Newsom Signs 10 New California Gun Laws

Gov. Gavin Newsom approved 10 California gun-safety measures on Saturday. Among them, Senate Bill 948 creates new training rules for firearm owners. Beginning in 2029, California residents purchasing guns would need at least four hours of safety instruction. People who bring firearms when moving into the state must secure a firearm safety certificate no later than 180 days after arriving, starting in 2028. Sen. Jesse Arreguín wrote the measure.

For Simi Valley firearm owners, the training mandate could mean another ownership expense. The California Rifle and Pistol Association supports optional instruction but objects to making the course compulsory, arguing that its members could face costly classes. Gun-control advocates point to safety concerns: Brady Campaign lobbyist Rebecca Marcus told lawmakers in March that California recorded more than 69,000 shootings involving death or urgent medical treatment between 2016 and 2021. She said about one-third were accidental and that children were involved in many cases.

Other measures broaden restrictions and access to firearm data. Senate Bill 1220 imposes a decade-long gun-ownership ban following a conviction for removing identifying serial-number information used by police. Under Assembly Bill 1743, California cities and universities may ask the state Department of Justice for information about weapons recovered in criminal investigations. Supporters say such access can strengthen research into how firearms travel from makers to crime scenes, while gun-rights organizations raise privacy concerns. Based on challenges to earlier California firearm rules, some provisions are likely to be contested in court.