California 2021-2022 Regular Session

California Senate Bill SB1327 Compare Versions

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1-Senate Bill No. 1327 CHAPTER 146 An act to add and repeal Chapter 38 (commencing with Section 22949.60) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, and to add Section 1021.11 to the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to firearms. [ Approved by Governor July 22, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State July 22, 2022. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1327, Hertzberg. Firearms: private rights of action. Existing law provides that, with certain exceptions, any person who, within this state, manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives or lends any assault weapon or any .50 BMG rifle, as defined, is guilty of a felony. Existing law also provides that, subject to certain exceptions, a person, corporation, or dealer who sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession of a firearm precursor part, as defined, is guilty of a crime.This bill would create a private right of action for any person against any person who, within this state, (1) manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, or causes to be distributed or transported or imported into the state, keeps for sale or offers or exposes for sale, or gives or lends any firearm lacking a serial number required by law, assault weapon, or .50 BMG rifle; (2) purchases, sells, offers to sell, or transfers ownership of any firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part; or (3) is a licensed firearms dealer and sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession or control of a firearm to any person under 21 years of age, all subject to certain exceptions, as specified. The bill would make these provisions inoperative upon invalidation of a specified law in Texas, and would repeal its provisions on January 1 of the following year.This bill would also state that all statutes regulating or prohibiting firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute regulating or prohibiting firearms, in whole or in part, unless the statute specifically states that it is repealing another statute. The bill would state that every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each application to any particular person or circumstance and that any statute found to be unconstitutional by a court shall remain enforceable as to any application that would not be unconstitutional.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Chapter 38 (commencing with Section 22949.60) is added to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, to read: CHAPTER 38. Persons Engaged in the Manufacture, Distribution, Importation, Transportation, Sale, Lease, or Transfer of Firearms and Precursor Parts CHAPTER 38. 22949.60. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the proliferation of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. All Californians are directly harmed by the proliferation of these weapons and this state has a compelling state interest in protecting its citizens from gun violence and from intimidation by persons brandishing these weapons. Further, this state has a compelling interest in enabling law enforcement authorities to trace firearms used, manufactured, distributed, or transported unlawfully.(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the proliferation of firearms to and among young people poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. Firearms are especially dangerous in the hands of young people because current research and scientific evidence show that young people are more impulsive, more likely to engage in risky and reckless behavior, unduly influenced by peer pressure, motivated more by rewards than costs or negative consequences, less likely to consider the future consequences of their actions and decisions, and less able to control themselves in emotionally arousing situations. In recognition of these facts, the Legislature has previously prohibited licensed firearm dealers from selling a firearm to a person under 21 years of age, subject to certain exemptions. This state has a compelling interest in further restricting the proliferation of firearms among those under 21 years of age.(c) The Legislature has previously restricted assault weapons based upon finding that each such firearm has such a high rate of fire and capacity for firepower that its function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings. The Legislature has also previously restricted .50 BMG rifles based upon finding that they pose a clear and present threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, because those firearms have such a high capacity for long-distance and highly destructive firepower that they pose an unacceptable risk of death and serious injury of human beings, destruction or serious damage of vital public and private buildings, civilian, police and military vehicles, power generation and transmission facilities, petrochemical production and storage facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Each of these previous findings is readopted. The Legislature further finds and declares that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and impedes law enforcement activities, and that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of firearm precursor parts and kits is contributing to the proliferation of unserialized firearms in the state.(d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to further restrict in this state the manufacture, distribution, transportation, importation, sale, lending, and transfer of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms, and further restrict the proliferation of firearms to and among those under 21 years of age, by creating new civil law prohibitions and a civil enforcement mechanism, independent of existing law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit in any way the enforceability of existing laws concerning firearms, including, but not limited to, Part 6 (commencing with Section 16000) of the Penal Code.22949.61. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:(a) .50 BMG rifle means a center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon or a machinegun. .50 BMG rifle does not include any antique firearm, nor any curio or relic, as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.(b) (1) Assault weapon means the following designated semiautomatic firearms:(A) All of the following specified rifles:(i) All AK series, including, but not limited to, the models identified as follows:(I) Made in China AK, AKM, AKS, AK47, AK47S, 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(II) Norinco 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(III) Poly Technologies AKS and AK47.(IV) MAADI AK47 and ARM.(ii) UZI and Galil.(iii) Beretta AR-70.(iv) CETME Sporter.(v) Colt AR-15 series.(vi) Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C.(vii) Fabrique Nationale FAL, LAR, FNC, 308 Match, and Sporter.(viii) MAS 223.(ix) HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, and HK-PSG-1.(x) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M11.(xi) SKS with detachable magazine.(xii) SIG AMT, PE-57, SG 550, and SG 551.(xiii) Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48.(xiv) Sterling MK-6.(xv) Steyer AUG.(xvi) Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78S.(xvii) Armalite AR-180.(xviii) Bushmaster Assault Rifle.(xix) Calico M-900.(xx) J&R ENG M-68.(xxi) Weaver Arms Nighthawk.(B) All of the following specified pistols:(i) UZI.(ii) Encom MP-9 and MP-45.(iii) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M-11.(III) Advance Armament Inc. M-11.(IV) Military Armament Corp. Ingram M-11.(V) Intratec TEC-9.(VI) Sites Spectre.(VII) Sterling MK-7.(VIII) Calico M-950.(IX) Bushmaster Pistol.(C) All of the following specified shotguns:(i) Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12.(ii) Striker 12.(iii) The Streetsweeper type S/S Inc. SS/12.(D) Any firearm declared to be an assault weapon by the court pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990, or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, which is specified as an assault weapon in a list promulgated pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991.(E) Any firearm included in the list promulgated by the Attorney General pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, and any other models that are only variations of those weapons with minor differences, regardless of the manufacturer. The Legislature has defined assault weapons as the types, series, and models listed in this paragraph because it was the most effective way to identify and restrict a specific class of semiautomatic weapons.(F) As used in this paragraph, series includes all other models that are only variations, with minor differences, of those models listed in subparagraph (A), regardless of the manufacturer.(2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), assault weapon also means any of the following:(i) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(ii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(iii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(iv) A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(II) A second handgrip.(III) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(IV) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(v) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(vi) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:(I) A folding or telescoping stock.(II) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.(vii) A semiautomatic shotgun that does not have a fixed magazine.(viii) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.(ix) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that does not have a fixed magazine, but that has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(VII) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(VIII) A second handgrip.(IX) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(X) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(x) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(xi) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, fixed magazine means an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.(C) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting from the definition of assault weapon pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of assault weapon pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subparagraph (D).(D) Assault weapon does not include either of the following:(i) Any antique firearm.(ii) Any of the following pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subparagraph (C):MANUFACTURERMODELCALIBERBENELLIMP90.22LRBENELLIMP90.32 S&W LONGBENELLIMP95.22LRBENELLIMP95.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLI280.22LRHAMMERLI280.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLISP20.22LRHAMMERLISP20.32 S&W LONGPARDINIGPO.22 SHORTPARDINIGP-SCHUMANN.22 SHORTPARDINIHP.32 S&W LONGPARDINIMP.32 S&W LONGPARDINISP.22LRPARDINISPE.22LRWALTHERGSP.22LRWALTHERGSP.32 S&W LONGWALTHEROSP.22 SHORTWALTHEROSP-2000.22 SHORT(c) Federally regulated firearm precursor part means any firearm precursor part deemed to be a firearm pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and regulations issued pursuant thereto, and that has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms in compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations. (d) Firearm means a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel, a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.(e) (1) Firearm precursor part means any forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that has reached a stage in manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled or converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or that is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled, or converted.(2) Firearm parts that can only be used on antique firearms, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 16170 of the Penal Code, are not firearm precursor parts.(f) Unserialized firearm means a firearm that does not have a serial number as required by law or has had its serial number altered or obliterated.22949.62. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, no person within this state may manufacture or cause to be manufactured, distribute, transport, or import into the state, or cause to be distributed, transported, or imported into the state, keep for sale, offer or expose for sale, or give or lend, any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or unserialized firearm, except as provided in subdivisions (e) and (f) and in Section 22949.63.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), or except by operation of law, it shall be unlawful for a person to purchase, sell, offer to sell, or transfer ownership of any firearm precursor part in this state that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part.(2) This subdivision (b) shall not apply to all of the following:(A) The purchase of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part by a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(B) The sale, offer to sell, or transfer of ownership of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part to a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or to a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(C) A common carrier licensed under state law, or a motor carrier, air carrier or carrier affiliated with an air carrier through common controlling interest that is subject to Title 49 of the United States Code, or an authorized agent of any such carrier, when acting in the course and scope of duties incident to the receipt, processing, transportation, or delivery of property.(c) (1) A person licensed under Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, of the Penal Code shall not sell, supply, deliver, or give possession or control of a firearm to any person who is under 21 years of age.(2) (A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun or a semiautomatic centerfire rifle to a person 18 years of age or older who possesses a valid, unexpired hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.(B) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun, semiautomatic centerfire rifle, completed frame or receiver, or firearm precursor part to a person who is 18 years of age or older and provides proper identification of being an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States. For purposes of this subdivision, proper identification includes an Armed Forces Identification Card or other written documentation certifying that the individual is an honorably discharged member.(C) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun to any of the following persons who are 18 years of age or older:(i) An active peace officer, as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(ii) An active federal officer or law enforcement agent who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(iii) A reserve peace officer, as described in Section 832.6 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment as a reserve peace officer.(iv) A person who provides proper identification of active membership in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States.(d) The prohibitions described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) apply whether or not the firearm or firearm precursor part is misused or is intended to be misused in a criminal or unlawful manner.(e) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to the sale of an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to, or the purchase, transport, importation, sale or other transfer, or manufacture of, an assault weapon, a .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part by, any law enforcement agency, public entity that employs peace officers, or any authorized law enforcement representative thereof, if that person or entity is not prohibited by law from possessing an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part, including, without limitation, the Department of Justice, a police department or sheriffs or marshals office, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, a district attorneys office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Cannabis Control, the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, a law enforcement or military agency of another state, any federal law enforcement agency, or any foreign government or agency approved by the United States Department of State, for use in the discharge of the official duties of such entities.(f) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle registered under Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or that was possessed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 30630 of the Penal Code, or a firearm assigned a serial number pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, that is disposed of as authorized by the probate court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500), of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.22949.63. (a) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may take possession of any assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle from any person to whom it is legally registered or who has been issued a permit to possess it pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or of any firearm precursor part, for the purposes of servicing or repair.(b) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may transfer possession of any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part received pursuant to subdivision (a), to a gunsmith for purposes of repairing or servicing that weapon. A transfer is permissible only to the following persons:(1) A gunsmith employed the dealer.(2) A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for gunsmithing services.(c) Paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) applies only if the gunsmith receiving the assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part meets both of the following qualifications:(1) The gunsmith holds a dealer license issued pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.(2) The gunsmith holds any business license required by a state or local governmental entity.(d) In addition to the uses permitted in Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) of, and Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of, Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, any licensed gun dealer who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part pursuant to those provisions may do either of the following:(1) Transport the firearm or firearm precursor part between dealers or out of the state if that person is permitted pursuant to the National Firearms Act. Any transporting allowed by this section or Section 22949.62 shall be in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code.(2) Sell the firearm or firearm precursor part to a resident outside the state.(e) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any individual may, provided that the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is transported in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code, do any of the following:(1) Arrange in advance to relinquish an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to a police or sheriffs department.(2) Sell, deliver, or transfer an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to an authorized representative of a city, city and county, county, or state government, or of the federal government, provided that the entity is acquiring the weapon as part of an authorized, voluntary program in which the entity is buying or receiving weapons from private individuals.(3) Transfer, relinquish, or dispose of a firearm or precursor part in compliance with the requirements of Section 29810 or Section 29830 of the Penal Code.22949.64. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the requirements of this chapter shall be enforced exclusively through the private civil actions described in Section 22949.65. No enforcement of this chapter may be taken or threatened by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65.(b) The fact that conduct violates this chapter shall not be an independent basis for enforcement of any other law of this state, or the denial, revocation, suspension, or withholding of any right or privilege conferred by the law of this state or a political subdivision, or a threat to do the same, by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision, or a board, commission, or similar body assigned authority to do so under law, against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65. Nor shall any civil action predicated upon a violation of this chapter be brought by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision. For avoidance of doubt, the rights and privileges described by this subdivision include, but are not limited to, any business licenses and permits issued pursuant to this code or any firearms, ammunition, or precursor parts dealer or vendor licenses issued pursuant to Title 4 (commencing with Section 23500) of Part 6 of the Penal Code. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent or limit enforcement of any other law regulating conduct that also violates this chapter, including, but not limited to, Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not be construed to do any of the following:(1) Legalize the conduct prohibited by this chapter or by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(2) Waive any requirements prescribed in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(3) Limit or affect the availability of a remedy established by Section 22949.65.(4) Limit the enforceability of any other laws that regulate or prohibit any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts.22949.65. (a) Any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity in this state, may bring a civil action against any person who does any of the following:(1) Knowingly violates Section 22949.62.(2) Knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets a violation of Section 22949.62, regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the person aided or abetted would be violating Section 22949.62.(3) Knowingly commits an act with the intent to engage in the conduct described by paragraph (1) or (2).(b) If a claimant prevails in an action brought under this section, the court shall award all of the following:(1) Injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating this chapter or engaging in acts that aid or abet violations of this chapter.(2) (A) (i) Statutory damages in an amount of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated Section 22949.62, and for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant aided or abetted a violation of Section 22949.62.(ii) This subparagraph shall remain in effect unless found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, in which case this subparagraph is repealed and subparagraph (B) shall become operational.(B) (i) A civil penalty in an appropriate amount to be determined by the court for each violation of this chapter. In making that determination, the court shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, the number of firearms or precursor parts involved in the defendants violation of this chapter, the duration of the prohibited conduct, whether the defendant has previously violated this chapter or any other federal, state, or local law concerning the regulation of firearms, and any other factors tending to increase the risk to the public, such as proximity of the violations to sensitive places.(ii) This subparagraph shall become effective only if a court finds subparagraph (A) to be invalid or unconstitutional.(3) Attorneys fees and costs.(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a court shall not award relief under this section in response to a violation of subdivision (a) if the defendant demonstrates that the defendant previously paid the full amount of any monetary award under subdivision (b) in a previous action for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated, or aided or abetted a violation of, Section 22949.62.(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a cause of action under this section shall be extinguished unless the action is brought not later than four years after the cause of action accrues.(e) An act or omission in violation of Section 22949.62 shall be deemed an injury in fact to all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and any such person shall have standing to bring a civil action pursuant to this section.(f) Notwithstanding any other law, none of the following is a defense to an action brought under this section:(1) A defendants ignorance or mistake of law.(2) A defendants belief that the requirements of this chapter are unconstitutional or were unconstitutional.(3) A defendants reliance on any court decision that has been overruled on appeal or by a subsequent court, even if that court decision had not been overruled when the defendant engaged in conduct that violates this chapter.(4) A defendants reliance on any state or federal court decision that is not binding on the court in which the action has been brought.(5) Nonmutual issue preclusion or nonmutual claim preclusion.(6) Any claim that the enforcement of this chapter or the imposition of civil liability against the defendant will violate a constitutional right of a third party.(7) A defendants assertion that this chapter proscribes conduct that is separately prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state, or that this chapter proscribes conduct beyond that which is already prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state.