Senator Portantino Issues Statement on Court of Appeals Decision in Poway Shooting Case

For Immediate Release: July 21, 2023

Contact: Aaron Skaggs, (916) 651-4025

Senator Portantino Issues Statement on Court of Appeal's Decision in Poway Shooting Case

LOS ANGELES, CA – Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank) today issued the following statement after the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District found that the gun that was used in the Chabad of Poway synagogue shooting was illegally sold:

"I commend the Court of Appeal for their common sense ruling that the transfer of the gun used in the Poway shooting was illegal. This was a horrendous tragedy that should not have occurred. While no one can fully comprehend the pain and suffering that hateful gun violence inflicts on families, the legislative response to this tragedy that was signed by Governor Newsom will result in more young adults being subject to enhanced vetting procedures when acquiring guns. California's approach also became part of the framework for the 2022 federal legislation that President Biden signed into law. While we have a long way to go and many more reforms to enact, hopefully this will give the victims’ families and survivors of gun violence some solace in knowing that it resulted in a meaningful change to our nation's gun laws so that others will not face the same trauma."

Senator Portantino was the author of the Senate Bill 1100 that prohibited the sale of firearms to those under 21 without a valid hunting license. Had the gun dealer complied with SB 1100, the shooter in Poway would have never been able to acquire the gun. Additionally, the Poway tragedy resulted in follow-up legislation enacted in 2019 and 2021 that dealt with broader issues related to young people acquiring and possessing guns, tighter regulations of semiautomatic centerfire rifles, and the creation of verification system to make sure that any privilege associated with a hunting license applies only to truly valid licenses.

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