Below you can find out more about recent developments in our work, the latest in gun violence prevention legislation and litigation, and upcoming LCAV events and educational programs. To stay up to date on all of these issues, join our mailing list.
February 17, 2012
LCAV Research Cited as Primary Source for Brady Campaign’s 2011 State Scorecards
LCAV is proud to have provided the extensive legislative analysis relied upon by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in its annual state scorecards, which were released on February 16th, 2012. The scorecards assign a score to each state based on the strength or weakness of its gun laws.
LCAV’s work has been critical to the adoption and defense of strong laws in California, which received the highest score of any state in the country. As the scorecards show, however, too many states have weak, gap-filled laws that make it easier for criminals and other dangerous persons to acquire military-style firearms and carry guns in public places.
The Brady Campaign announced that:
California continues to blaze legislative trails in saving lives, rising to a high of 81 points on the 2011 Brady State Scorecard rankings of state gun laws. California’s universal background check system, retention of purchase records, limiting handgun purchases to one a month, and an assault clip ban are just some of the laws that provide a road map to preventing gun violence.
Opposite California are Arizona, Alaska, and Utah with 0 points each. In fact, a Brady Campaign analysis of crime gun trace data finds that the 31 states with few or no gun laws export 9 times the crime guns as the six states with the strongest gun laws.
For the 5th year in a row, the Brady Campaign has issued a 100-point scorecard ranking all 50 states on the basis of laws that can prevent gun violence, such as background checks on all gun sales, permit-to-purchase requirements, limiting handgun purchases to one a month, and retention of sales records. The scorecard ranks states for laws that were in enacted by the end of 2011.
» Click here to download full state scorecard
» Click here to download state rankings
LCAV's publication, "Regulating Guns in America" and our website served as the primary sources for this analysis.
We continue to conduct unparalleled, comprehensive research that makes nationwide surveys like the state scorecards possible. Last year, our attorneys reviewed over 700 gun-related bills introduced in state legislatures across the country, providing expertise and support to activists fighting to keep communities safe from gun violence.
Tracking and analyzing gun laws across the country is challenging and complex work, but it is essential in order to identify the solutions needed to prevent future tragedies. By taking on this responsibility, LCAV plays a critical role in the movement to create safer communities nationwide.
January 24, 2012
Obama, Honor Gabrielle Giffords with Your Courage
Gabrielle Giffords has announced that she is resigning her seat to focus on recovering from the severe injuries she sustained in the tragic shooting in Arizona last January. She has displayed such grace, strength, and perseverance in her fight to recuperate from her gunshot wound to the head, and yet the President and Congress have still done nothing to support basic improvements to our national background checks system – changes that would prevent countless acts of violence across the country. Furthermore, we agree:
..it would be a disservice to her life and that of the others directly affected by this, and tragedies like it, to ignore the factors that precipitated the violence: the easy access to guns; the availability of accessories such as extended clips that make deadly weapons all the more lethal; and a porous and shoddy regulatory system that too often fails to keep these weapons out of the hands of dangerous or dangerously unstable individuals.
We stand united with our allies in the fight to have this issue recognized as an epidemic in our country. Our partners, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, said it best in their letter to President Obama (read the full letter below):
Last year, 12,000 Americans were murdered with guns. To put the death toll in perspective, imagine the entire population of a town being murdered over the course of a year. Or a university losing its entire student body, each day bringing 34 new murders. Surely, these events would shock Washington into action. But the grim fact that guns are used to murder 34 people a day is barely discussed in Washington – even though the tragic reality is that many of those lives could have been saved if the federal government had fixed its broken background check system.
We will continue to work tirelessly - with the law on our side – to promote smart guns laws that can, and do, save lives.
Federal Courts Uphold State Concealed Carry Laws and Federal Anti-Trafficking Regulation
Advocates of smart gun laws achieved several big litigation victories recently, as federal district courts issued strong decisions rejecting Second Amendment challenges to state concealed weapons laws in California and New Jersey. While a majority of states require that an applicant only meet minimal requirements to acquire a license to carry a concealed, loaded handgun in public, California and New Jersey both require an applicant to show a justifiable need to carry a weapon in order to acquire a license.
While these decisions are favorable, they aren’t surprising: since the U.S. Supreme Court’s District of Columbia v. Heller decision in 2008, courts nationwide have overwhelming rejected a wide variety of Second Amendment challenges, including a number of suits against laws limiting guns in public places. For more significant victories in legislatures and courts across the country, visit our Success Stories page.
Additionally, a federal district court in the District of Columbia recently upheld the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to require federally-licensed firearms dealers in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to report when they sell multiple semi-automatic rifles to the same person within five consecutive business days. LCAV submitted written comments in support of the adoption of this requirement, which will help enable law enforcement to combat the trafficking of assault weapons to Mexico.
LCAV is proud to work with state and local governments across the country to protect important gun laws from legal challenges brought by the gun lobby. For more about these issues, read our latest Post-Heller Litigation Summary.
January 13, 2012
To recognize one of the most longstanding and supportive figures in LCAV's history, we are proud to announce that LCAV recently established a special fund in honor of Walter Pettit.
The Piedmont Post has published an inspiring piece on Walter, the history of LCAV, and the new Fund in his honor.