(8) Any claim that the firearm or firearm precursor part at issue was not misused, or was not intended to be misused, in a criminal or unlawful manner.(g) (1) Both of the following are affirmative defenses to an action brought under this section:(A) A person sued under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person aided or abetted was complying with this chapter.(B) A person sued under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person was complying with this chapter or was aiding or abetting another who was complying with this chapter.(2) The defendant has the burden of proving an affirmative defense under this subdivision by a preponderance of the evidence.(h) This section shall not be construed to impose liability on any speech or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, or by Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.(i) Notwithstanding any other law, this state, a state official, or a district, county, or city attorney shall not intervene in an action brought under this section. However, this subdivision does not prohibit a person described by this subdivision from filing an amicus curiae brief in the action.(j) Notwithstanding any other law, a court shall not award attorneys fees or costs to a defendant in an action brought under this section.(k) An action pursuant to this section shall not be brought against a federal government, state, political subdivision, or an employee of a federal government, state, or political subdivision on the basis of acts or omissions in the course of discharge of official duties.22949.66. (a) A defendant against whom an action is brought under Section 22949.65 does not have standing to assert the right of another individual to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as a defense to liability under that section unless either of the following is true:(1) The United States Supreme Court holds that the courts of this state must confer standing on that defendant to assert the third-party rights of other individuals in state court as a matter of federal constitutional law.(2) The defendant has standing to assert the rights of other individuals under the tests for third-party standing established by the United States Supreme Court.(b) A defendant in an action brought under Section 22949.65 may assert an affirmative defense to liability under this section if both of the following are true:(1) The defendant has standing to assert the third-party right of an individual to keep and bear arms in accordance with subdivision (a).(2) The defendant demonstrates that the relief sought by the claimant will violate a third-partys rights under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution right as defined by clearly established case law of the United States Supreme Court.(c) Nothing in this section shall in any way limit or preclude a defendant from asserting the defendants personal constitutional rights as a defense to liability under Section 22949.65, and a court shall not award relief under Section 22949.65 if the conduct for which the defendant has been sued was an exercise of a state or federal constitutional right that personally belongs to the defendant.22949.67. This chapter shall not be construed to do any of the following:(a) Authorize the initiation of a cause of action under this chapter against a person purchasing, obtaining, or attempting to purchase or obtain an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part from a person acting in violation of this chapter.(b) Wholly or partly repeal, either expressly or by implication, any other statute that regulates or prohibits any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts, including, but not limited to, Chapters 1.5 and 2 (commencing with Sections 30400 and 30500, respectively) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting conduct relating to assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, unserialized firearms, or firearm precursor parts in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state.22949.68. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a civil action brought under Section 22949.65 shall be brought in any of the following:(1) The county in which all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred.(2) The county of residence for any one of the natural person defendants at the time the cause of action accrued.(3) The county of the principal office in this state of any one of the defendants that is not a natural person.(4) The county of residence for the claimant if the claimant is a natural person residing in this state.(b) Notwithstanding any other law, if a civil action is brought under Section 22949.65 in one of the venues described by subdivision (a), the action shall not be transferred to a different venue without the written consent of all parties.22949.69. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, this state has sovereign immunity, a political subdivision has governmental immunity, and each officer and employee of this state or a political subdivision has official immunity in any action, claim, or counterclaim or any type of legal or equitable action that challenges the validity of any provision or application of this chapter, on constitutional grounds or otherwise.(b) A provision of state law shall not be construed to waive or abrogate an immunity described by subdivision (a) unless it expressly waives immunity under this section.22949.70. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that every provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word in this chapter, and every application of the provisions in this chapter, are severable from each other.(b) If any application of any provision in this chapter to any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining applications of that provision to all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and shall not be affected. All constitutionally valid applications of this chapter shall be severed from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, leaving the valid applications in force, because it is the Legislatures intent and priority that the valid applications be allowed to stand alone. Even if a reviewing court finds a provision of this chapter to impose an unconstitutional burden in a large or substantial fraction of relevant cases, the applications that do not present an unconstitutional burden shall be severed from the remaining applications and shall remain in force, and shall be treated as if the Legislature had enacted a statute limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application does not present an unconstitutional burden. If any court declares or finds a provision of this chapter facially unconstitutional, when discrete applications of that provision can be enforced against a person, group of persons, or circumstances without violating the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, those applications shall be severed from all remaining applications of the provision, and the provision shall be interpreted as if the Legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the provisions application will not violate the United States Constitution and the California Constitution.(c) The Legislature further declares that it would have enacted this chapter, and each provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word, and all constitutional applications of this chapter, irrespective of the fact that any provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or word, or application of this chapter, were to be declared unconstitutional or to represent an unconstitutional burden.(d) If any provision of this chapter is found by any court to be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems shall be severed and remain in force.(e) A court shall not decline to enforce the severability requirements of this section on the ground that severance would rewrite the statute or involve the court in legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory provision of this chapter does not rewrite a statute, as the statute continues to contain the same words as before the courts decision. Each of the following is true about a judicial injunction or declaration of unconstitutionality of a provision of this chapter:(1) It is nothing more than an edict prohibiting enforcement that may subsequently be vacated by a later court if that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the California Constitution or the United States Constitution.(2) It is not a formal amendment of the language in a statute.(3) It no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the executive not to enforce a duly-enacted statute in a limited and defined set of circumstances.22949.71. This chapter shall become inoperative upon invalidation of Subchapter H (commencing with Section 171.201) of Chapter 171 of the Texas Health and Safety Code in its entirety by a final decision of the United States Supreme Court or Texas Supreme Court, and is repealed on January 1 of the following year.SEC. 2. Section 1021.11 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, to read:1021.11. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief to prevent this state, a political subdivision, a governmental entity or public official in this state, or a person in this state from enforcing any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or any other type of law that regulates or restricts firearms, or that represents any litigant seeking that relief, is jointly and severally liable to pay the attorneys fees and costs of the prevailing party.(b) For purposes of this section, a party is considered a prevailing party if a court does either of the following:(1) Dismisses any claim or cause of action brought by the party seeking the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), regardless of the reason for the dismissal.(2) Enters judgment in favor of the party opposing the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), on any claim or cause of action.(c) Regardless of whether a prevailing party sought to recover attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action, a prevailing party under this section may bring a civil action to recover attorneys fees and costs against a person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, that sought declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a) not later than the third anniversary of the date on which, as applicable:(1) The dismissal or judgment described by subdivision (b) becomes final upon the conclusion of appellate review.(2) The time for seeking appellate review expires.(d) None of the following are a defense to an action brought under subdivision (c):(1) A prevailing party under this section failed to seek recovery of attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action.(2) The court in the underlying action declined to recognize or enforce the requirements of this section.(3) The court in the underlying action held that any provision of this section is invalid, unconstitutional, or preempted by federal law, notwithstanding the doctrines of issue or claim preclusion.(e) Any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief as described in subdivision (a), shall not be deemed a prevailing party under this section or any other provision of this chapter.SEC. 3. (a) A statute that regulates or prohibits firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute that regulates or prohibits firearms, either wholly or partly, unless the later-enacted statute explicitly states that it is repealing the other statute.(b) A statute shall not be construed to restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting firearms in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state, unless the statute explicitly states that political subdivisions are prohibited from regulating or prohibiting firearms in the manner described by the statute.(c) Every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each of its applications to every person and circumstance. If any statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is found by any court to be unconstitutional, either on its face or as applied, then all applications of that statute that do not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution shall be severed from the unconstitutional applications and shall remain enforceable, notwithstanding any other law, and the statute shall be interpreted as if containing language limiting the statutes application to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application will not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution.
1+Enrolled July 01, 2022 Passed IN Senate June 29, 2022 Passed IN Assembly June 27, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 23, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 15, 2022 Amended IN Senate April 07, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1327Introduced by Senators Hertzberg and Portantino(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Ting)(Coauthors: Senators Becker, Laird, and Stern)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Luz Rivas, and Ward)February 18, 2022 An act to add and repeal Chapter 38 (commencing with Section 22949.60) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, and to add Section 1021.11 to the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to firearms. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1327, Hertzberg. Firearms: private rights of action. Existing law provides that, with certain exceptions, any person who, within this state, manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives or lends any assault weapon or any .50 BMG rifle, as defined, is guilty of a felony. Existing law also provides that, subject to certain exceptions, a person, corporation, or dealer who sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession of a firearm precursor part, as defined, is guilty of a crime.This bill would create a private right of action for any person against any person who, within this state, (1) manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, or causes to be distributed or transported or imported into the state, keeps for sale or offers or exposes for sale, or gives or lends any firearm lacking a serial number required by law, assault weapon, or .50 BMG rifle; (2) purchases, sells, offers to sell, or transfers ownership of any firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part; or (3) is a licensed firearms dealer and sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession or control of a firearm to any person under 21 years of age, all subject to certain exceptions, as specified. The bill would make these provisions inoperative upon invalidation of a specified law in Texas, and would repeal its provisions on January 1 of the following year.This bill would also state that all statutes regulating or prohibiting firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute regulating or prohibiting firearms, in whole or in part, unless the statute specifically states that it is repealing another statute. The bill would state that every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each application to any particular person or circumstance and that any statute found to be unconstitutional by a court shall remain enforceable as to any application that would not be unconstitutional.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Chapter 38 (commencing with Section 22949.60) is added to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, to read: CHAPTER 38. Persons Engaged in the Manufacture, Distribution, Importation, Transportation, Sale, Lease, or Transfer of Firearms and Precursor Parts CHAPTER 38. 22949.60. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the proliferation of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. All Californians are directly harmed by the proliferation of these weapons and this state has a compelling state interest in protecting its citizens from gun violence and from intimidation by persons brandishing these weapons. Further, this state has a compelling interest in enabling law enforcement authorities to trace firearms used, manufactured, distributed, or transported unlawfully.(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the proliferation of firearms to and among young people poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. Firearms are especially dangerous in the hands of young people because current research and scientific evidence show that young people are more impulsive, more likely to engage in risky and reckless behavior, unduly influenced by peer pressure, motivated more by rewards than costs or negative consequences, less likely to consider the future consequences of their actions and decisions, and less able to control themselves in emotionally arousing situations. In recognition of these facts, the Legislature has previously prohibited licensed firearm dealers from selling a firearm to a person under 21 years of age, subject to certain exemptions. This state has a compelling interest in further restricting the proliferation of firearms among those under 21 years of age.(c) The Legislature has previously restricted assault weapons based upon finding that each such firearm has such a high rate of fire and capacity for firepower that its function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings. The Legislature has also previously restricted .50 BMG rifles based upon finding that they pose a clear and present threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, because those firearms have such a high capacity for long-distance and highly destructive firepower that they pose an unacceptable risk of death and serious injury of human beings, destruction or serious damage of vital public and private buildings, civilian, police and military vehicles, power generation and transmission facilities, petrochemical production and storage facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Each of these previous findings is readopted. The Legislature further finds and declares that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and impedes law enforcement activities, and that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of firearm precursor parts and kits is contributing to the proliferation of unserialized firearms in the state.(d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to further restrict in this state the manufacture, distribution, transportation, importation, sale, lending, and transfer of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms, and further restrict the proliferation of firearms to and among those under 21 years of age, by creating new civil law prohibitions and a civil enforcement mechanism, independent of existing law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit in any way the enforceability of existing laws concerning firearms, including, but not limited to, Part 6 (commencing with Section 16000) of the Penal Code.22949.61. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:(a) .50 BMG rifle means a center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon or a machinegun. .50 BMG rifle does not include any antique firearm, nor any curio or relic, as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.(b) (1) Assault weapon means the following designated semiautomatic firearms:(A) All of the following specified rifles:(i) All AK series, including, but not limited to, the models identified as follows:(I) Made in China AK, AKM, AKS, AK47, AK47S, 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(II) Norinco 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(III) Poly Technologies AKS and AK47.(IV) MAADI AK47 and ARM.(ii) UZI and Galil.(iii) Beretta AR-70.(iv) CETME Sporter.(v) Colt AR-15 series.(vi) Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C.(vii) Fabrique Nationale FAL, LAR, FNC, 308 Match, and Sporter.(viii) MAS 223.(ix) HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, and HK-PSG-1.(x) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M11.(xi) SKS with detachable magazine.(xii) SIG AMT, PE-57, SG 550, and SG 551.(xiii) Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48.(xiv) Sterling MK-6.(xv) Steyer AUG.(xvi) Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78S.(xvii) Armalite AR-180.(xviii) Bushmaster Assault Rifle.(xix) Calico M-900.(xx) J&R ENG M-68.(xxi) Weaver Arms Nighthawk.(B) All of the following specified pistols:(i) UZI.(ii) Encom MP-9 and MP-45.(iii) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M-11.(III) Advance Armament Inc. M-11.(IV) Military Armament Corp. Ingram M-11.(V) Intratec TEC-9.(VI) Sites Spectre.(VII) Sterling MK-7.(VIII) Calico M-950.(IX) Bushmaster Pistol.(C) All of the following specified shotguns:(i) Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12.(ii) Striker 12.(iii) The Streetsweeper type S/S Inc. SS/12.(D) Any firearm declared to be an assault weapon by the court pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990, or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, which is specified as an assault weapon in a list promulgated pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991.(E) Any firearm included in the list promulgated by the Attorney General pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, and any other models that are only variations of those weapons with minor differences, regardless of the manufacturer. The Legislature has defined assault weapons as the types, series, and models listed in this paragraph because it was the most effective way to identify and restrict a specific class of semiautomatic weapons.(F) As used in this paragraph, series includes all other models that are only variations, with minor differences, of those models listed in subparagraph (A), regardless of the manufacturer.(2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), assault weapon also means any of the following:(i) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(ii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(iii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(iv) A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(II) A second handgrip.(III) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(IV) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(v) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(vi) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:(I) A folding or telescoping stock.(II) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.(vii) A semiautomatic shotgun that does not have a fixed magazine.(viii) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.(ix) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that does not have a fixed magazine, but that has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(VII) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(VIII) A second handgrip.(IX) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(X) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(x) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(xi) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, fixed magazine means an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.(C) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting from the definition of assault weapon pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of assault weapon pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subparagraph (D).(D) Assault weapon does not include either of the following:(i) Any antique firearm.(ii) Any of the following pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subparagraph (C):MANUFACTURERMODELCALIBERBENELLIMP90.22LRBENELLIMP90.32 S&W LONGBENELLIMP95.22LRBENELLIMP95.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLI280.22LRHAMMERLI280.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLISP20.22LRHAMMERLISP20.32 S&W LONGPARDINIGPO.22 SHORTPARDINIGP-SCHUMANN.22 SHORTPARDINIHP.32 S&W LONGPARDINIMP.32 S&W LONGPARDINISP.22LRPARDINISPE.22LRWALTHERGSP.22LRWALTHERGSP.32 S&W LONGWALTHEROSP.22 SHORTWALTHEROSP-2000.22 SHORT(c) Federally regulated firearm precursor part means any firearm precursor part deemed to be a firearm pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and regulations issued pursuant thereto, and that has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms in compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations. (d) Firearm means a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel, a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.(e) (1) Firearm precursor part means any forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that has reached a stage in manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled or converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or that is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled, or converted.(2) Firearm parts that can only be used on antique firearms, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 16170 of the Penal Code, are not firearm precursor parts.(f) Unserialized firearm means a firearm that does not have a serial number as required by law or has had its serial number altered or obliterated.22949.62. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, no person within this state may manufacture or cause to be manufactured, distribute, transport, or import into the state, or cause to be distributed, transported, or imported into the state, keep for sale, offer or expose for sale, or give or lend, any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or unserialized firearm, except as provided in subdivisions (e) and (f) and in Section 22949.63.