AB 693: Firearms.

Existing law generally requires that a firearms transaction be conducted through a licensed firearms dealer and prohibits the transfer of a firearm unless the person has been issued a firearms license. Existing law provides various exceptions to this requirement, including for firearms sold or transferred to an authorized law enforcement representative for use by the law enforcement agency.

This bill would exempt the loan of a firearm from the requirement that the transaction be conducted through a dealer or by a dealer if the loan is made to a person enrolled in the course of basic training prescribed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, or any other course certified by the commission, for purposes of participation in the course.

Existing law, as amended by the Safety for All Act of 2016, approved by voters as Proposition 63 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, generally prohibits the possession of a large-capacity magazine regardless of the date the magazine was acquired. Existing law makes this prohibition inapplicable to the possession of a large-capacity magazine by a sworn peace officer or federal law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of his or her duties. The Safety for All Act of 2016 also requires, commencing January 1, 2018, the sale of ammunition to be conducted by or processed through a licensed ammunition vendor. Existing law exempts the sale, delivery, or transfer of ammunition to specified individuals, including a sworn peace officer or sworn federal law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of the officers duties. A violation of this provision is a misdemeanor. Proposition 63 allows its provisions to be amended by a vote of 55% of the Legislature so long as the amendments are consistent with and further the intent of the act.

This bill would make the prohibition on large-capacity magazines inapplicable to the sale, gift, or loan of a large-capacity magazine to a person enrolled in the course of basic training prescribed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, or any other course certified by the commission, or to the possession of, or purchase by, the person, for purposes of participation in the course during his or her period of enrollment. The bill would exempt from the above-described ammunition purchasing requirement a person in the basic training academy for peace officers or any other course certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, an instructor of the academy or course, or a staff member of the academy or entity providing the course, who is purchasing the ammunition for the purpose of participation or use in the course. The bill would amend the proposition by adding these new exemptions to the prohibition on large-capacity magazines and the requirement of buying ammunition through a licensed vendor.

This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.