The legislature has approved a bill by Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) aimed at deterring gun trafficking. SB 299 requires gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms to local law enforcement. SB 299 would require that every person whose firearm is lost or stolen must notify local law enforcement within seven days of the time they knew, or reasonably should have known, that the firearm had been lost or stolen.
“This bill will help law enforcement officers get guns off our streets as quickly as possible,” Senator DeSaulnier said. “Time is of the essence when it comes to preventing violence in our communities. SB 299 will provide an important tool for law enforcement officers to deter gun trafficking and straw purchasers.”
When a gun used in a crime is traced by law enforcement to the last known purchaser, that person may falsely claim that the gun was lost or stolen to hide his or her involvement in the crime or in gun trafficking. A reporting requirement will provide a tool for law enforcement to detect firearms trafficking and prosecute “straw purchasers,” individuals who buy firearms on behalf of criminals who are prohibited from possessing guns. SB 299 charges individuals who report a firearm lost or stolen, but know the report to be false, with a $250 – $1000 fine.
SB 299 is sponsored by Los Angeles County Sherriff Lee Baca, and is supported by San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón and the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Website of Senator Mark DeSaulnier: http://www.sd07.senate.ca.gov/