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), or except by operation of law, it shall be unlawful for a person to purchase, sell, offer to sell, or transfer ownership of any firearm precursor part in this state that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part.(2) This subdivision (b) shall not apply to all of the following:(A) The purchase of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part by a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(B) The sale, offer to sell, or transfer of ownership of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part to a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or to a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(C) A common carrier licensed under state law, or a motor carrier, air carrier or carrier affiliated with an air carrier through common controlling interest that is subject to Title 49 of the United States Code, or an authorized agent of any such carrier, when acting in the course and scope of duties incident to the receipt, processing, transportation, or delivery of property.(c) (1) A person licensed under Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, of the Penal Code shall not sell, supply, deliver, or give possession or control of a firearm to any person who is under 21 years of age.(2) (A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun or a semiautomatic centerfire rifle to a person 18 years of age or older who possesses a valid, unexpired hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.(B) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun, semiautomatic centerfire rifle, completed frame or receiver, or firearm precursor part to a person who is 18 years of age or older and provides proper identification of being an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States. For purposes of this subdivision, proper identification includes an Armed Forces Identification Card or other written documentation certifying that the individual is an honorably discharged member.(C) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun to any of the following persons who are 18 years of age or older:(i) An active peace officer, as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(ii) An active federal officer or law enforcement agent who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(iii) A reserve peace officer, as described in Section 832.6 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment as a reserve peace officer.(iv) A person who provides proper identification of active membership in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States.(d) The prohibitions described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) apply whether or not the firearm or firearm precursor part is misused or is intended to be misused in a criminal or unlawful manner.(e) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to the sale of an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to, or the purchase, transport, importation, sale or other transfer, or manufacture of, an assault weapon, a .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part by, any law enforcement agency, public entity that employs peace officers, or any authorized law enforcement representative thereof, if that person or entity is not prohibited by law from possessing an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part, including, without limitation, the Department of Justice, a police department or sheriffs or marshals office, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, a district attorneys office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Cannabis Control, the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, a law enforcement or military agency of another state, any federal law enforcement agency, or any foreign government or agency approved by the United States Department of State, for use in the discharge of the official duties of such entities.(f) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle registered under Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or that was possessed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 30630 of the Penal Code, or a firearm assigned a serial number pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, that is disposed of as authorized by the probate court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500), of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.22949.63. (a) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may take possession of any assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle from any person to whom it is legally registered or who has been issued a permit to possess it pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or of any firearm precursor part, for the purposes of servicing or repair.(b) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may transfer possession of any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part received pursuant to subdivision (a), to a gunsmith for purposes of repairing or servicing that weapon. A transfer is permissible only to the following persons:(1) A gunsmith employed the dealer.(2) A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for gunsmithing services.(c) Paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) applies only if the gunsmith receiving the assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part meets both of the following qualifications:(1) The gunsmith holds a dealer license issued pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.(2) The gunsmith holds any business license required by a state or local governmental entity.(d) In addition to the uses permitted in Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) of, and Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of, Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, any licensed gun dealer who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part pursuant to those provisions may do either of the following:(1) Transport the firearm or firearm precursor part between dealers or out of the state if that person is permitted pursuant to the National Firearms Act. Any transporting allowed by this section or Section 22949.62 shall be in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code.(2) Sell the firearm or firearm precursor part to a resident outside the state.(e) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any individual may, provided that the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is transported in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code, do any of the following:(1) Arrange in advance to relinquish an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to a police or sheriffs department.(2) Sell, deliver, or transfer an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to an authorized representative of a city, city and county, county, or state government, or of the federal government, provided that the entity is acquiring the weapon as part of an authorized, voluntary program in which the entity is buying or receiving weapons from private individuals.(3) Transfer, relinquish, or dispose of a firearm or precursor part in compliance with the requirements of Section 29810 or Section 29830 of the Penal Code.22949.64. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the requirements of this chapter shall be enforced exclusively through the private civil actions described in Section 22949.65. No enforcement of this chapter may be taken or threatened by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65.(b) The fact that conduct violates this chapter shall not be an independent basis for enforcement of any other law of this state, or the denial, revocation, suspension, or withholding of any right or privilege conferred by the law of this state or a political subdivision, or a threat to do the same, by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision, or a board, commission, or similar body assigned authority to do so under law, against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65. Nor shall any civil action predicated upon a violation of this chapter be brought by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision. For avoidance of doubt, the rights and privileges described by this subdivision include, but are not limited to, any business licenses and permits issued pursuant to this code or any firearms, ammunition, or precursor parts dealer or vendor licenses issued pursuant to Title 4 (commencing with Section 23500) of Part 6 of the Penal Code. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent or limit enforcement of any other law regulating conduct that also violates this chapter, including, but not limited to, Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not be construed to do any of the following:(1) Legalize the conduct prohibited by this chapter or by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(2) Waive any requirements prescribed in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(3) Limit or affect the availability of a remedy established by Section 22949.65.(4) Limit the enforceability of any other laws that regulate or prohibit any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts.22949.65. (a) Any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity in this state, may bring a civil action against any person who does any of the following:(1) Knowingly violates Section 22949.62.(2) Knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets a violation of Section 22949.62, regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the person aided or abetted would be violating Section 22949.62.(3) Knowingly commits an act with the intent to engage in the conduct described by paragraph (1) or (2).(b) If a claimant prevails in an action brought under this section, the court shall award all of the following:(1) Injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating this chapter or engaging in acts that aid or abet violations of this chapter.(2) (A) (i) Statutory damages in an amount of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated Section 22949.62, and for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant aided or abetted a violation of Section 22949.62.(ii) This subparagraph shall remain in effect unless found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, in which case this subparagraph is repealed and subparagraph (B) shall become operational.(B) (i) A civil penalty in an appropriate amount to be determined by the court for each violation of this chapter. In making that determination, the court shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, the number of firearms or precursor parts involved in the defendants violation of this chapter, the duration of the prohibited conduct, whether the defendant has previously violated this chapter or any other federal, state, or local law concerning the regulation of firearms, and any other factors tending to increase the risk to the public, such as proximity of the violations to sensitive places.(ii) This subparagraph shall become effective only if a court finds subparagraph (A) to be invalid or unconstitutional.(3) Attorneys fees and costs.(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a court shall not award relief under this section in response to a violation of subdivision (a) if the defendant demonstrates that the defendant previously paid the full amount of any monetary award under subdivision (b) in a previous action for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated, or aided or abetted a violation of, Section 22949.62.(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a cause of action under this section shall be extinguished unless the action is brought not later than four years after the cause of action accrues.(e) An act or omission in violation of Section 22949.62 shall be deemed an injury in fact to all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and any such person shall have standing to bring a civil action pursuant to this section.(f) Notwithstanding any other law, none of the following is a defense to an action brought under this section:(1) A defendants ignorance or mistake of law.(2) A defendants belief that the requirements of this chapter are unconstitutional or were unconstitutional.(3) A defendants reliance on any court decision that has been overruled on appeal or by a subsequent court, even if that court decision had not been overruled when the defendant engaged in conduct that violates this chapter.(4) A defendants reliance on any state or federal court decision that is not binding on the court in which the action has been brought.(5) Nonmutual issue preclusion or nonmutual claim preclusion.(6) Any claim that the enforcement of this chapter or the imposition of civil liability against the defendant will violate a constitutional right of a third party.(7) A defendants assertion that this chapter proscribes conduct that is separately prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state, or that this chapter proscribes conduct beyond that which is already prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state.(8) Any claim that the firearm or firearm precursor part at issue was not misused, or was not intended to be misused, in a criminal or unlawful manner.(g) (1) Both of the following are affirmative defenses to an action brought under this section:(A) A person sued under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person aided or abetted was complying with this chapter.(B) A person sued under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person was complying with this chapter or was aiding or abetting another who was complying with this chapter.(2) The defendant has the burden of proving an affirmative defense under this subdivision by a preponderance of the evidence.(h) This section shall not be construed to impose liability on any speech or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, or by Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.(i) Notwithstanding any other law, this state, a state official, or a district, county, or city attorney shall not intervene in an action brought under this section. However, this subdivision does not prohibit a person described by this subdivision from filing an amicus curiae brief in the action.(j) Notwithstanding any other law, a court shall not award attorneys fees or costs to a defendant in an action brought under this section.(k) An action pursuant to this section shall not be brought against a federal government, state, political subdivision, or an employee of a federal government, state, or political subdivision on the basis of acts or omissions in the course of discharge of official duties.22949.66. (a) A defendant against whom an action is brought under Section 22949.65 does not have standing to assert the right of another individual to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as a defense to liability under that section unless either of the following is true:(1) The United States Supreme Court holds that the courts of this state must confer standing on that defendant to assert the third-party rights of other individuals in state court as a matter of federal constitutional law.(2) The defendant has standing to assert the rights of other individuals under the tests for third-party standing established by the United States Supreme Court.(b) A defendant in an action brought under Section 22949.65 may assert an affirmative defense to liability under this section if both of the following are true:(1) The defendant has standing to assert the third-party right of an individual to keep and bear arms in accordance with subdivision (a).(2) The defendant demonstrates that the relief sought by the claimant will violate a third-partys rights under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution right as defined by clearly established case law of the United States Supreme Court.(c) Nothing in this section shall in any way limit or preclude a defendant from asserting the defendants personal constitutional rights as a defense to liability under Section 22949.65, and a court shall not award relief under Section 22949.65 if the conduct for which the defendant has been sued was an exercise of a state or federal constitutional right that personally belongs to the defendant.22949.67. This chapter shall not be construed to do any of the following:(a) Authorize the initiation of a cause of action under this chapter against a person purchasing, obtaining, or attempting to purchase or obtain an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part from a person acting in violation of this chapter.(b) Wholly or partly repeal, either expressly or by implication, any other statute that regulates or prohibits any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts, including, but not limited to, Chapters 1.5 and 2 (commencing with Sections 30400 and 30500, respectively) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting conduct relating to assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, unserialized firearms, or firearm precursor parts in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state.22949.68. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a civil action brought under Section 22949.65 shall be brought in any of the following:(1) The county in which all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred.(2) The county of residence for any one of the natural person defendants at the time the cause of action accrued.(3) The county of the principal office in this state of any one of the defendants that is not a natural person.(4) The county of residence for the claimant if the claimant is a natural person residing in this state.(b) Notwithstanding any other law, if a civil action is brought under Section 22949.65 in one of the venues described by subdivision (a), the action shall not be transferred to a different venue without the written consent of all parties.22949.69. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, this state has sovereign immunity, a political subdivision has governmental immunity, and each officer and employee of this state or a political subdivision has official immunity in any action, claim, or counterclaim or any type of legal or equitable action that challenges the validity of any provision or application of this chapter, on constitutional grounds or otherwise.(b) A provision of state law shall not be construed to waive or abrogate an immunity described by subdivision (a) unless it expressly waives immunity under this section.22949.70. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that every provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word in this chapter, and every application of the provisions in this chapter, are severable from each other.(b) If any application of any provision in this chapter to any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining applications of that provision to all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and shall not be affected. All constitutionally valid applications of this chapter shall be severed from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, leaving the valid applications in force, because it is the Legislatures intent and priority that the valid applications be allowed to stand alone. Even if a reviewing court finds a provision of this chapter to impose an unconstitutional burden in a large or substantial fraction of relevant cases, the applications that do not present an unconstitutional burden shall be severed from the remaining applications and shall remain in force, and shall be treated as if the Legislature had enacted a statute limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application does not present an unconstitutional burden. If any court declares or finds a provision of this chapter facially unconstitutional, when discrete applications of that provision can be enforced against a person, group of persons, or circumstances without violating the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, those applications shall be severed from all remaining applications of the provision, and the provision shall be interpreted as if the Legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the provisions application will not violate the United States Constitution and the California Constitution.(c) The Legislature further declares that it would have enacted this chapter, and each provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word, and all constitutional applications of this chapter, irrespective of the fact that any provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or word, or application of this chapter, were to be declared unconstitutional or to represent an unconstitutional burden.(d) If any provision of this chapter is found by any court to be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems shall be severed and remain in force.(e) A court shall not decline to enforce the severability requirements of this section on the ground that severance would rewrite the statute or involve the court in legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory provision of this chapter does not rewrite a statute, as the statute continues to contain the same words as before the courts decision. Each of the following is true about a judicial injunction or declaration of unconstitutionality of a provision of this chapter:(1) It is nothing more than an edict prohibiting enforcement that may subsequently be vacated by a later court if that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the California Constitution or the United States Constitution.(2) It is not a formal amendment of the language in a statute.(3) It no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the executive not to enforce a duly-enacted statute in a limited and defined set of circumstances.22949.71. This chapter shall become inoperative upon invalidation of Subchapter H (commencing with Section 171.201) of Chapter 171 of the Texas Health and Safety Code in its entirety by a final decision of the United States Supreme Court or Texas Supreme Court, and is repealed on January 1 of the following year.SEC. 2. Section 1021.11 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, to read:1021.11. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief to prevent this state, a political subdivision, a governmental entity or public official in this state, or a person in this state from enforcing any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or any other type of law that regulates or restricts firearms, or that represents any litigant seeking that relief, is jointly and severally liable to pay the attorneys fees and costs of the prevailing party.(b) For purposes of this section, a party is considered a prevailing party if a court does either of the following:(1) Dismisses any claim or cause of action brought by the party seeking the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), regardless of the reason for the dismissal.(2) Enters judgment in favor of the party opposing the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), on any claim or cause of action.(c) Regardless of whether a prevailing party sought to recover attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action, a prevailing party under this section may bring a civil action to recover attorneys fees and costs against a person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, that sought declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a) not later than the third anniversary of the date on which, as applicable:(1) The dismissal or judgment described by subdivision (b) becomes final upon the conclusion of appellate review.(2) The time for seeking appellate review expires.(d) None of the following are a defense to an action brought under subdivision (c):(1) A prevailing party under this section failed to seek recovery of attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action.(2) The court in the underlying action declined to recognize or enforce the requirements of this section.(3) The court in the underlying action held that any provision of this section is invalid, unconstitutional, or preempted by federal law, notwithstanding the doctrines of issue or claim preclusion.(e) Any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief as described in subdivision (a), shall not be deemed a prevailing party under this section or any other provision of this chapter.SEC. 3. (a) A statute that regulates or prohibits firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute that regulates or prohibits firearms, either wholly or partly, unless the later-enacted statute explicitly states that it is repealing the other statute.(b) A statute shall not be construed to restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting firearms in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state, unless the statute explicitly states that political subdivisions are prohibited from regulating or prohibiting firearms in the manner described by the statute.(c) Every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each of its applications to every person and circumstance. If any statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is found by any court to be unconstitutional, either on its face or as applied, then all applications of that statute that do not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution shall be severed from the unconstitutional applications and shall remain enforceable, notwithstanding any other law, and the statute shall be interpreted as if containing language limiting the statutes application to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application will not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution.