If you're interested in making a meaningful gift to LCAV in honor of Walter, you can simply designate it to the "Walter Pettit LCAV Fund." You can make a donation by check (with a notation that it should be directed to the Walter Pettit LCAV Fund) or give online here (there is an option to dedicate your gift there as well).
January 9, 2012
LCAV joined Americans nationwide to remember victims and survivors of gun violence on the one-year anniversary of the shooting in Tucson, Arizona
On January 8, 2012, LCAV joined Americans nationwide to remember victims and survivors of gun violence on the one-year anniversary of the shooting in Tucson, Arizona. At a candlelight vigil in Yerba Buena Gardens, survivors, legislators, and activists from across the Bay Area gathered to reflect on the terrible toll of gun violence and the need for renewed efforts to keep our communities safe.
LCAV Legal Director Juliet Leftwich spoke to the need for action in an op-ed in the Contra Costa Times, urging Congress to enact sensible gun laws to prevent future tragedies:
Remember Republicans and Democrats alike sitting together to express their unified support for their fallen colleague?
Sadly, rather than using that moment to actually do something tangible to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future, our leaders let the opportunity pass and simply returned to business as usual.
It's not too late. If members of Congress truly want to honor the victims and survivors of the Tucson shooting, they should stop pandering to the gun lobby and start protecting public safety.
LCAV thanks everyone who attended Sunday’s vigil. You can watch a KTVU news report on the event below and see more photos from the vigil here.
The San Francisco vigil, organized by LCAV, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence Bay Area Chapters, 1000 Mothers to Prevent Violence, and Youth ALIVE!, was one of numerous vigils held on January 8 to remember victims of gun violence nationwide. Reports from events across the country are being collected at TooManyVictims.org.
Gun violence prevention groups have also released a number of important materials recently. Mayors Against Illegal Guns released a video of survivors from the Tucson shooting sharing their stories. The Violence Policy Center also published a new report entitled More Guns, More Shootings, which found that, in 2008, 110,215 people were shot in the United States, a nine-year high.
January 3, 2012
Updated Post-Heller Litigation Summary Tracks Latest Developments in Second Amendment Litigation
LCAV’s Post-Heller Litigation Summary surveys the landscape of Second Amendment challenges to federal, state and local gun laws asserted in the aftermath of the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision in District of Columbia v. Heller. Our January summary highlights several recent developments, including a new lawsuit challenging California's ten-day waiting period as well as decisions upholding restrictions on firearm possession by felons and domestic violence misdemeanants, and prohibiting the possession of firearms in university housing.
January 2, 2012
LCAV Files Amicus Brief in Illinois Supreme Court Assault Weapons Case
On November 18, 2011, LCAV filed an amicus brief in Wilson v. Cook County, a case currently before the Illinois Supreme Court that involves a Second Amendment challenge to Cook County, Illinois’ ordinance prohibiting the sale or possession of assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines.
LCAV’s brief, which was joined by the City of Chicago, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, argues that the Second Amendment does not protect the possession of assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines. Even if the court finds that assault weapons and large capacity magazines do implicate the Second Amendment, the brief continues, Cook County's ordinance banning them would satisfy review under any level of scrutiny.
December 9, 2011
Updated Post-Heller Litigation Summary Tracks Latest Developments in Second Amendment Litigation
LCAV’s Post-Heller Litigation Summary surveys the landscape of Second Amendment challenges to federal, state and local gun laws asserted in the aftermath of the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision in District of Columbia v. Heller. Our December summary highlights several recent developments, including a new lawsuit challenging ATF regulations that prohibit medical marijuana card holders from possessing firearms, a Pennsylvania appellate court's decision upholding a state agency’s prohibition on guns in the workplace, and the Ninth Circuit's announcement that it will rehear the long-running Nordyke case en banc.
November 29, 2011
Dangerous Federal Legislation Would Force States to Recognize Concealed Handgun Permits Issued to Convicted Criminals
A dangerous bill currently moving through Congress could severely undermine the strong state laws we have worked so hard to enact. Although the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 822, which would force states to recognize permits to carry concealed handguns issued by every other state, we are working closely with our allies to prevent "forced reciprocity" legislation from moving forward in the Senate.
What's Really At Stake Here?
As detailed in our new publication, Forced Reciprocity: Why Your Community Shouldn't Be Subject to Other States' Weak Concealed Handgun Laws, lax permitting requirements in many states enable convicted criminals and other dangerous persons to legally carry hidden, loaded handguns. Federal reciprocity would force states with strong gun laws, like California and New York, to recognize permits issued by every state, even if the issuing state doesn't require an applicant to complete any firearms training or show any need to carry a weapon.
Media outlets nationwide have relied on LCAV's expertise to understand the danger posed by forced reciprocity:
In the below video from MSNBC's "Clear The Air," Martin Bashir cited LCAV's work in a piece critical of the House's passage of H.R. 822;
In "Locked and Loaded for Happy Hour," Mother Jones used LCAV data on weak state gun laws to explain H.R. 822's potential impact;
LCAV staff attorney Ben Van Houten debated H.R. 822 with an NRA attorney on Larry Mantle's AirTalk on Los Angeles public radio. Listen here in case you missed it.
With your help, we will continue to advocate against dangerous legislation like H.R. 822 and to help keep our communities safe from gun violence.
November 14, 2011
A Dangerous Federal Bill Poses a Serious Threat to Public Safety Nationwide!
