In recognition of the vast expansion of California’s criminal code, Governor Brown wisely vetoed Senator Hannah Beth Jackson’s SB 347, which sought to add unlawful penalties to non-violent misdemeanor offenders. This bill would have increased the list of persons prohibited from purchasing firearms for a 10-year period to include those convicted of specified firearm-related misdemeanors.
“We applaud this decision by the Governor,” said GOC Executive Director Sam Paredes. “It’s absurd to think anyone in possession of a single shotgun shell while on school grounds should lose their gun rights for ten years.” In his testimony before the Legislature, Paredes commented “Let’s be real – carrying ammo without a gun is like carrying a rock.”
In his veto message that pertained to nine pieces of legislation, the Governor stated “Each of these bills creates a new crime — usually by finding a novel way to characterize and criminalize conduct that is already proscribed. This multiplication and particularization of criminal behavior creates increasing complexity without commensurate benefit.”
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