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3- Senate Bill No. 1327 CHAPTER 146 An act to add and repeal Chapter 38 (commencing with Section 22949.60) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, and to add Section 1021.11 to the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to firearms. [ Approved by Governor July 22, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State July 22, 2022. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1327, Hertzberg. Firearms: private rights of action. Existing law provides that, with certain exceptions, any person who, within this state, manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives or lends any assault weapon or any .50 BMG rifle, as defined, is guilty of a felony. Existing law also provides that, subject to certain exceptions, a person, corporation, or dealer who sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession of a firearm precursor part, as defined, is guilty of a crime.This bill would create a private right of action for any person against any person who, within this state, (1) manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, or causes to be distributed or transported or imported into the state, keeps for sale or offers or exposes for sale, or gives or lends any firearm lacking a serial number required by law, assault weapon, or .50 BMG rifle; (2) purchases, sells, offers to sell, or transfers ownership of any firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part; or (3) is a licensed firearms dealer and sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession or control of a firearm to any person under 21 years of age, all subject to certain exceptions, as specified. The bill would make these provisions inoperative upon invalidation of a specified law in Texas, and would repeal its provisions on January 1 of the following year.This bill would also state that all statutes regulating or prohibiting firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute regulating or prohibiting firearms, in whole or in part, unless the statute specifically states that it is repealing another statute. The bill would state that every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each application to any particular person or circumstance and that any statute found to be unconstitutional by a court shall remain enforceable as to any application that would not be unconstitutional.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
3+ Enrolled July 01, 2022 Passed IN Senate June 29, 2022 Passed IN Assembly June 27, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 23, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 15, 2022 Amended IN Senate April 07, 2022 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1327Introduced by Senators Hertzberg and Portantino(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Ting)(Coauthors: Senators Becker, Laird, and Stern)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Luz Rivas, and Ward)February 18, 2022 An act to add and repeal Chapter 38 (commencing with Section 22949.60) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, and to add Section 1021.11 to the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to firearms. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1327, Hertzberg. Firearms: private rights of action. Existing law provides that, with certain exceptions, any person who, within this state, manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives or lends any assault weapon or any .50 BMG rifle, as defined, is guilty of a felony. Existing law also provides that, subject to certain exceptions, a person, corporation, or dealer who sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession of a firearm precursor part, as defined, is guilty of a crime.This bill would create a private right of action for any person against any person who, within this state, (1) manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, or causes to be distributed or transported or imported into the state, keeps for sale or offers or exposes for sale, or gives or lends any firearm lacking a serial number required by law, assault weapon, or .50 BMG rifle; (2) purchases, sells, offers to sell, or transfers ownership of any firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part; or (3) is a licensed firearms dealer and sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession or control of a firearm to any person under 21 years of age, all subject to certain exceptions, as specified. The bill would make these provisions inoperative upon invalidation of a specified law in Texas, and would repeal its provisions on January 1 of the following year.This bill would also state that all statutes regulating or prohibiting firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute regulating or prohibiting firearms, in whole or in part, unless the statute specifically states that it is repealing another statute. The bill would state that every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each application to any particular person or circumstance and that any statute found to be unconstitutional by a court shall remain enforceable as to any application that would not be unconstitutional.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
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5- Senate Bill No. 1327 CHAPTER 146
5+ Enrolled July 01, 2022 Passed IN Senate June 29, 2022 Passed IN Assembly June 27, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 23, 2022 Amended IN Assembly June 15, 2022 Amended IN Senate April 07, 2022
66
7- Senate Bill No. 1327
7+Enrolled July 01, 2022
8+Passed IN Senate June 29, 2022
9+Passed IN Assembly June 27, 2022
10+Amended IN Assembly June 23, 2022
11+Amended IN Assembly June 15, 2022
12+Amended IN Senate April 07, 2022
813
9- CHAPTER 146
14+ CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION
15+
16+ Senate Bill
17+
18+No. 1327
19+
20+Introduced by Senators Hertzberg and Portantino(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Ting)(Coauthors: Senators Becker, Laird, and Stern)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Luz Rivas, and Ward)February 18, 2022
21+
22+Introduced by Senators Hertzberg and Portantino(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Ting)(Coauthors: Senators Becker, Laird, and Stern)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Luz Rivas, and Ward)
23+February 18, 2022
1024
1125 An act to add and repeal Chapter 38 (commencing with Section 22949.60) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, and to add Section 1021.11 to the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to firearms.
12-
13- [ Approved by Governor July 22, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State July 22, 2022. ]
1426
1527 LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
1628
1729 ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
1830
1931 SB 1327, Hertzberg. Firearms: private rights of action.
2032
2133 Existing law provides that, with certain exceptions, any person who, within this state, manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives or lends any assault weapon or any .50 BMG rifle, as defined, is guilty of a felony. Existing law also provides that, subject to certain exceptions, a person, corporation, or dealer who sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession of a firearm precursor part, as defined, is guilty of a crime.This bill would create a private right of action for any person against any person who, within this state, (1) manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, or causes to be distributed or transported or imported into the state, keeps for sale or offers or exposes for sale, or gives or lends any firearm lacking a serial number required by law, assault weapon, or .50 BMG rifle; (2) purchases, sells, offers to sell, or transfers ownership of any firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part; or (3) is a licensed firearms dealer and sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession or control of a firearm to any person under 21 years of age, all subject to certain exceptions, as specified. The bill would make these provisions inoperative upon invalidation of a specified law in Texas, and would repeal its provisions on January 1 of the following year.This bill would also state that all statutes regulating or prohibiting firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute regulating or prohibiting firearms, in whole or in part, unless the statute specifically states that it is repealing another statute. The bill would state that every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each application to any particular person or circumstance and that any statute found to be unconstitutional by a court shall remain enforceable as to any application that would not be unconstitutional.
2234
2335 Existing law provides that, with certain exceptions, any person who, within this state, manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives or lends any assault weapon or any .50 BMG rifle, as defined, is guilty of a felony. Existing law also provides that, subject to certain exceptions, a person, corporation, or dealer who sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession of a firearm precursor part, as defined, is guilty of a crime.
2436
2537 This bill would create a private right of action for any person against any person who, within this state, (1) manufactures or causes to be manufactured, distributes, transports, or imports into the state, or causes to be distributed or transported or imported into the state, keeps for sale or offers or exposes for sale, or gives or lends any firearm lacking a serial number required by law, assault weapon, or .50 BMG rifle; (2) purchases, sells, offers to sell, or transfers ownership of any firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part; or (3) is a licensed firearms dealer and sells, supplies, delivers, or gives possession or control of a firearm to any person under 21 years of age, all subject to certain exceptions, as specified. The bill would make these provisions inoperative upon invalidation of a specified law in Texas, and would repeal its provisions on January 1 of the following year.
2638
2739 This bill would also state that all statutes regulating or prohibiting firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute regulating or prohibiting firearms, in whole or in part, unless the statute specifically states that it is repealing another statute. The bill would state that every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each application to any particular person or circumstance and that any statute found to be unconstitutional by a court shall remain enforceable as to any application that would not be unconstitutional.
2840
2941 ## Digest Key
3042
3143 ## Bill Text
3244
3345 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Chapter 38 (commencing with Section 22949.60) is added to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, to read: CHAPTER 38. Persons Engaged in the Manufacture, Distribution, Importation, Transportation, Sale, Lease, or Transfer of Firearms and Precursor Parts CHAPTER 38. 22949.60. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the proliferation of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. All Californians are directly harmed by the proliferation of these weapons and this state has a compelling state interest in protecting its citizens from gun violence and from intimidation by persons brandishing these weapons. Further, this state has a compelling interest in enabling law enforcement authorities to trace firearms used, manufactured, distributed, or transported unlawfully.(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the proliferation of firearms to and among young people poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. Firearms are especially dangerous in the hands of young people because current research and scientific evidence show that young people are more impulsive, more likely to engage in risky and reckless behavior, unduly influenced by peer pressure, motivated more by rewards than costs or negative consequences, less likely to consider the future consequences of their actions and decisions, and less able to control themselves in emotionally arousing situations. In recognition of these facts, the Legislature has previously prohibited licensed firearm dealers from selling a firearm to a person under 21 years of age, subject to certain exemptions. This state has a compelling interest in further restricting the proliferation of firearms among those under 21 years of age.(c) The Legislature has previously restricted assault weapons based upon finding that each such firearm has such a high rate of fire and capacity for firepower that its function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings. The Legislature has also previously restricted .50 BMG rifles based upon finding that they pose a clear and present threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, because those firearms have such a high capacity for long-distance and highly destructive firepower that they pose an unacceptable risk of death and serious injury of human beings, destruction or serious damage of vital public and private buildings, civilian, police and military vehicles, power generation and transmission facilities, petrochemical production and storage facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Each of these previous findings is readopted. The Legislature further finds and declares that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and impedes law enforcement activities, and that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of firearm precursor parts and kits is contributing to the proliferation of unserialized firearms in the state.(d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to further restrict in this state the manufacture, distribution, transportation, importation, sale, lending, and transfer of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms, and further restrict the proliferation of firearms to and among those under 21 years of age, by creating new civil law prohibitions and a civil enforcement mechanism, independent of existing law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit in any way the enforceability of existing laws concerning firearms, including, but not limited to, Part 6 (commencing with Section 16000) of the Penal Code.22949.61. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:(a) .50 BMG rifle means a center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon or a machinegun. .50 BMG rifle does not include any antique firearm, nor any curio or relic, as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.(b) (1) Assault weapon means the following designated semiautomatic firearms:(A) All of the following specified rifles:(i) All AK series, including, but not limited to, the models identified as follows:(I) Made in China AK, AKM, AKS, AK47, AK47S, 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(II) Norinco 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(III) Poly Technologies AKS and AK47.(IV) MAADI AK47 and ARM.(ii) UZI and Galil.(iii) Beretta AR-70.(iv) CETME Sporter.(v) Colt AR-15 series.(vi) Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C.(vii) Fabrique Nationale FAL, LAR, FNC, 308 Match, and Sporter.(viii) MAS 223.(ix) HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, and HK-PSG-1.(x) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M11.(xi) SKS with detachable magazine.(xii) SIG AMT, PE-57, SG 550, and SG 551.(xiii) Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48.(xiv) Sterling MK-6.(xv) Steyer AUG.(xvi) Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78S.(xvii) Armalite AR-180.(xviii) Bushmaster Assault Rifle.(xix) Calico M-900.(xx) J&R ENG M-68.(xxi) Weaver Arms Nighthawk.(B) All of the following specified pistols:(i) UZI.(ii) Encom MP-9 and MP-45.(iii) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M-11.(III) Advance Armament Inc. M-11.(IV) Military Armament Corp. Ingram M-11.(V) Intratec TEC-9.(VI) Sites Spectre.(VII) Sterling MK-7.(VIII) Calico M-950.(IX) Bushmaster Pistol.(C) All of the following specified shotguns:(i) Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12.(ii) Striker 12.(iii) The Streetsweeper type S/S Inc. SS/12.(D) Any firearm declared to be an assault weapon by the court pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990, or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, which is specified as an assault weapon in a list promulgated pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991.(E) Any firearm included in the list promulgated by the Attorney General pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, and any other models that are only variations of those weapons with minor differences, regardless of the manufacturer. The Legislature has defined assault weapons as the types, series, and models listed in this paragraph because it was the most effective way to identify and restrict a specific class of semiautomatic weapons.(F) As used in this paragraph, series includes all other models that are only variations, with minor differences, of those models listed in subparagraph (A), regardless of the manufacturer.(2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), assault weapon also means any of the following:(i) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(ii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(iii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(iv) A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(II) A second handgrip.(III) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(IV) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(v) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(vi) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:(I) A folding or telescoping stock.(II) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.(vii) A semiautomatic shotgun that does not have a fixed magazine.(viii) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.(ix) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that does not have a fixed magazine, but that has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(VII) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(VIII) A second handgrip.(IX) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(X) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(x) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(xi) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, fixed magazine means an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.(C) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting from the definition of assault weapon pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of assault weapon pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subparagraph (D).(D) Assault weapon does not include either of the following:(i) Any antique firearm.(ii) Any of the following pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subparagraph (C):MANUFACTURERMODELCALIBERBENELLIMP90.22LRBENELLIMP90.32 S&W LONGBENELLIMP95.22LRBENELLIMP95.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLI280.22LRHAMMERLI280.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLISP20.22LRHAMMERLISP20.32 S&W LONGPARDINIGPO.22 SHORTPARDINIGP-SCHUMANN.22 SHORTPARDINIHP.32 S&W LONGPARDINIMP.32 S&W LONGPARDINISP.22LRPARDINISPE.22LRWALTHERGSP.22LRWALTHERGSP.32 S&W LONGWALTHEROSP.22 SHORTWALTHEROSP-2000.22 SHORT(c) Federally regulated firearm precursor part means any firearm precursor part deemed to be a firearm pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and regulations issued pursuant thereto, and that has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms in compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations. (d) Firearm means a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel, a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.(e) (1) Firearm precursor part means any forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that has reached a stage in manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled or converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or that is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled, or converted.(2) Firearm parts that can only be used on antique firearms, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 16170 of the Penal Code, are not firearm precursor parts.(f) Unserialized firearm means a firearm that does not have a serial number as required by law or has had its serial number altered or obliterated.22949.62. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, no person within this state may manufacture or cause to be manufactured, distribute, transport, or import into the state, or cause to be distributed, transported, or imported into the state, keep for sale, offer or expose for sale, or give or lend, any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or unserialized firearm, except as provided in subdivisions (e) and (f) and in Section 22949.63.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), or except by operation of law, it shall be unlawful for a person to purchase, sell, offer to sell, or transfer ownership of any firearm precursor part in this state that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part.(2) This subdivision (b) shall not apply to all of the following:(A) The purchase of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part by a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(B) The sale, offer to sell, or transfer of ownership of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part to a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or to a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(C) A common carrier licensed under state law, or a motor carrier, air carrier or carrier affiliated with an air carrier through common controlling interest that is subject to Title 49 of the United States Code, or an authorized agent of any such carrier, when acting in the course and scope of duties incident to the receipt, processing, transportation, or delivery of property.(c) (1) A person licensed under Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, of the Penal Code shall not sell, supply, deliver, or give possession or control of a firearm to any person who is under 21 years of age.(2) (A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun or a semiautomatic centerfire rifle to a person 18 years of age or older who possesses a valid, unexpired hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.(B) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun, semiautomatic centerfire rifle, completed frame or receiver, or firearm precursor part to a person who is 18 years of age or older and provides proper identification of being an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States. For purposes of this subdivision, proper identification includes an Armed Forces Identification Card or other written documentation certifying that the individual is an honorably discharged member.(C) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun to any of the following persons who are 18 years of age or older:(i) An active peace officer, as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(ii) An active federal officer or law enforcement agent who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(iii) A reserve peace officer, as described in Section 832.6 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment as a reserve peace officer.