State Senate Passes Broad Gun Control Measures

The California Senate passed 11 bills on Thursday aimed at tightening restrictions on guns and ammunition. The bills seek to regulate ammunition sales, large-capacity magazines and gun registration, among other things. There are also measures that would restrict lending guns and require lost or stolen firearms to be reported.

In introducing the legislative package, Senate leader Kevin de León said gun violence has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. He said more than 30,000 Americans are killed by gun violence every year.

"Colleagues, I know that we cannot stand by while our communities suffer from this horrific violence," he said.

The measures passed largely along party lines, with Republicans opposing most of them. Republican Sen. Jim Nielsen disputed the notion that the bills would help lower crime.

"Most of these bills do not affect the criminals," he said. "These bills disarm the law-abiding public."

The legislation now moves to the Assembly. Several of the measures mirror provisions of a gun control ballot initiative backed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Newsom disagrees with de León over the best way to advance gun control, whether through legislation or the initiative process. De  León says the Legislature has the right to assess ballot measures.

“We have the ability to review these proposed ballot initiatives and to suggest changes," de  León said. "And perhaps we can persuade individuals and interest groups to not move forward with this ballot initiative.”

Newsom has said he has no plans to withdraw his gun control initiative.