We need your help! This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 822, a dangerous bill to force states with strong laws, like California and New York, to recognize licenses to carry concealed handguns issued by every other state.
Many states have shockingly weak systems that enable convicted criminals and untrained individuals to legally carry hidden, loaded handguns in public places. Because H.R. 822 would prevent states from deciding who may carry concealed handguns within their borders, the bill poses a serious threat to public safety nationwide.
Call your Representative's Washington, D.C. office TODAY and tell him or her: "Vote no on H.R. 822!"
To find your Representative's D.C. office phone number, or if you aren't sure who your Representative is, visit Contacting the Congress.
It's especially important that constituents contact the following four Representatives:
Updated Post-Heller Litigation Summary Tracks Latest Developments in Second Amendment Litigation
LCAV’s Post-Heller Litigation Summary surveys the landscape of Second Amendment challenges to federal, state and local gun laws asserted in the aftermath of the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision in District of Columbia v. Heller. Our November summary highlights significant developments from the past several months, including new lawsuits filed in Hawaii and Nebraska, and important decisions upholding Massachusetts' discretionary concealed handgun licensing statute and Washington, D.C.'s registration system and laws banning assault weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines.
November 1, 2011
LCAV Releases One-of-a-Kind Book of Model Laws to Fight Gun Violence
Impose a waiting period before the sale of a firearm; and
Limit firearm purchases to one per person every 90 days.
LCAV's in-depth knowledge of state and local gun laws, together with our legislative drafting experience, make us uniquely qualified to help community leaders develop policies to address America's gun violence epidemic. Each of the model laws contains detailed legislative findings showing the need for, and benefits of the law. The publication also includes a discussion of common opposition arguments and legal issues.
We are available to provide assistance to any jurisdiction seeking to tailor a model law to its particular needs.
October 11, 2011
Major Victories in California: Governor Brown Signs Three Crucial Bills to Prevent Gun Violence!
LCAV applauds California Governor Jerry Brown for signing three important pieces of legislation to help keep communities across California safe from gun violence. Governor Brown signed:
AB 809 (Feuer), co-sponsored by LCAV, which will help law enforcement solve and prevent gun crimes by requiring the California Department of Justice to retain copies of sales records for rifles and shotguns, as it already does for handguns;
AB 144 (Portantino), which will prohibit the open carrying of unloaded handguns in public places statewide; and
SB 819 (Leno), which will enable the Department of Justice to use firearm sales fees to fund programs to disarm convicted criminals and the mentally ill
The governor's signing of these three bills is a major victory for public safety in California. LCAV commends Assemblymember Feuer, Assemblymember Portantino, and Senator Leno for their outstanding leadership on these critical issues, and we are grateful for the tireless efforts of our coalition partners statewide.
We also thank you, our members and supporters, for your calls to the Governor urging him to sign AB 809. Your voice makes a difference!
For more information about these bills and all of the firearm bills considered by the California Legislature this year, visit our Summary of 2011 California Firearms Legislation. Your support helps ensure that California continues to lead the nation in strong laws to prevent gun violence.
September 30, 2011
LCAV Files Amicus Brief in Important Ninth Circuit Second Amendment Case
States that have strong laws regulating the carrying of concealed weapons currently face a number of significant lawsuits challenging these laws on Second Amendment grounds. On September 30, LCAV urged the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reject a Second Amendment challenge to California's concealed carry law in an amicus brief in Richards v. Prieto. Richards is the second of a number of similar challenges to laws nationwide to be reviewed by a federal appellate court, following Peruta v. County of San Diego.
LCAV's brief was joined by the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón. The brief urges the Ninth Circuit to find that the Second Amendment does not guarantee the right to possess a loaded, hidden handgun in public, and that the California law is vital to protect the safety of law enforcement and the general public. LCAV is very grateful to Covington & Burling LLP for authoring the brief.
September 19, 2011
Updated Post-Heller Litigation Summary Tracks Latest Developments in Second Amendment Litigation
LCAV’s Post-Heller Litigation Summary surveys the landscape of litigation involving Second Amendment challenges to federal, state and local gun laws asserted in the aftermath of the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision in District of Columbia v. Heller. Our September summary highlights significant developments that have occurred since August 2011, including a recent decision upholding New York's discretionary concealed handgun licensing statute and a new lawsuit challenging California's firearm sales fees.
September 12, 2011
California Legislature Adopts Critical LCAV-Supported Bills
LCAV is pleased to report overwhelming success in the California Legislature this year, with four important bills now headed to Governor Jerry Brown's desk. LCAV co-sponsored bill AB 809 (Feuer) would help law enforcement solve gun crimes and protect public safety by requiring the Department of Justice to retain copies of sales records for rifles and shotguns, as it does now for handgun records.
In addition:
AB 144 (Portantino) would prohibit the open carrying of unloaded handguns in public places statewide;
SB 819 (Leno) would enable the California Department of Justice to use firearm sales fees to fund programs to disarm convicted criminals and the mentally ill; and
SB 427 (De León) would enhance the state's 2009 handgun ammunition recordkeeping law.
Your support enables LCAV to provide critical technical expertise and advocacy in support of these and other important measures. By championing innovative legislation like the bills above, LCAV and our coalition partners statewide are working to ensure that California's gun laws remain the best in the nation. LCAV’s Summary of 2011 California Firearms Legislation has more information about all of the firearm bills considered by the state legislature this year.