(iv) A person who provides proper identification of active membership in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States.(d) The prohibitions described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) apply whether or not the firearm or firearm precursor part is misused or is intended to be misused in a criminal or unlawful manner.(e) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to the sale of an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to, or the purchase, transport, importation, sale or other transfer, or manufacture of, an assault weapon, a .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part by, any law enforcement agency, public entity that employs peace officers, or any authorized law enforcement representative thereof, if that person or entity is not prohibited by law from possessing an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part, including, without limitation, the Department of Justice, a police department or sheriffs or marshals office, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, a district attorneys office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Cannabis Control, the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, a law enforcement or military agency of another state, any federal law enforcement agency, or any foreign government or agency approved by the United States Department of State, for use in the discharge of the official duties of such entities.(f) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle registered under Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or that was possessed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 30630 of the Penal Code, or a firearm assigned a serial number pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, that is disposed of as authorized by the probate court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500), of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.22949.63. (a) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may take possession of any assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle from any person to whom it is legally registered or who has been issued a permit to possess it pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or of any firearm precursor part, for the purposes of servicing or repair.(b) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may transfer possession of any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part received pursuant to subdivision (a), to a gunsmith for purposes of repairing or servicing that weapon. A transfer is permissible only to the following persons:(1) A gunsmith employed the dealer.(2) A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for gunsmithing services.(c) Paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) applies only if the gunsmith receiving the assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part meets both of the following qualifications:(1) The gunsmith holds a dealer license issued pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.(2) The gunsmith holds any business license required by a state or local governmental entity.(d) In addition to the uses permitted in Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) of, and Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of, Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, any licensed gun dealer who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part pursuant to those provisions may do either of the following:(1) Transport the firearm or firearm precursor part between dealers or out of the state if that person is permitted pursuant to the National Firearms Act. Any transporting allowed by this section or Section 22949.62 shall be in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code.(2) Sell the firearm or firearm precursor part to a resident outside the state.(e) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any individual may, provided that the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is transported in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code, do any of the following:(1) Arrange in advance to relinquish an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to a police or sheriffs department.(2) Sell, deliver, or transfer an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to an authorized representative of a city, city and county, county, or state government, or of the federal government, provided that the entity is acquiring the weapon as part of an authorized, voluntary program in which the entity is buying or receiving weapons from private individuals.(3) Transfer, relinquish, or dispose of a firearm or precursor part in compliance with the requirements of Section 29810 or Section 29830 of the Penal Code.22949.64. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the requirements of this chapter shall be enforced exclusively through the private civil actions described in Section 22949.65. No enforcement of this chapter may be taken or threatened by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65.(b) The fact that conduct violates this chapter shall not be an independent basis for enforcement of any other law of this state, or the denial, revocation, suspension, or withholding of any right or privilege conferred by the law of this state or a political subdivision, or a threat to do the same, by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision, or a board, commission, or similar body assigned authority to do so under law, against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65. Nor shall any civil action predicated upon a violation of this chapter be brought by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision. For avoidance of doubt, the rights and privileges described by this subdivision include, but are not limited to, any business licenses and permits issued pursuant to this code or any firearms, ammunition, or precursor parts dealer or vendor licenses issued pursuant to Title 4 (commencing with Section 23500) of Part 6 of the Penal Code. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent or limit enforcement of any other law regulating conduct that also violates this chapter, including, but not limited to, Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not be construed to do any of the following:(1) Legalize the conduct prohibited by this chapter or by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(2) Waive any requirements prescribed in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(3) Limit or affect the availability of a remedy established by Section 22949.65.(4) Limit the enforceability of any other laws that regulate or prohibit any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts.22949.65. (a) Any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity in this state, may bring a civil action against any person who does any of the following:(1) Knowingly violates Section 22949.62.(2) Knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets a violation of Section 22949.62, regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the person aided or abetted would be violating Section 22949.62.(3) Knowingly commits an act with the intent to engage in the conduct described by paragraph (1) or (2).(b) If a claimant prevails in an action brought under this section, the court shall award all of the following:(1) Injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating this chapter or engaging in acts that aid or abet violations of this chapter.(2) (A) (i) Statutory damages in an amount of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated Section 22949.62, and for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant aided or abetted a violation of Section 22949.62.(ii) This subparagraph shall remain in effect unless found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, in which case this subparagraph is repealed and subparagraph (B) shall become operational.(B) (i) A civil penalty in an appropriate amount to be determined by the court for each violation of this chapter. In making that determination, the court shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, the number of firearms or precursor parts involved in the defendants violation of this chapter, the duration of the prohibited conduct, whether the defendant has previously violated this chapter or any other federal, state, or local law concerning the regulation of firearms, and any other factors tending to increase the risk to the public, such as proximity of the violations to sensitive places.(ii) This subparagraph shall become effective only if a court finds subparagraph (A) to be invalid or unconstitutional.(3) Attorneys fees and costs.(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a court shall not award relief under this section in response to a violation of subdivision (a) if the defendant demonstrates that the defendant previously paid the full amount of any monetary award under subdivision (b) in a previous action for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated, or aided or abetted a violation of, Section 22949.62.(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a cause of action under this section shall be extinguished unless the action is brought not later than four years after the cause of action accrues.(e) An act or omission in violation of Section 22949.62 shall be deemed an injury in fact to all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and any such person shall have standing to bring a civil action pursuant to this section.(f) Notwithstanding any other law, none of the following is a defense to an action brought under this section:(1) A defendants ignorance or mistake of law.(2) A defendants belief that the requirements of this chapter are unconstitutional or were unconstitutional.(3) A defendants reliance on any court decision that has been overruled on appeal or by a subsequent court, even if that court decision had not been overruled when the defendant engaged in conduct that violates this chapter.(4) A defendants reliance on any state or federal court decision that is not binding on the court in which the action has been brought.(5) Nonmutual issue preclusion or nonmutual claim preclusion.(6) Any claim that the enforcement of this chapter or the imposition of civil liability against the defendant will violate a constitutional right of a third party.(7) A defendants assertion that this chapter proscribes conduct that is separately prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state, or that this chapter proscribes conduct beyond that which is already prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state.(8) Any claim that the firearm or firearm precursor part at issue was not misused, or was not intended to be misused, in a criminal or unlawful manner.(g) (1) Both of the following are affirmative defenses to an action brought under this section:(A) A person sued under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person aided or abetted was complying with this chapter.(B) A person sued under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person was complying with this chapter or was aiding or abetting another who was complying with this chapter.(2) The defendant has the burden of proving an affirmative defense under this subdivision by a preponderance of the evidence.(h) This section shall not be construed to impose liability on any speech or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, or by Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.(i) Notwithstanding any other law, this state, a state official, or a district, county, or city attorney shall not intervene in an action brought under this section. However, this subdivision does not prohibit a person described by this subdivision from filing an amicus curiae brief in the action.(j) Notwithstanding any other law, a court shall not award attorneys fees or costs to a defendant in an action brought under this section.(k) An action pursuant to this section shall not be brought against a federal government, state, political subdivision, or an employee of a federal government, state, or political subdivision on the basis of acts or omissions in the course of discharge of official duties.22949.66. (a) A defendant against whom an action is brought under Section 22949.65 does not have standing to assert the right of another individual to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as a defense to liability under that section unless either of the following is true:(1) The United States Supreme Court holds that the courts of this state must confer standing on that defendant to assert the third-party rights of other individuals in state court as a matter of federal constitutional law.(2) The defendant has standing to assert the rights of other individuals under the tests for third-party standing established by the United States Supreme Court.(b) A defendant in an action brought under Section 22949.65 may assert an affirmative defense to liability under this section if both of the following are true:(1) The defendant has standing to assert the third-party right of an individual to keep and bear arms in accordance with subdivision (a).(2) The defendant demonstrates that the relief sought by the claimant will violate a third-partys rights under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution right as defined by clearly established case law of the United States Supreme Court.(c) Nothing in this section shall in any way limit or preclude a defendant from asserting the defendants personal constitutional rights as a defense to liability under Section 22949.65, and a court shall not award relief under Section 22949.65 if the conduct for which the defendant has been sued was an exercise of a state or federal constitutional right that personally belongs to the defendant.22949.67. This chapter shall not be construed to do any of the following:(a) Authorize the initiation of a cause of action under this chapter against a person purchasing, obtaining, or attempting to purchase or obtain an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part from a person acting in violation of this chapter.(b) Wholly or partly repeal, either expressly or by implication, any other statute that regulates or prohibits any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts, including, but not limited to, Chapters 1.5 and 2 (commencing with Sections 30400 and 30500, respectively) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting conduct relating to assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, unserialized firearms, or firearm precursor parts in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state.22949.68. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a civil action brought under Section 22949.65 shall be brought in any of the following:(1) The county in which all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred.(2) The county of residence for any one of the natural person defendants at the time the cause of action accrued.(3) The county of the principal office in this state of any one of the defendants that is not a natural person.(4) The county of residence for the claimant if the claimant is a natural person residing in this state.(b) Notwithstanding any other law, if a civil action is brought under Section 22949.65 in one of the venues described by subdivision (a), the action shall not be transferred to a different venue without the written consent of all parties.22949.69. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, this state has sovereign immunity, a political subdivision has governmental immunity, and each officer and employee of this state or a political subdivision has official immunity in any action, claim, or counterclaim or any type of legal or equitable action that challenges the validity of any provision or application of this chapter, on constitutional grounds or otherwise.(b) A provision of state law shall not be construed to waive or abrogate an immunity described by subdivision (a) unless it expressly waives immunity under this section.22949.70. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that every provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word in this chapter, and every application of the provisions in this chapter, are severable from each other.(b) If any application of any provision in this chapter to any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining applications of that provision to all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and shall not be affected. All constitutionally valid applications of this chapter shall be severed from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, leaving the valid applications in force, because it is the Legislatures intent and priority that the valid applications be allowed to stand alone. Even if a reviewing court finds a provision of this chapter to impose an unconstitutional burden in a large or substantial fraction of relevant cases, the applications that do not present an unconstitutional burden shall be severed from the remaining applications and shall remain in force, and shall be treated as if the Legislature had enacted a statute limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application does not present an unconstitutional burden. If any court declares or finds a provision of this chapter facially unconstitutional, when discrete applications of that provision can be enforced against a person, group of persons, or circumstances without violating the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, those applications shall be severed from all remaining applications of the provision, and the provision shall be interpreted as if the Legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the provisions application will not violate the United States Constitution and the California Constitution.(c) The Legislature further declares that it would have enacted this chapter, and each provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word, and all constitutional applications of this chapter, irrespective of the fact that any provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or word, or application of this chapter, were to be declared unconstitutional or to represent an unconstitutional burden.(d) If any provision of this chapter is found by any court to be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems shall be severed and remain in force.(e) A court shall not decline to enforce the severability requirements of this section on the ground that severance would rewrite the statute or involve the court in legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory provision of this chapter does not rewrite a statute, as the statute continues to contain the same words as before the courts decision. Each of the following is true about a judicial injunction or declaration of unconstitutionality of a provision of this chapter:(1) It is nothing more than an edict prohibiting enforcement that may subsequently be vacated by a later court if that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the California Constitution or the United States Constitution.(2) It is not a formal amendment of the language in a statute.(3) It no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the executive not to enforce a duly-enacted statute in a limited and defined set of circumstances.22949.71. This chapter shall become inoperative upon invalidation of Subchapter H (commencing with Section 171.201) of Chapter 171 of the Texas Health and Safety Code in its entirety by a final decision of the United States Supreme Court or Texas Supreme Court, and is repealed on January 1 of the following year.SEC. 2. Section 1021.11 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, to read:1021.11. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief to prevent this state, a political subdivision, a governmental entity or public official in this state, or a person in this state from enforcing any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or any other type of law that regulates or restricts firearms, or that represents any litigant seeking that relief, is jointly and severally liable to pay the attorneys fees and costs of the prevailing party.(b) For purposes of this section, a party is considered a prevailing party if a court does either of the following:(1) Dismisses any claim or cause of action brought by the party seeking the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), regardless of the reason for the dismissal.(2) Enters judgment in favor of the party opposing the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), on any claim or cause of action.(c) Regardless of whether a prevailing party sought to recover attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action, a prevailing party under this section may bring a civil action to recover attorneys fees and costs against a person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, that sought declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a) not later than the third anniversary of the date on which, as applicable:(1) The dismissal or judgment described by subdivision (b) becomes final upon the conclusion of appellate review.(2) The time for seeking appellate review expires.(d) None of the following are a defense to an action brought under subdivision (c):(1) A prevailing party under this section failed to seek recovery of attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action.(2) The court in the underlying action declined to recognize or enforce the requirements of this section.(3) The court in the underlying action held that any provision of this section is invalid, unconstitutional, or preempted by federal law, notwithstanding the doctrines of issue or claim preclusion.(e) Any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief as described in subdivision (a), shall not be deemed a prevailing party under this section or any other provision of this chapter.SEC. 3. (a) A statute that regulates or prohibits firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute that regulates or prohibits firearms, either wholly or partly, unless the later-enacted statute explicitly states that it is repealing the other statute.(b) A statute shall not be construed to restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting firearms in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state, unless the statute explicitly states that political subdivisions are prohibited from regulating or prohibiting firearms in the manner described by the statute.(c) Every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each of its applications to every person and circumstance. If any statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is found by any court to be unconstitutional, either on its face or as applied, then all applications of that statute that do not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution shall be severed from the unconstitutional applications and shall remain enforceable, notwithstanding any other law, and the statute shall be interpreted as if containing language limiting the statutes application to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application will not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution.
