Calif. DOJ To Start Keeping Long Gun Ownership Records
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A controversial gun control measure passed by California lawmakers in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting is set to take effect next week that will retain information on rifle and shotgun purchases statewide.
Starting Jan. 1, the California Department of Justice will require gun dealers to register all long-gun purchases with the state, which was previously compelled by law to destroy such information within five days.
Currently, the state only retains handgun purchaser information.
Introduced by former Democratic Assemblyman and current Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, Assembly Bill 809 (PDF) was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in October 2011 after it received overwhelming support from LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and dozens of other police chiefs statewide.
While supporters of the measure hope the legislation will keep firearms out of the hands of people legally barred from owning a gun in California, critics fear people who legally own guns will targeted simply for leaving a paper trail.