September 1, 2011
American Bar Association Adopts Resolution Supporting Common Sense Concealed Carry Laws
LCAV applauds the American Bar Association - the preeminent voice for the legal community, representing nearly 400,000 attorneys nationwide - for taking an important stand in the battle over the carrying of concealed, loaded handguns in public places. On July 22, the ABA adopted a resolution expressing support for laws that provide broad discretion for law enforcement to approve or deny applications for concealed carry licenses. The resolution further states the ABA's opposition to laws that limit discretion in concealed carry licensing, as well as to federal legislation that would require states to recognize licenses issues by other states.
Over the past five decades, the ABA has courageously endorsed a variety of common sense policy measures to prevent gun violence. Our political leaders would be wise to follow the Association's lead.
LCAV Files Amicus Brief in Critical Ninth Circuit Second Amendment Litigation
In states like California, where the gun lobby has failed to weaken concealed weapons licensing laws in the legislature, it now seeks to overturn those laws in the courts. LCAV recently urged the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reject a Second Amendment challenge to California's concealed carry law in an amicus brief filed on August 19 in Peruta v. County of San Diego. The Peruta case is the first of a number of similar challenges to laws nationwide to be reviewed by a federal appellate court.
Joined by the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón, LCAV's brief urges the Ninth Circuit to find that the Second Amendment does not guarantee the right to possess a loaded, hidden handgun in public, and that the California law is vital to protect the safety of law enforcement and the general public. LCAV is very grateful to Covington & Burling LLP for authoring the brief.
August 29, 2011
Urge Your State Senator to Vote "Yes" on LCAV Co-Sponsored Bill AB 809!
LCAV co-sponsored bill AB 809 (Feuer) is now on the California State Senate floor, where it could be voted on at any time. At this critical juncture, your assistance is urgently needed to secure the bill's passage.
AB 809 would require the Department of Justice to retain copies of sales records for rifles and shotguns in a state database, as is currently done for handgun records. This common sense measure would help prevent gun crimes and protect public safety by enhancing law enforcement's ability to:
Quickly identify the owners of crime guns and expose channels of illegal gun trafficking.
Get firearms out of the hands of dangerous felons, domestic abusers, and mentally ill individuals who still own guns even though they are ineligible to possess them.
Be forewarned about the presence of guns at private residences when responding to emergency calls.
Because rifles and shotguns play a significant role in gun violence in California, it is critical that the California State Senate pass AB 809. Please call your Senator today to urge him or her to vote in favor of this bill! Locate your Senator using this service provided by the California Legislature.
August 18, 2011
Show Your Support by Attending a Hearing on Regulating Gun Dealers in Sunnyvale This Monday
Sunnyvale residents recently expressed their concern to the Sunnyvale City Council and Mayor Hamilton about the proximity of a new gun store that opened less than a mile from two elementary schools and a preschool. Unlike numerous other cities in California, Sunnyvale does not regulate the location or operation of firearms dealers. In response to the complaints, the Sunnyvale City Council requested a study of the issue and gathered feedback from the community.
On Monday, August 22nd at 8:00pm the Sunnyvale Planning Commission will hear public comment on the issue and will vote on a recommendation for the City Council (whether to regulate firearms dealers or do nothing). The issue will then be considered by the City Council for a final vote at its September 27th meeting. The gun lobby is expected to attend in large numbers and, though many are not from Sunnyvale, profess to represent the sentiment of the community.
Please show your support for safer communities by joining LCAV staff and other concerned citizens at the hearing on Monday. For location and other details, visit Sunnyvale's website here.
Read LCAV's letter in support of regulating firearms submitted to the Sunnyvale Firearms Sales Study Committee.
LCAV's Latest Publication, Guns in Public Places, Shows Reason for Concern Regarding the Regulation of Loaded Guns in Public
State laws allowing concealed, loaded handguns in public have proliferated across the country in recent years. Despite the public's opposition to these laws, more people can carry loaded guns in more places now than at any other time in modern history. LCAV's most recent publication, Guns in Public Places: The Increasing Threat of Hidden Guns in America, examines the dramatic shift toward permissive state laws that regulate who can carry guns in public and the surprising places in which they can carry them.
Guns in Public Places also highlights the encouraging recent victories against the gun lobby's push to expand guns in public. For example, guns on campus bills were defeated in at least 11 states in 2011, and courts across the country have rejected Second Amendment challenges to strong concealed carry laws. These and other victories provide hope that the public's common sense view that concealed, loaded guns do not belong in public places, will ultimately carry the day.
Read the complete publication here to learn more about gun regulation in your area.
August 10, 2011
Updated Post-Heller Litigation Summary Tracks Latest Developments in Second Amendment Litigation
LCAV’s Post-Heller Litigation Summary surveys the landscape of litigation involving Second Amendment challenges to federal, state and local gun laws asserted in the aftermath of the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision in District of Columbia v. Heller. The latest summary highlights significant developments that have occurred since June 2011, including a significant recent decision granting a preliminary injunction against Chicago, Illinois’ ordinance prohibiting shooting ranges within city limits.