3446
3547 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
3648
3749 ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
3850
3951 SECTION 1. Chapter 38 (commencing with Section 22949.60) is added to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, to read: CHAPTER 38. Persons Engaged in the Manufacture, Distribution, Importation, Transportation, Sale, Lease, or Transfer of Firearms and Precursor Parts CHAPTER 38. 22949.60. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the proliferation of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. All Californians are directly harmed by the proliferation of these weapons and this state has a compelling state interest in protecting its citizens from gun violence and from intimidation by persons brandishing these weapons. Further, this state has a compelling interest in enabling law enforcement authorities to trace firearms used, manufactured, distributed, or transported unlawfully.(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the proliferation of firearms to and among young people poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. Firearms are especially dangerous in the hands of young people because current research and scientific evidence show that young people are more impulsive, more likely to engage in risky and reckless behavior, unduly influenced by peer pressure, motivated more by rewards than costs or negative consequences, less likely to consider the future consequences of their actions and decisions, and less able to control themselves in emotionally arousing situations. In recognition of these facts, the Legislature has previously prohibited licensed firearm dealers from selling a firearm to a person under 21 years of age, subject to certain exemptions. This state has a compelling interest in further restricting the proliferation of firearms among those under 21 years of age.(c) The Legislature has previously restricted assault weapons based upon finding that each such firearm has such a high rate of fire and capacity for firepower that its function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings. The Legislature has also previously restricted .50 BMG rifles based upon finding that they pose a clear and present threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, because those firearms have such a high capacity for long-distance and highly destructive firepower that they pose an unacceptable risk of death and serious injury of human beings, destruction or serious damage of vital public and private buildings, civilian, police and military vehicles, power generation and transmission facilities, petrochemical production and storage facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Each of these previous findings is readopted. The Legislature further finds and declares that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and impedes law enforcement activities, and that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of firearm precursor parts and kits is contributing to the proliferation of unserialized firearms in the state.(d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to further restrict in this state the manufacture, distribution, transportation, importation, sale, lending, and transfer of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms, and further restrict the proliferation of firearms to and among those under 21 years of age, by creating new civil law prohibitions and a civil enforcement mechanism, independent of existing law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit in any way the enforceability of existing laws concerning firearms, including, but not limited to, Part 6 (commencing with Section 16000) of the Penal Code.22949.61. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:(a) .50 BMG rifle means a center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon or a machinegun. .50 BMG rifle does not include any antique firearm, nor any curio or relic, as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.(b) (1) Assault weapon means the following designated semiautomatic firearms:(A) All of the following specified rifles:(i) All AK series, including, but not limited to, the models identified as follows:(I) Made in China AK, AKM, AKS, AK47, AK47S, 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(II) Norinco 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(III) Poly Technologies AKS and AK47.(IV) MAADI AK47 and ARM.(ii) UZI and Galil.(iii) Beretta AR-70.(iv) CETME Sporter.(v) Colt AR-15 series.(vi) Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C.(vii) Fabrique Nationale FAL, LAR, FNC, 308 Match, and Sporter.(viii) MAS 223.(ix) HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, and HK-PSG-1.(x) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M11.(xi) SKS with detachable magazine.(xii) SIG AMT, PE-57, SG 550, and SG 551.(xiii) Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48.(xiv) Sterling MK-6.(xv) Steyer AUG.(xvi) Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78S.(xvii) Armalite AR-180.(xviii) Bushmaster Assault Rifle.(xix) Calico M-900.(xx) J&R ENG M-68.(xxi) Weaver Arms Nighthawk.(B) All of the following specified pistols:(i) UZI.(ii) Encom MP-9 and MP-45.(iii) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M-11.(III) Advance Armament Inc. M-11.(IV) Military Armament Corp. Ingram M-11.(V) Intratec TEC-9.(VI) Sites Spectre.(VII) Sterling MK-7.(VIII) Calico M-950.(IX) Bushmaster Pistol.(C) All of the following specified shotguns:(i) Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12.(ii) Striker 12.(iii) The Streetsweeper type S/S Inc. SS/12.(D) Any firearm declared to be an assault weapon by the court pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990, or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, which is specified as an assault weapon in a list promulgated pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991.(E) Any firearm included in the list promulgated by the Attorney General pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, and any other models that are only variations of those weapons with minor differences, regardless of the manufacturer. The Legislature has defined assault weapons as the types, series, and models listed in this paragraph because it was the most effective way to identify and restrict a specific class of semiautomatic weapons.(F) As used in this paragraph, series includes all other models that are only variations, with minor differences, of those models listed in subparagraph (A), regardless of the manufacturer.(2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), assault weapon also means any of the following:(i) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(ii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(iii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(iv) A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(II) A second handgrip.(III) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(IV) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(v) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(vi) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:(I) A folding or telescoping stock.(II) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.(vii) A semiautomatic shotgun that does not have a fixed magazine.(viii) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.(ix) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that does not have a fixed magazine, but that has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(VII) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(VIII) A second handgrip.(IX) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(X) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(x) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(xi) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, fixed magazine means an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.(C) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting from the definition of assault weapon pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of assault weapon pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subparagraph (D).(D) Assault weapon does not include either of the following:(i) Any antique firearm.(ii) Any of the following pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subparagraph (C):MANUFACTURERMODELCALIBERBENELLIMP90.22LRBENELLIMP90.32 S&W LONGBENELLIMP95.22LRBENELLIMP95.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLI280.22LRHAMMERLI280.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLISP20.22LRHAMMERLISP20.32 S&W LONGPARDINIGPO.22 SHORTPARDINIGP-SCHUMANN.22 SHORTPARDINIHP.32 S&W LONGPARDINIMP.32 S&W LONGPARDINISP.22LRPARDINISPE.22LRWALTHERGSP.22LRWALTHERGSP.32 S&W LONGWALTHEROSP.22 SHORTWALTHEROSP-2000.22 SHORT(c) Federally regulated firearm precursor part means any firearm precursor part deemed to be a firearm pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and regulations issued pursuant thereto, and that has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms in compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations. (d) Firearm means a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel, a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.(e) (1) Firearm precursor part means any forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that has reached a stage in manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled or converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or that is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled, or converted.(2) Firearm parts that can only be used on antique firearms, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 16170 of the Penal Code, are not firearm precursor parts.(f) Unserialized firearm means a firearm that does not have a serial number as required by law or has had its serial number altered or obliterated.22949.62. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, no person within this state may manufacture or cause to be manufactured, distribute, transport, or import into the state, or cause to be distributed, transported, or imported into the state, keep for sale, offer or expose for sale, or give or lend, any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or unserialized firearm, except as provided in subdivisions (e) and (f) and in Section 22949.63.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), or except by operation of law, it shall be unlawful for a person to purchase, sell, offer to sell, or transfer ownership of any firearm precursor part in this state that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part.(2) This subdivision (b) shall not apply to all of the following:(A) The purchase of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part by a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(B) The sale, offer to sell, or transfer of ownership of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part to a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or to a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(C) A common carrier licensed under state law, or a motor carrier, air carrier or carrier affiliated with an air carrier through common controlling interest that is subject to Title 49 of the United States Code, or an authorized agent of any such carrier, when acting in the course and scope of duties incident to the receipt, processing, transportation, or delivery of property.(c) (1) A person licensed under Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, of the Penal Code shall not sell, supply, deliver, or give possession or control of a firearm to any person who is under 21 years of age.(2) (A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun or a semiautomatic centerfire rifle to a person 18 years of age or older who possesses a valid, unexpired hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.(B) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun, semiautomatic centerfire rifle, completed frame or receiver, or firearm precursor part to a person who is 18 years of age or older and provides proper identification of being an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States. For purposes of this subdivision, proper identification includes an Armed Forces Identification Card or other written documentation certifying that the individual is an honorably discharged member.(C) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun to any of the following persons who are 18 years of age or older:(i) An active peace officer, as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(ii) An active federal officer or law enforcement agent who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(iii) A reserve peace officer, as described in Section 832.6 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment as a reserve peace officer.(iv) A person who provides proper identification of active membership in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States.(d) The prohibitions described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) apply whether or not the firearm or firearm precursor part is misused or is intended to be misused in a criminal or unlawful manner.(e) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to the sale of an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to, or the purchase, transport, importation, sale or other transfer, or manufacture of, an assault weapon, a .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part by, any law enforcement agency, public entity that employs peace officers, or any authorized law enforcement representative thereof, if that person or entity is not prohibited by law from possessing an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part, including, without limitation, the Department of Justice, a police department or sheriffs or marshals office, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, a district attorneys office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Cannabis Control, the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, a law enforcement or military agency of another state, any federal law enforcement agency, or any foreign government or agency approved by the United States Department of State, for use in the discharge of the official duties of such entities.(f) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle registered under Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or that was possessed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 30630 of the Penal Code, or a firearm assigned a serial number pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, that is disposed of as authorized by the probate court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500), of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.22949.63. (a) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may take possession of any assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle from any person to whom it is legally registered or who has been issued a permit to possess it pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or of any firearm precursor part, for the purposes of servicing or repair.(b) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may transfer possession of any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part received pursuant to subdivision (a), to a gunsmith for purposes of repairing or servicing that weapon. A transfer is permissible only to the following persons:(1) A gunsmith employed the dealer.(2) A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for gunsmithing services.(c) Paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) applies only if the gunsmith receiving the assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part meets both of the following qualifications:(1) The gunsmith holds a dealer license issued pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.(2) The gunsmith holds any business license required by a state or local governmental entity.(d) In addition to the uses permitted in Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) of, and Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of, Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, any licensed gun dealer who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part pursuant to those provisions may do either of the following:(1) Transport the firearm or firearm precursor part between dealers or out of the state if that person is permitted pursuant to the National Firearms Act. Any transporting allowed by this section or Section 22949.62 shall be in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code.(2) Sell the firearm or firearm precursor part to a resident outside the state.(e) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any individual may, provided that the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is transported in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code, do any of the following:(1) Arrange in advance to relinquish an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to a police or sheriffs department.(2) Sell, deliver, or transfer an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to an authorized representative of a city, city and county, county, or state government, or of the federal government, provided that the entity is acquiring the weapon as part of an authorized, voluntary program in which the entity is buying or receiving weapons from private individuals.(3) Transfer, relinquish, or dispose of a firearm or precursor part in compliance with the requirements of Section 29810 or Section 29830 of the Penal Code.22949.64. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the requirements of this chapter shall be enforced exclusively through the private civil actions described in Section 22949.65. No enforcement of this chapter may be taken or threatened by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65.(b) The fact that conduct violates this chapter shall not be an independent basis for enforcement of any other law of this state, or the denial, revocation, suspension, or withholding of any right or privilege conferred by the law of this state or a political subdivision, or a threat to do the same, by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision, or a board, commission, or similar body assigned authority to do so under law, against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65. Nor shall any civil action predicated upon a violation of this chapter be brought by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision. For avoidance of doubt, the rights and privileges described by this subdivision include, but are not limited to, any business licenses and permits issued pursuant to this code or any firearms, ammunition, or precursor parts dealer or vendor licenses issued pursuant to Title 4 (commencing with Section 23500) of Part 6 of the Penal Code. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent or limit enforcement of any other law regulating conduct that also violates this chapter, including, but not limited to, Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not be construed to do any of the following:(1) Legalize the conduct prohibited by this chapter or by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(2) Waive any requirements prescribed in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(3) Limit or affect the availability of a remedy established by Section 22949.65.(4) Limit the enforceability of any other laws that regulate or prohibit any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts.22949.65. (a) Any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity in this state, may bring a civil action against any person who does any of the following:(1) Knowingly violates Section 22949.62.(2) Knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets a violation of Section 22949.62, regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the person aided or abetted would be violating Section 22949.62.(3) Knowingly commits an act with the intent to engage in the conduct described by paragraph (1) or (2).(b) If a claimant prevails in an action brought under this section, the court shall award all of the following:(1) Injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating this chapter or engaging in acts that aid or abet violations of this chapter.(2) (A) (i) Statutory damages in an amount of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated Section 22949.62, and for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant aided or abetted a violation of Section 22949.62.(ii) This subparagraph shall remain in effect unless found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, in which case this subparagraph is repealed and subparagraph (B) shall become operational.(B) (i) A civil penalty in an appropriate amount to be determined by the court for each violation of this chapter. In making that determination, the court shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, the number of firearms or precursor parts involved in the defendants violation of this chapter, the duration of the prohibited conduct, whether the defendant has previously violated this chapter or any other federal, state, or local law concerning the regulation of firearms, and any other factors tending to increase the risk to the public, such as proximity of the violations to sensitive places.(ii) This subparagraph shall become effective only if a court finds subparagraph (A) to be invalid or unconstitutional.(3) Attorneys fees and costs.(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a court shall not award relief under this section in response to a violation of subdivision (a) if the defendant demonstrates that the defendant previously paid the full amount of any monetary award under subdivision (b) in a previous action for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated, or aided or abetted a violation of, Section 22949.62.(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a cause of action under this section shall be extinguished unless the action is brought not later than four years after the cause of action accrues.(e) An act or omission in violation of Section 22949.62 shall be deemed an injury in fact to all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and any such person shall have standing to bring a civil action pursuant to this section.(f) Notwithstanding any other law, none of the following is a defense to an action brought under this section:(1) A defendants ignorance or mistake of law.(2) A defendants belief that the requirements of this chapter are unconstitutional or were unconstitutional.(3) A defendants reliance on any court decision that has been overruled on appeal or by a subsequent court, even if that court decision had not been overruled when the defendant engaged in conduct that violates this chapter.(4) A defendants reliance on any state or federal court decision that is not binding on the court in which the action has been brought.(5) Nonmutual issue preclusion or nonmutual claim preclusion.(6) Any claim that the enforcement of this chapter or the imposition of civil liability against the defendant will violate a constitutional right of a third party.(7) A defendants assertion that this chapter proscribes conduct that is separately prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state, or that this chapter proscribes conduct beyond that which is already prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state.(8) Any claim that the firearm or firearm precursor part at issue was not misused, or was not intended to be misused, in a criminal or unlawful manner.(g) (1) Both of the following are affirmative defenses to an action brought under this section:(A) A person sued under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person aided or abetted was complying with this chapter.(B) A person sued under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person was complying with this chapter or was aiding or abetting another who was complying with this chapter.(2) The defendant has the burden of proving an affirmative defense under this subdivision by a preponderance of the evidence.(h) This section shall not be construed to impose liability on any speech or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, or by Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.(i) Notwithstanding any other law, this state, a state official, or a district, county, or city attorney shall not intervene in an action brought under this section. However, this subdivision does not prohibit a person described by this subdivision from filing an amicus curiae brief in the action.(j) Notwithstanding any other law, a court shall not award attorneys fees or costs to a defendant in an action brought under this section.(k) An action pursuant to this section shall not be brought against a federal government, state, political subdivision, or an employee of a federal government, state, or political subdivision on the basis of acts or omissions in the course of discharge of official duties.22949.66. (a) A defendant against whom an action is brought under Section 22949.65 does not have standing to assert the right of another individual to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as a defense to liability under that section unless either of the following is true:(1) The United States Supreme Court holds that the courts of this state must confer standing on that defendant to assert the third-party rights of other individuals in state court as a matter of federal constitutional law.(2) The defendant has standing to assert the rights of other individuals under the tests for third-party standing established by the United States Supreme Court.(b) A defendant in an action brought under Section 22949.65 may assert an affirmative defense to liability under this section if both of the following are true:(1) The defendant has standing to assert the third-party right of an individual to keep and bear arms in accordance with subdivision (a).(2) The defendant demonstrates that the relief sought by the claimant will violate a third-partys rights under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution right as defined by clearly established case law of the United States Supreme Court.(c) Nothing in this section shall in any way limit or preclude a defendant from asserting the defendants personal constitutional rights as a defense to liability under Section 22949.65, and a court shall not award relief under Section 22949.65 if the conduct for which the defendant has been sued was an exercise of a state or federal constitutional right that personally belongs to the defendant.22949.67. This chapter shall not be construed to do any of the following:(a) Authorize the initiation of a cause of action under this chapter against a person purchasing, obtaining, or attempting to purchase or obtain an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part from a person acting in violation of this chapter.(b) Wholly or partly repeal, either expressly or by implication, any other statute that regulates or prohibits any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts, including, but not limited to, Chapters 1.5 and 2 (commencing with Sections 30400 and 30500, respectively) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting conduct relating to assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, unserialized firearms, or firearm precursor parts in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state.22949.68. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a civil action brought under Section 22949.65 shall be brought in any of the following:(1) The county in which all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred.(2) The county of residence for any one of the natural person defendants at the time the cause of action accrued.(3) The county of the principal office in this state of any one of the defendants that is not a natural person.(4) The county of residence for the claimant if the claimant is a natural person residing in this state.(b) Notwithstanding any other law, if a civil action is brought under Section 22949.65 in one of the venues described by subdivision (a), the action shall not be transferred to a different venue without the written consent of all parties.22949.69. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, this state has sovereign immunity, a political subdivision has governmental immunity, and each officer and employee of this state or a political subdivision has official immunity in any action, claim, or counterclaim or any type of legal or equitable action that challenges the validity of any provision or application of this chapter, on constitutional grounds or otherwise.(b) A provision of state law shall not be construed to waive or abrogate an immunity described by subdivision (a) unless it expressly waives immunity under this section.22949.70. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that every provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word in this chapter, and every application of the provisions in this chapter, are severable from each other.(b) If any application of any provision in this chapter to any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining applications of that provision to all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and shall not be affected. All constitutionally valid applications of this chapter shall be severed from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, leaving the valid applications in force, because it is the Legislatures intent and priority that the valid applications be allowed to stand alone. Even if a reviewing court finds a provision of this chapter to impose an unconstitutional burden in a large or substantial fraction of relevant cases, the applications that do not present an unconstitutional burden shall be severed from the remaining applications and shall remain in force, and shall be treated as if the Legislature had enacted a statute limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application does not present an unconstitutional burden. If any court declares or finds a provision of this chapter facially unconstitutional, when discrete applications of that provision can be enforced against a person, group of persons, or circumstances without violating the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, those applications shall be severed from all remaining applications of the provision, and the provision shall be interpreted as if the Legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the provisions application will not violate the United States Constitution and the California Constitution.(c) The Legislature further declares that it would have enacted this chapter, and each provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word, and all constitutional applications of this chapter, irrespective of the fact that any provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or word, or application of this chapter, were to be declared unconstitutional or to represent an unconstitutional burden.(d) If any provision of this chapter is found by any court to be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems shall be severed and remain in force.(e) A court shall not decline to enforce the severability requirements of this section on the ground that severance would rewrite the statute or involve the court in legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory provision of this chapter does not rewrite a statute, as the statute continues to contain the same words as before the courts decision. Each of the following is true about a judicial injunction or declaration of unconstitutionality of a provision of this chapter:(1) It is nothing more than an edict prohibiting enforcement that may subsequently be vacated by a later court if that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the California Constitution or the United States Constitution.(2) It is not a formal amendment of the language in a statute.(3) It no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the executive not to enforce a duly-enacted statute in a limited and defined set of circumstances.22949.71. This chapter shall become inoperative upon invalidation of Subchapter H (commencing with Section 171.201) of Chapter 171 of the Texas Health and Safety Code in its entirety by a final decision of the United States Supreme Court or Texas Supreme Court, and is repealed on January 1 of the following year.
