September 19, 2019 - Sacramento, California - Senator Anthony J. Portantino’s (D – La Cañada Flintridge) gun control bills, SB 61, SB 172, and SB 376, passed the Legislature and will now go to the Governor’s Office.  SB 61, SB 172, and SB 376 all further establish Senator Portantino as one of the country's leading sensible gun control advocates.  Senator Portantino has previously banned the open carry of handguns and rifles on Main Street California and raised the gun purchase age in California to 21. 

“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 important gun control bills for California.  It is my hope that these bills can prevent a future horrendous violent situation,” commented Senator Portantino.

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 this high-powered weapon to anyone under 21. SB 61 is supported by Brady California United Against Gun Violence, the Bay Area Student Activists, the City of Los Angeles, Giffords Law Center, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and the Coalition Against Gun Violence.

SB 172 proposes to resolve the problem of improper storage of firearms in homes and residential care facilities. The vast majority of accidental firearm death, suicide and senseless acts of violence are associated to easy access to firearms. This bill ensures that firearms are properly stored. The bill is supported by the Bay Area Student Activists, Consumer Advocates for RCFE Reform, the County of Los Angeles, Drain the NRA, and Elder Law and Advocacy.

SB 376 seeks to address the disparity and confusion in the way unlicensed firearms dealers are treated based on the definition of “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. Senator Portantino is working in concert with the California Department of Justice on this much-needed legislative fix. California Department of Justice, Youth Alive, Bay Area Student Activists, and the Brady California United Against Gun Violence all support the bill.

"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."
Source: Senator Anthony J. Portantino