August 3, 2011
Killer in Norway Massacre Ordered Ammunition Magazines from the U.S. before Attack
The tragic shooting at a youth camp and bombing of a government building in Norway on July 22 left 77 people dead and many others wounded. There are no words to describe these shocking events, which devastated Norway and the world. Legal Community Against Violence expresses our deep condolences to all those affected and our outrage at recent revelations that weak U.S. gun laws aided Anders Behring Breivik in preparing for these horrible acts. In his manifesto, the killer revealed that he had easily purchased ten 30-round ammunition magazines from a supplier in the United States. In the text, Breivik also expressed "envy" regarding the United States' weak gun laws, compared with much stricter laws in Europe.
LCAV's analysis of large capacity ammunition magazines demonstrates that these magazines are the common thread uniting major mass shootings, including the Tucson massacre earlier this year, and shootings at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, and 101 California Street in San Francisco. LCAV is steadfastly committed to supporting federal and state legislation prohibiting large capacity magazines, including H.R. 308 (McCarthy), which would ban these magazines nationwide. LCAV was pleased to testify in support of SJR 7, a resolution urging Congress to enact H.R. 308, which was recently adopted by the California Legislature. We also strongly encourage you to sign our petition in support of H.R. 308.
As the Norway shootings sadly remind us, action remains desperately needed to strengthen U.S. gun laws and stop our gun violence epidemic.
July 28, 2011
We would like to thank all of the sponsors and guests who came together at LCAV's 18th Anniversary Dinner to honor our community's commitment to ending the epidemic of gun violence in America.
This year, LCAV's Distinguished Leadership Awardee Dr. Peter Rhee reminded us of the physical impact of gun violence on the countless lives seen in trauma centers every day. Despite the successful reduction in crime in Los Angeles, Keynote Speaker Mayor Villaraigosa reflected on the fact that our cities are still plagued by senseless gun violence, and that there remains much work to be done.
We remembered those 100,000 Americans killed and injured by gun violence every year, reviving our dedication to promoting strong gun laws, fighting dangerous litigation, and advocating for the majority of Americans that believe smart gun laws save lives.
We cannot thank our sponsors, guests, and donors enough for supporting our work through this special event. Because of their generosity, LCAV can continue to tirelessly advocate for safer communities and the prevention of future tragedies.
Obama Administration Adopts Important Rule to Help Fight Firearms Trafficking to Mexico
LCAV commends the Obama Administration for recently adopting a rule to require firearms dealers in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to report any individual who purchases multiple semiautomatic rifles within a five-day period.
LCAV submitted comments in support of the rule, which will help identify gun traffickers who buy multiple rifles, including assault weapons, for use by Mexican drug cartels.
While this is an important step, President Obama should urge Congress to fix more fundamental gaps in federal gun laws—which allow individuals to buy assault weapons and other firearms from unlicensed sellers without undergoing background checks—in order to combat gun violence in the U.S. and Mexico.
June 23, 2011
AB 809 and SB 819 Would Help Get Guns Out of the Hands of Criminals and the Mentally Ill
On Tuesday, June 21, 2011, two critical bills to help law enforcement disarm convicted felons, domestic abusers, and the mentally ill advanced in the California Legislature. Currently, Californians who lawfully purchased handguns before they became prohibited from possessing firearms are identified in the state's Armed and Prohibited Persons (APPS) database. As ABC7 News recently reported, the APPS database is a crucial tool to get guns out of the wrong hands. APPS sweeps conducted this month alone recovered 1,209 guns from 1,011 prohibited persons.
AB 809 (Feuer), which passed the Senate Public Safety Committee, would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to retain copies of sales records for rifles and shotguns, as DOJ currently does for handguns. Co-sponsored by LCAV, AB 809 would significantly expand the APPS database, enabling law enforcement to identify prohibited owners of long guns, as well as handguns.
LCAV also strongly supports SB 819 (Leno), which passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday. SB 819 would enable DOJ to use funds acquired from firearm sales fees for APPS enforcement efforts. The APPS database presently contains the names of approximately 18,000 Californians illegally in possession of over 34,000 handguns, making APPS funding a critical public safety priority.
LCAV testified in support of both bills in Tuesday's committee hearings and will continue to advocate for their passage as they proceed forward. For more information about all of the important firearms bills advancing in the California Legislature, see our Summary of 2011 California Firearms Legislation.
June 7, 2011
Gun Violence Prevention Groups Send Letter to Obama Calling for Action in Wake of Al Qaeda Video
Washington, DC--In a letter sent today to the White House, America's five national gun violence prevention (GVP) organizations--the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Violence Policy Center, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Legal Community Against Violence, and States United to Prevent Gun Violence--as well as 14 state and regional GVP groups, strongly urged President Barack Obama to take action to strengthen America's gun laws to prevent terrorists from following through on threats to launch deadly attacks with firearms on U.S. soil. The catalyst for the letter was a chilling video released on the Internet last Friday urging Al Qaeda followers to undertake terrorist attacks in the U.S. using firearms. The video message features Adam Gadahn, an American-born member of the terrorist group, urging followers to immediately launch violent acts of jihad by exploiting the firepower available on the U.S. civilian gun market and the weaknesses in U.S. gun laws and the federal background check system.
According to Gadahn: "America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms. You can go down to a gun show at the local convention center and come away with a fully automatic assault rifle, without a background check, and most likely, without having to show an identification card. So what are you waiting for?"
In the letter, the organizations urge President Obama to act now to prevent such terrorist attacks and specifically call on the President to:
"[O]rder an immediate and thorough review of steps the Administration can take in the short term to reduce the firepower available on the civilian gun market, to tighten existing laws regulating the gun industry, and to improve the background check system to make it harder for those with terrorist ties to obtain firearms."
