Firearms: safety certificates.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific information regarding penalties for violations or exceptions to bringing firearms into California without a safety certificate.

Firearms Safety Certificates

The bill requires personal firearm importers to obtain safety certificates and mandates training courses for new certificate applicants.

What This Bill Does

• Requires personal firearm importers to get a firearm safety certificate within 60 days of bringing any firearm into California.
• Makes it against the law to bring a firearm into California without getting a safety certificate within 60 days, except in certain cases.
• Adds an 8-hour training course requirement for new applicants seeking a firearm safety certificate starting July 1, 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

• Personal firearm importers who bring firearms into California.
• People applying for a new firearm safety certificate after July 1, 2028.

Terms To Know

Firearm Safety Certificate

A document that proves someone has passed a test and completed training on how to safely handle firearms in California.

Personal Firearm Importer

Someone who brings firearms into the state of California for personal use or sale.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify all the exceptions when someone can bring a firearm into California without getting a safety certificate.
• It is unclear how long it will take to implement the new training course requirements and live-fire shooting exercises.

Official Summary Text

SB 948, as amended, Arreguín.
Firearms: safety certificates.
Existing law requires any person who purchases or receives a firearm to possess a firearm safety certificate. Existing law also prohibits a person from selling or transferring a firearm to any person who does not possess a firearm safety certificate. A violation of either of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. Existing law requires a personal firearm importer, within 60 days of bringing any firearm into this state, to, among other things, submit a report including information concerning that individual and a description of the firearm in question to the Department of Justice.
This bill would also require that personal firearm importer to obtain a valid firearm safety certificate and include a copy of the valid firearm safety certificate within the
report.
report and make a violation of this provision a misdemeanor.
The bill would prohibit a person from bringing a firearm into this state without obtaining a valid firearm safety certificate within 60 days, except as
specified.
specified, and make a violation of this provision a misdemeanor.
By creating
a new prohibition, this bill would create a new crime and therefore
a new crime, this bill would
impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law requires an applicant for a firearm safety certificate to pass a test developed by the Department of Justice
covering specified subjects, including, among others, the laws applicable to carrying and handling firearms and the responsibilities of ownership of firearms.
This bill would require an applicant for a firearm safety certificate, on or after July 1, 2028, to complete a training course no less than 8 hours in length that, among other things, includes instruction on firearm safety and handling and live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range. The bill would authorize the Department of Justice to promulgate regulations and provide additional information for the implementation of
this subdivision.
these provisions.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF