AB 2518: Firearms: prohibited persons.

Existing law prohibits a person who is convicted of a felony offense from subsequently owning or possessing a firearm. Existing law also prohibits a juvenile who is adjudged a ward of the juvenile court due to the commission of specified serious or violent offenses from subsequently owning or possessing a firearm until they are 30 years of age. A violation of this prohibition is punishable as a misdemeanor or as a felony.

Existing law authorizes certain juvenile records to be sealed upon order of the court and to subsequently be destroyed. Existing law requires a juvenile record that has been ordered to be sealed, and that contains a sustained petition making a person ineligible to own or possess a firearm, to not be destroyed until the person is 33 years of age.

This bill would further prohibit a juvenile who, on or after January 1, 2014, is adjudged a ward of the juvenile court due to the commission of murder, attempted murder, or voluntary manslaughter, from subsequently owning or possessing a firearm for life. The bill would also exempt the records of those persons containing the petition that renders them so ineligible from destruction.

By expanding the application of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.