The groups also urge President Obama "to call on Congress to convene extensive, serious hearings to explore and identify the legislative steps that ultimately must be taken if a small arms terrorist attack is to be prevented."
The letter to the President details warnings from terrorism experts and U.S. government officials of potential attacks by firearm-wielding terrorists, including a warning from an FBI official in 2009 citing the commando-style terror attacks in Mumbai, India, on November 26, 2008.
June 2, 2011
CA Bill to Help Law Enforcement Solve Gun Crimes Moves Forward
Today, in a significant victory for gun violence prevention in California, the Assembly passed AB 809 (Feuer), a bill that would require the Department of Justice to retain copies of sales records for long guns (rifles and shotguns), as it already does for handguns. LCAV is co-sponsoring this important legislation.
Retention of long gun records would help law enforcement agencies quickly identify the owners of crime guns, and help get illegal firearms out of the hands of dangerous felons, domestic abusers, and the mentally ill. It would also help law enforcement be forewarned about the presence of long guns at private residences when responding to emergency calls.
AB 809 now proceeds to the State Senate. LCAV thanks Assemblymember Feuer for his outstanding leadership on this issue, as well as our California gun violence prevention coalition partners for their important work on this bill.
May 17, 2011
Bill Banning Open Carry of Handguns Passes California Assembly
Yesterday, LCAV-supported bill AB 144 (Portantino) overwhelmingly passed the California Assembly. The bill would prohibit the open carrying of unloaded handguns in public places, and has received support from law enforcement statewide. Open carrying intimidates the public, wastes law enforcement resources, and increases the risk of injury and death due to the accidental or intentional use of firearms.
Federal Court Rejects Second Amendment Challenge to Concealed Handgun Licensing Law
In another victory yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California upheld Yolo County's application of California's concealed carry licensing law, which requires an applicant for a license to demonstrate "good cause."
In Richards v. Prieto, the district court soundly rejected the plaintiffs' interpretation of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, stating that "Heller cannot be read to invalidate Yolo County's concealed weapon policy, as the Second Amendment does not create a fundamental right to carry a concealed weapon in public." The court concluded that "regulating concealed firearms is an essential part of Yolo County's efforts to maintain public safety and prevent both gun-related crime and, most importantly, the death of its citizens."
LCAV congratulates Yolo County on this important ruling. LCAV is proud to have supported the County during this litigation, providing technical expertise and support during the briefing process. Plaintiffs have appealed the Richards decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and LCAV expects to file an amicus brief in support of the County in those proceedings.
May 3, 2011
Second Amendment Victory: Ninth Circuit Rejects Challenge to Alameda County Ordinance
Yesterday, May 2, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals announced its latest decision in Nordyke v. King, a suit brought by a gun show promoter challenging an Alameda County ordinance prohibiting the possession of firearms or ammunition on County-owned property. In its opinion, the Ninth Circuit held that the ordinance does not "substantially burden" the Second Amendment, an argument made in LCAV's amicus brief to the Ninth Circuit last year. LCAV will continue to support Alameda County as the case heads back to the district court.
With yesterday's decision, the Nordyke panel joins the numerous courts that have rejected Second Amendment challenges nationwide. The message is clear: common sense firearms laws remain constitutional.
April 15, 2011
Action Alert:Let Your Voice Be Heard & Keep Guns Off Campus!
We are alarmed to report that legislation has recently been enacted in Mississippi, and is currently pending in 14 more states, which would change current law to allow concealed weapons on college campuses. In addition, one state - Utah - already requires colleges to allow firearms on campus.
The gun violence prevention community opposes state government's efforts to allow carrying of firearms by students, faculty or staff. We must urge our elected officials to vote against any bill permitting guns on campus. LCAV supports preserving college campuses for education and believes firearms create an unacceptable risk in the college environment.
Saturday, April 16th is the fourth anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings. Today, to honor the victims of that tragedy, we are joining with thousands of others in a national call-in day, organized by The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, asking governors across the country to oppose this dangerous legislation. While California has no proposed laws of this type, we still urge you to call Governor Brown to let him know where you stand on the issue, and ask him to oppose any future attempts to bring guns on campus. If you live in a state where this legislation is being advanced, or if you have children or friends attending a school in these states, please call your governor now to ensure that your voice is heard.
LCAV Supported Bills Pass Assembly Public Safety Committee
On April 12, two extremely important firearms bills moved out of the California Assembly Public Safety Committee.
AB 809 (Feuer), co-sponsored by LCAV, would delete a provision of state law that currently requires sales records for long guns (rifles and shotguns) to be destroyed after five days. Similar to last year's AB 1810, the bill would direct the Department of Justice to retain these records indefinitely, as it currently does for handgun records. Retention of long gun records would help law enforcement agencies quickly identify the owners of crime guns, and help them get firearms out of the hands of dangerous felons, domestic abusers, and the mentally ill. It would also help law enforcement be forewarned about the presence of long guns at private residences when responding to emergency calls.
AB 144 (Portantino), which would prohibit the open carrying of unloaded handguns in public places, also passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Current law does not prohibit the open carrying of unloaded firearms, even if an individual is also carrying ammunition. Open carrying intimidates the public, wastes law enforcement resources, and creates opportunities for injury and death due to the accidental or intentional use of firearms.