4052
4153 SECTION 1. Chapter 38 (commencing with Section 22949.60) is added to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, to read:
4254
4355 ### SECTION 1.
4456
4557 CHAPTER 38. Persons Engaged in the Manufacture, Distribution, Importation, Transportation, Sale, Lease, or Transfer of Firearms and Precursor Parts CHAPTER 38. 22949.60. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the proliferation of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. All Californians are directly harmed by the proliferation of these weapons and this state has a compelling state interest in protecting its citizens from gun violence and from intimidation by persons brandishing these weapons. Further, this state has a compelling interest in enabling law enforcement authorities to trace firearms used, manufactured, distributed, or transported unlawfully.(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the proliferation of firearms to and among young people poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. Firearms are especially dangerous in the hands of young people because current research and scientific evidence show that young people are more impulsive, more likely to engage in risky and reckless behavior, unduly influenced by peer pressure, motivated more by rewards than costs or negative consequences, less likely to consider the future consequences of their actions and decisions, and less able to control themselves in emotionally arousing situations. In recognition of these facts, the Legislature has previously prohibited licensed firearm dealers from selling a firearm to a person under 21 years of age, subject to certain exemptions. This state has a compelling interest in further restricting the proliferation of firearms among those under 21 years of age.(c) The Legislature has previously restricted assault weapons based upon finding that each such firearm has such a high rate of fire and capacity for firepower that its function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings. The Legislature has also previously restricted .50 BMG rifles based upon finding that they pose a clear and present threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, because those firearms have such a high capacity for long-distance and highly destructive firepower that they pose an unacceptable risk of death and serious injury of human beings, destruction or serious damage of vital public and private buildings, civilian, police and military vehicles, power generation and transmission facilities, petrochemical production and storage facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Each of these previous findings is readopted. The Legislature further finds and declares that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and impedes law enforcement activities, and that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of firearm precursor parts and kits is contributing to the proliferation of unserialized firearms in the state.(d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to further restrict in this state the manufacture, distribution, transportation, importation, sale, lending, and transfer of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms, and further restrict the proliferation of firearms to and among those under 21 years of age, by creating new civil law prohibitions and a civil enforcement mechanism, independent of existing law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit in any way the enforceability of existing laws concerning firearms, including, but not limited to, Part 6 (commencing with Section 16000) of the Penal Code.22949.61. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:(a) .50 BMG rifle means a center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon or a machinegun. .50 BMG rifle does not include any antique firearm, nor any curio or relic, as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.(b) (1) Assault weapon means the following designated semiautomatic firearms:(A) All of the following specified rifles:(i) All AK series, including, but not limited to, the models identified as follows:(I) Made in China AK, AKM, AKS, AK47, AK47S, 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(II) Norinco 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(III) Poly Technologies AKS and AK47.(IV) MAADI AK47 and ARM.(ii) UZI and Galil.(iii) Beretta AR-70.(iv) CETME Sporter.(v) Colt AR-15 series.(vi) Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C.(vii) Fabrique Nationale FAL, LAR, FNC, 308 Match, and Sporter.(viii) MAS 223.(ix) HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, and HK-PSG-1.(x) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M11.(xi) SKS with detachable magazine.(xii) SIG AMT, PE-57, SG 550, and SG 551.(xiii) Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48.(xiv) Sterling MK-6.(xv) Steyer AUG.(xvi) Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78S.(xvii) Armalite AR-180.(xviii) Bushmaster Assault Rifle.(xix) Calico M-900.(xx) J&R ENG M-68.(xxi) Weaver Arms Nighthawk.(B) All of the following specified pistols:(i) UZI.(ii) Encom MP-9 and MP-45.(iii) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M-11.(III) Advance Armament Inc. M-11.(IV) Military Armament Corp. Ingram M-11.(V) Intratec TEC-9.(VI) Sites Spectre.(VII) Sterling MK-7.(VIII) Calico M-950.(IX) Bushmaster Pistol.(C) All of the following specified shotguns:(i) Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12.(ii) Striker 12.(iii) The Streetsweeper type S/S Inc. SS/12.(D) Any firearm declared to be an assault weapon by the court pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990, or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, which is specified as an assault weapon in a list promulgated pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991.(E) Any firearm included in the list promulgated by the Attorney General pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, and any other models that are only variations of those weapons with minor differences, regardless of the manufacturer. The Legislature has defined assault weapons as the types, series, and models listed in this paragraph because it was the most effective way to identify and restrict a specific class of semiautomatic weapons.(F) As used in this paragraph, series includes all other models that are only variations, with minor differences, of those models listed in subparagraph (A), regardless of the manufacturer.(2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), assault weapon also means any of the following:(i) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(ii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(iii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(iv) A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(II) A second handgrip.(III) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(IV) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(v) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(vi) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:(I) A folding or telescoping stock.(II) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.(vii) A semiautomatic shotgun that does not have a fixed magazine.(viii) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.(ix) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that does not have a fixed magazine, but that has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(VII) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(VIII) A second handgrip.(IX) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(X) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(x) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(xi) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, fixed magazine means an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.(C) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting from the definition of assault weapon pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of assault weapon pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subparagraph (D).(D) Assault weapon does not include either of the following:(i) Any antique firearm.(ii) Any of the following pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subparagraph (C):MANUFACTURERMODELCALIBERBENELLIMP90.22LRBENELLIMP90.32 S&W LONGBENELLIMP95.22LRBENELLIMP95.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLI280.22LRHAMMERLI280.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLISP20.22LRHAMMERLISP20.32 S&W LONGPARDINIGPO.22 SHORTPARDINIGP-SCHUMANN.22 SHORTPARDINIHP.32 S&W LONGPARDINIMP.32 S&W LONGPARDINISP.22LRPARDINISPE.22LRWALTHERGSP.22LRWALTHERGSP.32 S&W LONGWALTHEROSP.22 SHORTWALTHEROSP-2000.22 SHORT(c) Federally regulated firearm precursor part means any firearm precursor part deemed to be a firearm pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and regulations issued pursuant thereto, and that has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms in compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations. (d) Firearm means a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel, a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.(e) (1) Firearm precursor part means any forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that has reached a stage in manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled or converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or that is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled, or converted.(2) Firearm parts that can only be used on antique firearms, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 16170 of the Penal Code, are not firearm precursor parts.(f) Unserialized firearm means a firearm that does not have a serial number as required by law or has had its serial number altered or obliterated.22949.62. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, no person within this state may manufacture or cause to be manufactured, distribute, transport, or import into the state, or cause to be distributed, transported, or imported into the state, keep for sale, offer or expose for sale, or give or lend, any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or unserialized firearm, except as provided in subdivisions (e) and (f) and in Section 22949.63.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), or except by operation of law, it shall be unlawful for a person to purchase, sell, offer to sell, or transfer ownership of any firearm precursor part in this state that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part.(2) This subdivision (b) shall not apply to all of the following:(A) The purchase of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part by a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(B) The sale, offer to sell, or transfer of ownership of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part to a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or to a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(C) A common carrier licensed under state law, or a motor carrier, air carrier or carrier affiliated with an air carrier through common controlling interest that is subject to Title 49 of the United States Code, or an authorized agent of any such carrier, when acting in the course and scope of duties incident to the receipt, processing, transportation, or delivery of property.(c) (1) A person licensed under Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, of the Penal Code shall not sell, supply, deliver, or give possession or control of a firearm to any person who is under 21 years of age.(2) (A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun or a semiautomatic centerfire rifle to a person 18 years of age or older who possesses a valid, unexpired hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.(B) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun, semiautomatic centerfire rifle, completed frame or receiver, or firearm precursor part to a person who is 18 years of age or older and provides proper identification of being an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States. For purposes of this subdivision, proper identification includes an Armed Forces Identification Card or other written documentation certifying that the individual is an honorably discharged member.(C) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun to any of the following persons who are 18 years of age or older:(i) An active peace officer, as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(ii) An active federal officer or law enforcement agent who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(iii) A reserve peace officer, as described in Section 832.6 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment as a reserve peace officer.(iv) A person who provides proper identification of active membership in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States.(d) The prohibitions described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) apply whether or not the firearm or firearm precursor part is misused or is intended to be misused in a criminal or unlawful manner.(e) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to the sale of an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to, or the purchase, transport, importation, sale or other transfer, or manufacture of, an assault weapon, a .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part by, any law enforcement agency, public entity that employs peace officers, or any authorized law enforcement representative thereof, if that person or entity is not prohibited by law from possessing an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part, including, without limitation, the Department of Justice, a police department or sheriffs or marshals office, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, a district attorneys office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Cannabis Control, the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, a law enforcement or military agency of another state, any federal law enforcement agency, or any foreign government or agency approved by the United States Department of State, for use in the discharge of the official duties of such entities.(f) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle registered under Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or that was possessed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 30630 of the Penal Code, or a firearm assigned a serial number pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, that is disposed of as authorized by the probate court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500), of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.22949.63. (a) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may take possession of any assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle from any person to whom it is legally registered or who has been issued a permit to possess it pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or of any firearm precursor part, for the purposes of servicing or repair.(b) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may transfer possession of any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part received pursuant to subdivision (a), to a gunsmith for purposes of repairing or servicing that weapon. A transfer is permissible only to the following persons:(1) A gunsmith employed the dealer.(2) A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for gunsmithing services.(c) Paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) applies only if the gunsmith receiving the assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part meets both of the following qualifications:(1) The gunsmith holds a dealer license issued pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.(2) The gunsmith holds any business license required by a state or local governmental entity.(d) In addition to the uses permitted in Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) of, and Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of, Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, any licensed gun dealer who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part pursuant to those provisions may do either of the following:(1) Transport the firearm or firearm precursor part between dealers or out of the state if that person is permitted pursuant to the National Firearms Act. Any transporting allowed by this section or Section 22949.62 shall be in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code.(2) Sell the firearm or firearm precursor part to a resident outside the state.(e) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any individual may, provided that the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is transported in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code, do any of the following:(1) Arrange in advance to relinquish an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to a police or sheriffs department.(2) Sell, deliver, or transfer an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to an authorized representative of a city, city and county, county, or state government, or of the federal government, provided that the entity is acquiring the weapon as part of an authorized, voluntary program in which the entity is buying or receiving weapons from private individuals.(3) Transfer, relinquish, or dispose of a firearm or precursor part in compliance with the requirements of Section 29810 or Section 29830 of the Penal Code.22949.64. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the requirements of this chapter shall be enforced exclusively through the private civil actions described in Section 22949.65. No enforcement of this chapter may be taken or threatened by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65.(b) The fact that conduct violates this chapter shall not be an independent basis for enforcement of any other law of this state, or the denial, revocation, suspension, or withholding of any right or privilege conferred by the law of this state or a political subdivision, or a threat to do the same, by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision, or a board, commission, or similar body assigned authority to do so under law, against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65. Nor shall any civil action predicated upon a violation of this chapter be brought by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision. For avoidance of doubt, the rights and privileges described by this subdivision include, but are not limited to, any business licenses and permits issued pursuant to this code or any firearms, ammunition, or precursor parts dealer or vendor licenses issued pursuant to Title 4 (commencing with Section 23500) of Part 6 of the Penal Code. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent or limit enforcement of any other law regulating conduct that also violates this chapter, including, but not limited to, Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not be construed to do any of the following:(1) Legalize the conduct prohibited by this chapter or by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(2) Waive any requirements prescribed in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(3) Limit or affect the availability of a remedy established by Section 22949.65.(4) Limit the enforceability of any other laws that regulate or prohibit any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts.22949.65. (a) Any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity in this state, may bring a civil action against any person who does any of the following:(1) Knowingly violates Section 22949.62.(2) Knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets a violation of Section 22949.62, regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the person aided or abetted would be violating Section 22949.62.(3) Knowingly commits an act with the intent to engage in the conduct described by paragraph (1) or (2).(b) If a claimant prevails in an action brought under this section, the court shall award all of the following:(1) Injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating this chapter or engaging in acts that aid or abet violations of this chapter.(2) (A) (i) Statutory damages in an amount of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated Section 22949.62, and for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant aided or abetted a violation of Section 22949.62.(ii) This subparagraph shall remain in effect unless found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, in which case this subparagraph is repealed and subparagraph (B) shall become operational.(B) (i) A civil penalty in an appropriate amount to be determined by the court for each violation of this chapter. In making that determination, the court shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, the number of firearms or precursor parts involved in the defendants violation of this chapter, the duration of the prohibited conduct, whether the defendant has previously violated this chapter or any other federal, state, or local law concerning the regulation of firearms, and any other factors tending to increase the risk to the public, such as proximity of the violations to sensitive places.(ii) This subparagraph shall become effective only if a court finds subparagraph (A) to be invalid or unconstitutional.(3) Attorneys fees and costs.(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a court shall not award relief under this section in response to a violation of subdivision (a) if the defendant demonstrates that the defendant previously paid the full amount of any monetary award under subdivision (b) in a previous action for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated, or aided or abetted a violation of, Section 22949.62.(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a cause of action under this section shall be extinguished unless the action is brought not later than four years after the cause of action accrues.(e) An act or omission in violation of Section 22949.62 shall be deemed an injury in fact to all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and any such person shall have standing to bring a civil action pursuant to this section.(f) Notwithstanding any other law, none of the following is a defense to an action brought under this section:(1) A defendants ignorance or mistake of law.(2) A defendants belief that the requirements of this chapter are unconstitutional or were unconstitutional.(3) A defendants reliance on any court decision that has been overruled on appeal or by a subsequent court, even if that court decision had not been overruled when the defendant engaged in conduct that violates this chapter.(4) A defendants reliance on any state or federal court decision that is not binding on the court in which the action has been brought.(5) Nonmutual issue preclusion or nonmutual claim preclusion.(6) Any claim that the enforcement of this chapter or the imposition of civil liability against the defendant will violate a constitutional right of a third party.(7) A defendants assertion that this chapter proscribes conduct that is separately prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state, or that this chapter proscribes conduct beyond that which is already prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state.(8) Any claim that the firearm or firearm precursor part at issue was not misused, or was not intended to be misused, in a criminal or unlawful manner.(g) (1) Both of the following are affirmative defenses to an action brought under this section:(A) A person sued under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person aided or abetted was complying with this chapter.