Adding to the growing list of gun control measures California Democrats have unveiled in recent weeks, a new bill being announced Thursday would ban firearms dealers from holding game-style promotional events such as giveaways, lotteries and raffles, and add new misdemeanor convictions that prohibit people from owning guns for 10 years.
Senate Bill 368 would also require firearms dealers to store guns turned in voluntarily by owners at risk of suicide and set up gun buyback programs. Buyback programs are traditionally offered by local law enforcement agencies, and are often marketed as a chance for firearms owners to earn a little cash by anonymously and voluntarily turning in their weapons — “no questions asked.”
State Sen. Anthony Portantino, a Burbank Democrat who wrote the bill and several of California’s signature gun control laws, said SB 368 would “put responsibility on these businesses to be better stewards of public health if they’re going to be selling something that potentially is detrimental to public health.”
Portantino, who recently announced a bid for Congress, said new restrictions are particularly needed on promotional events that gun stores often run to bring in business.
“We don’t need games of chance to attract new people into the gun world,” Portantino said. “If it’s detrimental to public heath, should we really be giving freebies?”
Linda Bessin, founder of the political action committee Blue Values Burbank who has lobbied against the opening of new gun stores in the area, said banning promotional events would increase public safety and ensure California’s gun laws are closely followed.
“When you have a very family oriented community like Burbank, we’re going to do everything we can to protect the kids,” Bessin said.
Portantino’s proposal adds to a bundle of bills…
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