The California Senate Public Safety Committee passed several bills Tuesday pushed by Democrats hoping to tighten gun regulations in the state.
The committee passed a measure from Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León that would require anyone assembling a gun to first apply for a serial number to track the weapon.
De León pushed back at critics who said the bill would hurt people who legally assemble guns as a hobby.
“Times have changed," he said, "and when these weapons are flooding the streets and putting our law enforcement agents in jeopardy -- our communities in jeopardy -- we as policy makers need to step in as quickly as possible.”
The committee also passed measures related to the reporting of lost or stolen guns, expanding the definition of prohibited ammunition sales and expanding the definition of assault weapons. A bill requesting the University of California establish a firearm violence research center was approved as well.