Both bills now proceed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. For more information about all of the firearms bills under consideration in California this year, please visit our Summary of 2011 California Firearms Legislation.
March 14, 2011
LCAV Applauds President Obama's Long-Overdue Statement on Need for Improved Gun Laws
On Sunday, March 13, two months after the Tucson massacre, President Obama announced a proposal to improve the federal background check system in an Arizona Daily Star op-ed. "[O]ur focus right now should be on sound and effective steps that will actually keep those irresponsible, law-breaking few from getting their hands on a gun in the first place," the president wrote. "Porous background checks are bad for police officers, for law-abiding citizens and for [firearms] sellers themselves."
LCAV commends the president for this first step to address America's gun violence epidemic. President Obama proposed improving background check recordkeeping, but unfortunately federal law does not even require every gun purchaser to pass a background check. As the president noted in his op-ed, "If we're serious about keeping guns away from someone who's made up his mind to kill, then we can't allow a situation where a responsible seller denies him a weapon at one store, but he effortlessly buys the same gun someplace else." LCAV urges the president to support S. 436, Senator Schumer's bill to require universal background checks.
President Obama called on Americans to begin "a new discussion on how we can keep America safe for all our people." The American public, however, has already voiced broad support for requiring a background check before every firearm sale. A recent bipartisan poll showed that 86% of Americans and 81% of gun owners nationwide support universal background checks. Additional polls in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio and Virginia indicate that at least 83% of respondents -- and over 75% of gun owners -- in each of those states support this policy.
LCAV has long advocated for universal background checks and for the improvement of background check recordkeeping. Despite Congress' unwillingness to confront gun violence in recent years, and its consistent capitulation to the gun lobby, we are encouraged by the prospect that the president's recent statement will mark a new beginning in federal firearms legislation.
March 7, 2011
Gun Lobby Intensifies Efforts to Weaken State Gun Legislation
LCAV's tracking of firearm-related legislation in all 50 states has revealed a dangerous trend: a significant number of new bills to expand the ability of people to carry loaded firearms in public places. A Wyoming bill, for example, that would allow individuals to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, is already awaiting the Governor's signature. Bills allowing concealed carry without a permit have been introduced in 13 other states this year. Several bills weakening the regulation of guns in public were enacted last year.
Other dangerous bills that appear to be gaining momentum in 2011 include those to:
Allow guns in government buildings, houses of worship, and even in some areas of elementary and secondary schools;
Require university and college administrators to allow guns on campus;
Allow guns in bars and restaurants where alcohol is served;
Require businesses and employers to allow guns in vehicles in designated parking areas.
LCAV Responds With New Model Law
In response to this alarming trend, and in an effort to support activists and legislators nationwide, LCAV has drafted a model law and report entitled "Regulating the Carrying and Possession of Firearms in Public Places." The model, which is based on existing state laws, provides two alternative approaches. The first prohibits the open carrying of firearms and only allows concealed carry in public in accordance with a permit issued after an individual has shown good cause, passed a background check and received extensive training. The model does not allow carrying in government buildings, schools, establishments that sell alcohol or other sensitive places. The second approach prohibits the carrying of firearms in public, hidden or exposed, with exceptions for law enforcement officers, members of the military and other appropriate individuals.
Polling reveals that Americans feel less safe when people carry hidden guns in public, and overwhelmingly oppose laws that ease concealed permit requirements and allow firearms in places like college campuses, government buildings, restaurants and bars. The public should be aware that state legislators are bowing to gun lobby demands for more guns in public places and should hold irresponsible legislators accountable. LCAV will continue to monitor and shed light on this dangerous trend and to do whatever we can to counteract it.
February 2, 2011
Federal Legislation in the Wake of Tucson
Following the tragic shootings of Representative Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others in Tucson, Arizona, on January 8, 2011, federal legislators have introduced several bills to reduce gun violence. Representative Carolyn McCarthy has authored legislation to prohibit the transfer or possession of large capacity ammunition magazines, like those used by the Tucson shooter. We encourage you to sign our petition urging Congress to pass H.R. 308 the bill to ban large capacity ammunition magazines, and contact your congressperson to voice your support for this common sense legislation.
Other significant federal legislation introduced after the Tucson shooting includes a bill by Senator Barbara Boxer to establish minimum standards for states that allow the carrying of concealed firearms, and a bill introduced by Representative Peter King to prohibit the carrying of a firearm near a senior federal official holding a public event, carrying out official duties, or campaigning for federal elective office.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns Champions Reform of Federal Gun Laws
Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), a diverse national coalition of more than 500 mayors led by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, promotes federal legislation to reduce illegal firearms trafficking and repair gaping loopholes in our nation's background check system. MAIG's latest campaign, Fix Gun Checks, encourages Congress to adopt federal laws to ensure mental health and drug abuse information is entered into the databases used to check a prospective firearm transferee's background, and to close the private sale loophole by requiring a background check prior to every gun transfer. Mayor Bloomberg led a recent undercover investigation of the Crossroads of the West Gun Show in Phoenix, Arizona, which showed unlicensed sellers willingly selling guns to people who say they probably "couldn't pass" a background check. LCAV is pleased to support MAIG's efforts for critical gun violence prevention legislation nationwide.
January 20, 2011
Your Help is Needed on Federal Legislation to Ban Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines: Sign Our Petition and Call Washington Today!
