Bill Banning Carrying on School Grounds Heads to California Governor

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. -(Ammoland.com)- Assembly Bill 424, which attempts to subvert the authority of local education officials to make crucial decisions in regards to the safety of their students and staff, passed the California State Assembly and is on it’s way to the desk of Governor Jerry Brown.

AB 424, by Asm. Kevin McCarty (D – Sacramento), removes the long time practice of allowing school district superintendents and/or their designees the ability to decide who (if anyone) would be allowed to possess a firearm on school grounds. This ability has been based on the idea that decisions are best made by those who are most familiar with the needs and values of their community.

“Since the creation of the California concealed carry permit in 1923, there have been ZERO incidents on school grounds involving CCW holders,” points out Craig DeLuz, Spokesman for the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC). “One has to wonder why there is a need to remove such authority, given that SB 707 has been in effect for little more than a year.”

Until recently, those who possessed a Concealed Carry Permit were exempted from the Gun Free School Zone Act, which prohibited possession of firearms or ammunition within 1000 feet of a school or university. In 2015, State Senator Lois Wolk authored SB 707 which eliminated the statewide exemption, but left in place the ability for local education officials to provide exemptions within their own districts.

To date, five out the state’s 1000 plus school districts have approved policies allowing staff and/or community members who possess a CCW permit to have a firearm on school grounds. In fact, the only reason for this measure is that less than 0.5 percent of school districts chose to exercise the authority granted to them under the law in a way contrary to that which is desired by the author.

“The Legislature cannot claim to support local control and then attempt to remove that authority because they disagree with outcomes of those decisions,” stated DeLuz, who also serves as a Trustee for the Robla Elementary School District. He went on to note that, “even the California School Boards Association has issues with this power grab, as demonstrated by their choosing to ‘Disapprove’ of AB 424.”

 

About Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC):

Firearms Policy Coalition is a grassroots 501(c)4 nonprofit public benefit organization. FPC’s mission is to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, especially the fundamental, individual Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

More information about FPC can be found on their website.

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justtryit

If Californians were responsible, they wouldn’t let this subversive clown act as “GOV”!!

Alan

As I have said in other posts, criticism directed at the governor of Calif., who by the way I never thought was worth the matches it might take to set afire, while appropriate, is also misdirected. While the governor signs one piece of idiotic anti civil rights legislation after another, remember the ownership and possession of arms by the law abiding is a BASIC CIVIL RIGHT, the fact that what he signs into law, he could veto legislative enactments, comes to him from the legislature. So while it is legitimate to question or criticize the governor, who did his critics… Read more »

HLF

Kind of opens the way for some nut job to go to school and have some target practice on our kids. You sign it, you own it, Mr Governor, their blood on your head. The people of California will hold you responsible.

Alan

Jerry Moonbeams held responsible? You have absolutely got to be kidding. That aspect aside, this hogwash was, is and will remain, a product of the California State Legislature.

HLF

Alan, the governor signs the bill, then it becomes state law. If the bill is not signed, it is not state law. It is the governors option to make it law or not. The state legislature are a bunch of loons.

Alan

HLF: In so far as it goes, you are correct. That said, if the legislature does not enact a proposal, the governor has nothing to sign. Am I missing something here? By the way, once upon a time, it was in the late1960’s, I spent a couple of years in The Bay Area, as it was then, and still described. We used to shoot short range, 200 yards, on the range at Chabot Park, in the hills above Oakland, and also 200, 300 and 500/600 yard matches at Fort Barry and USMC Valleyo. It seems as if California has gone… Read more »

HLF

Alan, I know full well how far this state has fallen. I was born here in the 1930’s.I remember moonbeam/brownstreaks father, not a good governor either. Always vote for the most conservative candidate as possible, to keep things going in the rite direction. Just had some trigger time at Angeles Rifle and Pistol Range. Lots of fun. Shot pistol with my old hunting buddy.

Pete

Actually that is incorrect. In California, a bill becomes law with or without the Governor’s signature unless it is actively vetoed. We know there’s know way he’ll veto it, so when he eventually signs it or does nothing, the bill becomes law.

Alan

And the chief idiot there will no doubt sigh it.

DaveW

I think thy should burn Kevin in Effigy…a little town on the Gold Trail. (sarcasm)

truckeral

great, another gun free (kill) zone. I suggest that parents burn the name Kevin McCarthy into their memory .