the Safer Communities Act. Common sense and meaningful gun reform legislation has been an important part of my legislative record and I was thrilled to be at the White House celebrating this historic federal action that will save lives. Although there is more work to do, S.2938 is an important step forward towards our nation’s fight against gun violence. It was humbling to have had my long-time commitment to gun reform be the impetus for the invite,” stated Senator Anthony Portantino.
The Safer Communities Act was passed to implement changes to the mental health system, school safety programs, and gun safety laws. Senator Chris Murphy introduced the bill on June 21, 2022 and President Biden signed it into law on June 25, 2022. Specifically, the bill establishes an enhanced background check process and up to three-business-day investigative period for buyers under age 21, supports state red flag laws and funds crisis intervention services, disarms domestic abusers, and clarifies who must run background checks. It establishes the first ever federal laws against interstate gun trafficking and straw purchasing to stop the flow of illegal guns into cities. Additionally, the bill includes $250 million for community violence intervention, expands mental health services and provides school safety funding.
During his time in the legislature, Senator Portantino successfully banned the open carry of handguns and rifles and raised the firearm purchase age to twenty-one. As mentioned above, Governor Newsom also signed Senator Portantino’s SB 172 in 2019. The bill enacted a slate of significant provisions related to firearms storage by broadening criminal storage crimes, adding criminal storage offenses to those offenses that can trigger a 10-year firearm ban, and creating an exemption to firearm loan requirements for the purposes of preventing suicide. The same year, Portantino’s SB 376 was signed into law, which reduces the number of firearms an unlicensed individual is annually able to sell and the frequency with which they are able to sell. In 2021, Senate Bill 715 was signed into law, which enacts important gun purchase safeguards.
This year’s SB 906 and SB 1327 continue Senator Portantino’s legacy as one of California’s most ardent gun reform advocates. SB 906 prioritizes student and campus safety by promoting safe at-home storage of firearms and robust investigations of imminent violent school threats. SB 1327 is jointly authored by Senators Hertzberg and Portantino. It creates a new tool to combat the rise in gun violence and save lives – a private right of action. Governor Gavin Newsom is the official sponsor of the SB 1327. Both measures are on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature.
Senator Portantino has also authored SB 918, which will implement significant improvements to California’s existing conceal-carry weapon (CCW) laws to address the recent United States Supreme Court decision in New York Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen. SB 918 is sponsored by Attorney General Rob Bonta. The Attorney General and Senator Portantino have been working collaboratively in anticipation of a quick response to the Supreme Court ruling. U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla have also expressed their strong support for SB 918 and applauded the quick and appropriate response to the Supreme Court’s decision, citing that the improvements to California’s concealed carry permitting regime are critical and urgent in order to ensure safety for Californians.
“In the wake of the Texas tragedy and the continued threat of mass shootings, it’s a moral imperative that California leads on the issue of gun safety and reform,” stated Senator Portantino. “I am proud to be working with Attorney General Bonta and Governor Newsom on critical legislation that will save lives and grateful for the safety policies being implemented on a national level. We will continue to be diligent in addressing the gun violence epidemic in our country.”
###
