Many Californians are buying rifles and shotguns in preparation for the long gun registry law set to take effect January 1st. The legislation will require long gun owners to register the make, model and serial number of their weapon.
Gun sales have risen 30 to 50 percent in the last week of 2013, according to CBS Sacramento. Just Guns owner John Deaser called the law an unnecessary invasion of privacy, despite his recent profit increase:
Previously dealers would destroy personal information on long gun owners after a background check had been completed. Now they’ll register those purchases with the state.
Supporters of the new law say it will improve public safety and keep guns out of the wrong hands.
Deaser says many of his customers are stocking up on long guns now rather than waiting until 2014 when they would have to register.
“These are law-abiding citizens,” he said. “They’re not trying to beat the system or anything like that. They just don’t want to be tracked.”
Avid hunter Jason Gudgel bought a shotgun for his son on Thursday, but he says it has nothing to do with the new law. He says the timing is because of the holidays.
In 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed Assembly Bill 809 into law. According to Brown’s statement:
Anytime someone purchases a firearm in California, whether a long gun or handgun, their personal information is sent to the Department of Justice for a criminal background check. While purchaser information on handguns is retained, purchaser information on long guns is destroyed.
Since the state already retains handgun purchaser information, I see no reason why the state should not also retain information pertaining to the sales of long guns.
The National Rifle Association claimed the bill violates the Second Amendment and will waste an estimated $400,000 in state taxpayer money.