In response to the devastating mass shooting in Tucson earlier this month, which left six dead and thirteen wounded, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy has introduced H.R. 308, which would ban large capacity ammunition magazines. Large capacity ammunition magazines are frequently used in mass shootings, including the tragedy in Tucson and those at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, and 101 California Street in San Francisco, because they enable a shooter to kill large numbers of people in a matter of seconds.
LCAV needs your help to tell Washington how vital this legislation is to the prevention of future mass shootings. Here's what you can do:
Sign our petition urging Congress to pass H.R. 308, Congresswoman McCarthy's bill to ban large capacity ammunition magazines. Forward this e-mail to your friends and urge them to sign the petition as well!
Contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 224-3121 and encourage him or her to cosponsor H.R. 308. If you're not sure who your Representative is, you can find that information at Govtrack.us.
Call President Obama at (202) 456-1111 and urge him to announce his support for H.R. 308.
Large capacity ammunition magazines have no place in civilian hands. As discussed in our updated policy summary, large capacity magazines were banned under a now-expired federal law, and are now only prohibited in California and five other states. Act now to stop the sale of these magazines and help prevent future tragedies!
January 10, 2011
Legal Community Against Violence Grieves with America Over the Arizona Shooting and Demands That Our Government Take Steps to Prevent This Type of Tragedy in the Future
(San Francisco, CA) Following Saturday's mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, Legal Community Against Violence (LCAV) issued the following statement:
"LCAV is deeply saddened by the horrific shooting in Arizona. Our sympathies go out to the family and friends of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and to all of the individuals touched by this tragedy. The Arizona massacre is just one more terrible example of the impact of gun violence in America and the urgent need to act with courage and commitment to achieve sensible gun policies nationwide.
The Arizona shooter used a Glock 19 handgun equipped with a large capacity ammunition magazine. That magazine, capable of holding 33 bullets, enabled the shooter to kill 6 people and injure 14 others in a matter of moments. Large capacity ammunition magazines - those capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition - were banned as part of the 1994 federal assault weapons ban, but were legalized when Congress allowed the law to expire in 2004. Large capacity magazines are now only banned in California and a handful of other states, not including Arizona.
Unfortunately, large capacity ammunition magazines are frequently used in mass shootings, including those which occurred at 101 California St. (the San Francisco assault weapon massacre that led to the formation of LCAV), Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, and Fort Hood.
LCAV is very pleased that Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy has announced her intent to introduce a new federal large capacity ammunition ban in the wake of this tragedy. We look forward to supporting her efforts and hope that our federal legislators will show their commitment to preventing future tragedies by doing the same. The gaps in federal law regulating guns are a travesty in this country, and one that we demand our government immediately address.
LCAV's recent publication, Gun Laws Matter, ranked Arizona's gun laws as the worst in the country. Among other things, Arizona law requires no permit to carry loaded weapons in public, requires no background check for private gun sales, and allows guns in bars. In addition, Arizona enacted the so-called "Firearms Freedom Act" - declaring federal gun laws inapplicable to guns manufactured, purchased and possessed in the state.
LCAV will continue to work to educate the public and to support the gun violence prevention laws that can prevent this type of tragedy in the future. We are reminded of the importance of this work, and thank our members and supporters."
LCAV is proud to have provided the extensive legislative analysis relied upon by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in its annual state scorecards, which were released on February 16th, 2012. The scorecards assign a score to each state based on the strength or weakness of its gun laws.
Advocates of smart gun laws achieved several big litigation victories recently, as federal district courts issued strong decisions rejecting Second Amendment challenges to state concealed weapons laws in California and New Jersey. While a majority of states require that an applicant only meet minimal requirements to acquire a license to carry a concealed, loaded handgun in public, California and New Jersey both require an applicant to show a justifiable need to carry a weapon in order to acquire a license.
LCAV’s 
LCAV’s 
We need your help! This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 822, a dangerous bill to force states with strong laws, like California and New York, to recognize licenses to carry concealed handguns issued by every other state. 
Require background checks on all gun purchasers;
LCAV co-sponsored bill AB 809 (Feuer) is now on the California State Senate floor, where it could be voted on at any time. At this critical juncture, your assistance is urgently needed to secure the bill's passage.
LCAV commends the Obama Administration for recently adopting a rule to require firearms dealers in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to report any individual who purchases multiple semiautomatic rifles within a five-day period. 
On Tuesday, June 21, 2011, two critical bills to help law enforcement disarm convicted felons, domestic abusers, and the mentally ill advanced in the California Legislature. Currently, Californians who lawfully purchased handguns before they became prohibited from possessing firearms are identified in the state's Armed and Prohibited Persons (APPS) database. As ABC7 News 
Today, in a significant victory for gun violence prevention in California, the Assembly passed AB 809 (Feuer), a bill that would require the Department of Justice to retain copies of sales records for long guns (rifles and shotguns), as it already does for handguns. LCAV is co-sponsoring this important legislation.
Yesterday, LCAV-supported bill AB 144 (Portantino) overwhelmingly passed the California Assembly. The bill would prohibit the open carrying of unloaded handguns in public places, and has received support from law enforcement statewide. Open carrying intimidates the public, wastes law enforcement resources, and increases the risk of injury and death due to the accidental or intentional use of firearms. 
On April 12, two extremely important firearms bills moved out of the California Assembly Public Safety Committee. 