(B) A person sued under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person was complying with this chapter or was aiding or abetting another who was complying with this chapter.(2) The defendant has the burden of proving an affirmative defense under this subdivision by a preponderance of the evidence.(h) This section shall not be construed to impose liability on any speech or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, or by Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.(i) Notwithstanding any other law, this state, a state official, or a district, county, or city attorney shall not intervene in an action brought under this section. However, this subdivision does not prohibit a person described by this subdivision from filing an amicus curiae brief in the action.(j) Notwithstanding any other law, a court shall not award attorneys fees or costs to a defendant in an action brought under this section.(k) An action pursuant to this section shall not be brought against a federal government, state, political subdivision, or an employee of a federal government, state, or political subdivision on the basis of acts or omissions in the course of discharge of official duties.22949.66. (a) A defendant against whom an action is brought under Section 22949.65 does not have standing to assert the right of another individual to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as a defense to liability under that section unless either of the following is true:(1) The United States Supreme Court holds that the courts of this state must confer standing on that defendant to assert the third-party rights of other individuals in state court as a matter of federal constitutional law.(2) The defendant has standing to assert the rights of other individuals under the tests for third-party standing established by the United States Supreme Court.(b) A defendant in an action brought under Section 22949.65 may assert an affirmative defense to liability under this section if both of the following are true:(1) The defendant has standing to assert the third-party right of an individual to keep and bear arms in accordance with subdivision (a).(2) The defendant demonstrates that the relief sought by the claimant will violate a third-partys rights under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution right as defined by clearly established case law of the United States Supreme Court.(c) Nothing in this section shall in any way limit or preclude a defendant from asserting the defendants personal constitutional rights as a defense to liability under Section 22949.65, and a court shall not award relief under Section 22949.65 if the conduct for which the defendant has been sued was an exercise of a state or federal constitutional right that personally belongs to the defendant.22949.67. This chapter shall not be construed to do any of the following:(a) Authorize the initiation of a cause of action under this chapter against a person purchasing, obtaining, or attempting to purchase or obtain an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part from a person acting in violation of this chapter.(b) Wholly or partly repeal, either expressly or by implication, any other statute that regulates or prohibits any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts, including, but not limited to, Chapters 1.5 and 2 (commencing with Sections 30400 and 30500, respectively) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting conduct relating to assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, unserialized firearms, or firearm precursor parts in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state.22949.68. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a civil action brought under Section 22949.65 shall be brought in any of the following:(1) The county in which all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred.(2) The county of residence for any one of the natural person defendants at the time the cause of action accrued.(3) The county of the principal office in this state of any one of the defendants that is not a natural person.(4) The county of residence for the claimant if the claimant is a natural person residing in this state.(b) Notwithstanding any other law, if a civil action is brought under Section 22949.65 in one of the venues described by subdivision (a), the action shall not be transferred to a different venue without the written consent of all parties.22949.69. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, this state has sovereign immunity, a political subdivision has governmental immunity, and each officer and employee of this state or a political subdivision has official immunity in any action, claim, or counterclaim or any type of legal or equitable action that challenges the validity of any provision or application of this chapter, on constitutional grounds or otherwise.(b) A provision of state law shall not be construed to waive or abrogate an immunity described by subdivision (a) unless it expressly waives immunity under this section.22949.70. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that every provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word in this chapter, and every application of the provisions in this chapter, are severable from each other.(b) If any application of any provision in this chapter to any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining applications of that provision to all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and shall not be affected. All constitutionally valid applications of this chapter shall be severed from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, leaving the valid applications in force, because it is the Legislatures intent and priority that the valid applications be allowed to stand alone. Even if a reviewing court finds a provision of this chapter to impose an unconstitutional burden in a large or substantial fraction of relevant cases, the applications that do not present an unconstitutional burden shall be severed from the remaining applications and shall remain in force, and shall be treated as if the Legislature had enacted a statute limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application does not present an unconstitutional burden. If any court declares or finds a provision of this chapter facially unconstitutional, when discrete applications of that provision can be enforced against a person, group of persons, or circumstances without violating the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, those applications shall be severed from all remaining applications of the provision, and the provision shall be interpreted as if the Legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the provisions application will not violate the United States Constitution and the California Constitution.(c) The Legislature further declares that it would have enacted this chapter, and each provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word, and all constitutional applications of this chapter, irrespective of the fact that any provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or word, or application of this chapter, were to be declared unconstitutional or to represent an unconstitutional burden.(d) If any provision of this chapter is found by any court to be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems shall be severed and remain in force.(e) A court shall not decline to enforce the severability requirements of this section on the ground that severance would rewrite the statute or involve the court in legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory provision of this chapter does not rewrite a statute, as the statute continues to contain the same words as before the courts decision. Each of the following is true about a judicial injunction or declaration of unconstitutionality of a provision of this chapter:(1) It is nothing more than an edict prohibiting enforcement that may subsequently be vacated by a later court if that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the California Constitution or the United States Constitution.(2) It is not a formal amendment of the language in a statute.(3) It no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the executive not to enforce a duly-enacted statute in a limited and defined set of circumstances.22949.71. This chapter shall become inoperative upon invalidation of Subchapter H (commencing with Section 171.201) of Chapter 171 of the Texas Health and Safety Code in its entirety by a final decision of the United States Supreme Court or Texas Supreme Court, and is repealed on January 1 of the following year.
4658
4759 CHAPTER 38. Persons Engaged in the Manufacture, Distribution, Importation, Transportation, Sale, Lease, or Transfer of Firearms and Precursor Parts CHAPTER 38. 22949.60. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the proliferation of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. All Californians are directly harmed by the proliferation of these weapons and this state has a compelling state interest in protecting its citizens from gun violence and from intimidation by persons brandishing these weapons. Further, this state has a compelling interest in enabling law enforcement authorities to trace firearms used, manufactured, distributed, or transported unlawfully.(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the proliferation of firearms to and among young people poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. Firearms are especially dangerous in the hands of young people because current research and scientific evidence show that young people are more impulsive, more likely to engage in risky and reckless behavior, unduly influenced by peer pressure, motivated more by rewards than costs or negative consequences, less likely to consider the future consequences of their actions and decisions, and less able to control themselves in emotionally arousing situations. In recognition of these facts, the Legislature has previously prohibited licensed firearm dealers from selling a firearm to a person under 21 years of age, subject to certain exemptions. This state has a compelling interest in further restricting the proliferation of firearms among those under 21 years of age.(c) The Legislature has previously restricted assault weapons based upon finding that each such firearm has such a high rate of fire and capacity for firepower that its function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings. The Legislature has also previously restricted .50 BMG rifles based upon finding that they pose a clear and present threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, because those firearms have such a high capacity for long-distance and highly destructive firepower that they pose an unacceptable risk of death and serious injury of human beings, destruction or serious damage of vital public and private buildings, civilian, police and military vehicles, power generation and transmission facilities, petrochemical production and storage facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Each of these previous findings is readopted. The Legislature further finds and declares that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and impedes law enforcement activities, and that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of firearm precursor parts and kits is contributing to the proliferation of unserialized firearms in the state.(d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to further restrict in this state the manufacture, distribution, transportation, importation, sale, lending, and transfer of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms, and further restrict the proliferation of firearms to and among those under 21 years of age, by creating new civil law prohibitions and a civil enforcement mechanism, independent of existing law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit in any way the enforceability of existing laws concerning firearms, including, but not limited to, Part 6 (commencing with Section 16000) of the Penal Code.22949.61. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:(a) .50 BMG rifle means a center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon or a machinegun. .50 BMG rifle does not include any antique firearm, nor any curio or relic, as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.(b) (1) Assault weapon means the following designated semiautomatic firearms:(A) All of the following specified rifles:(i) All AK series, including, but not limited to, the models identified as follows:(I) Made in China AK, AKM, AKS, AK47, AK47S, 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(II) Norinco 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(III) Poly Technologies AKS and AK47.(IV) MAADI AK47 and ARM.(ii) UZI and Galil.(iii) Beretta AR-70.(iv) CETME Sporter.(v) Colt AR-15 series.(vi) Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C.(vii) Fabrique Nationale FAL, LAR, FNC, 308 Match, and Sporter.(viii) MAS 223.(ix) HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, and HK-PSG-1.(x) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M11.(xi) SKS with detachable magazine.(xii) SIG AMT, PE-57, SG 550, and SG 551.(xiii) Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48.(xiv) Sterling MK-6.(xv) Steyer AUG.(xvi) Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78S.(xvii) Armalite AR-180.(xviii) Bushmaster Assault Rifle.(xix) Calico M-900.(xx) J&R ENG M-68.(xxi) Weaver Arms Nighthawk.(B) All of the following specified pistols:(i) UZI.(ii) Encom MP-9 and MP-45.(iii) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M-11.(III) Advance Armament Inc. M-11.(IV) Military Armament Corp. Ingram M-11.(V) Intratec TEC-9.(VI) Sites Spectre.(VII) Sterling MK-7.(VIII) Calico M-950.(IX) Bushmaster Pistol.(C) All of the following specified shotguns:(i) Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12.(ii) Striker 12.(iii) The Streetsweeper type S/S Inc. SS/12.(D) Any firearm declared to be an assault weapon by the court pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990, or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, which is specified as an assault weapon in a list promulgated pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991.(E) Any firearm included in the list promulgated by the Attorney General pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, and any other models that are only variations of those weapons with minor differences, regardless of the manufacturer. The Legislature has defined assault weapons as the types, series, and models listed in this paragraph because it was the most effective way to identify and restrict a specific class of semiautomatic weapons.(F) As used in this paragraph, series includes all other models that are only variations, with minor differences, of those models listed in subparagraph (A), regardless of the manufacturer.(2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), assault weapon also means any of the following:(i) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(ii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(iii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(iv) A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(II) A second handgrip.(III) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(IV) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(v) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(vi) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:(I) A folding or telescoping stock.(II) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.(vii) A semiautomatic shotgun that does not have a fixed magazine.(viii) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.(ix) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that does not have a fixed magazine, but that has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(VII) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(VIII) A second handgrip.(IX) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(X) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(x) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(xi) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, fixed magazine means an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.(C) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting from the definition of assault weapon pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of assault weapon pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subparagraph (D).(D) Assault weapon does not include either of the following:(i) Any antique firearm.(ii) Any of the following pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subparagraph (C):MANUFACTURERMODELCALIBERBENELLIMP90.22LRBENELLIMP90.32 S&W LONGBENELLIMP95.22LRBENELLIMP95.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLI280.22LRHAMMERLI280.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLISP20.22LRHAMMERLISP20.32 S&W LONGPARDINIGPO.22 SHORTPARDINIGP-SCHUMANN.22 SHORTPARDINIHP.32 S&W LONGPARDINIMP.32 S&W LONGPARDINISP.22LRPARDINISPE.22LRWALTHERGSP.22LRWALTHERGSP.32 S&W LONGWALTHEROSP.22 SHORTWALTHEROSP-2000.22 SHORT(c) Federally regulated firearm precursor part means any firearm precursor part deemed to be a firearm pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and regulations issued pursuant thereto, and that has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms in compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations. (d) Firearm means a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel, a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.(e) (1) Firearm precursor part means any forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that has reached a stage in manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled or converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or that is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled, or converted.(2) Firearm parts that can only be used on antique firearms, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 16170 of the Penal Code, are not firearm precursor parts.(f) Unserialized firearm means a firearm that does not have a serial number as required by law or has had its serial number altered or obliterated.22949.62. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, no person within this state may manufacture or cause to be manufactured, distribute, transport, or import into the state, or cause to be distributed, transported, or imported into the state, keep for sale, offer or expose for sale, or give or lend, any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or unserialized firearm, except as provided in subdivisions (e) and (f) and in Section 22949.63.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), or except by operation of law, it shall be unlawful for a person to purchase, sell, offer to sell, or transfer ownership of any firearm precursor part in this state that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part.(2) This subdivision (b) shall not apply to all of the following:(A) The purchase of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part by a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(B) The sale, offer to sell, or transfer of ownership of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part to a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or to a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(C) A common carrier licensed under state law, or a motor carrier, air carrier or carrier affiliated with an air carrier through common controlling interest that is subject to Title 49 of the United States Code, or an authorized agent of any such carrier, when acting in the course and scope of duties incident to the receipt, processing, transportation, or delivery of property.(c) (1) A person licensed under Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, of the Penal Code shall not sell, supply, deliver, or give possession or control of a firearm to any person who is under 21 years of age.(2) (A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun or a semiautomatic centerfire rifle to a person 18 years of age or older who possesses a valid, unexpired hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.(B) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun, semiautomatic centerfire rifle, completed frame or receiver, or firearm precursor part to a person who is 18 years of age or older and provides proper identification of being an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States. For purposes of this subdivision, proper identification includes an Armed Forces Identification Card or other written documentation certifying that the individual is an honorably discharged member.(C) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun to any of the following persons who are 18 years of age or older:(i) An active peace officer, as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(ii) An active federal officer or law enforcement agent who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(iii) A reserve peace officer, as described in Section 832.6 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment as a reserve peace officer.(iv) A person who provides proper identification of active membership in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States.(d) The prohibitions described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) apply whether or not the firearm or firearm precursor part is misused or is intended to be misused in a criminal or unlawful manner.(e) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to the sale of an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to, or the purchase, transport, importation, sale or other transfer, or manufacture of, an assault weapon, a .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part by, any law enforcement agency, public entity that employs peace officers, or any authorized law enforcement representative thereof, if that person or entity is not prohibited by law from possessing an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part, including, without limitation, the Department of Justice, a police department or sheriffs or marshals office, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, a district attorneys office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Cannabis Control, the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, a law enforcement or military agency of another state, any federal law enforcement agency, or any foreign government or agency approved by the United States Department of State, for use in the discharge of the official duties of such entities.(f) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle registered under Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or that was possessed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 30630 of the Penal Code, or a firearm assigned a serial number pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, that is disposed of as authorized by the probate court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500), of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.22949.63. (a) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may take possession of any assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle from any person to whom it is legally registered or who has been issued a permit to possess it pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or of any firearm precursor part, for the purposes of servicing or repair.(b) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may transfer possession of any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part received pursuant to subdivision (a), to a gunsmith for purposes of repairing or servicing that weapon. A transfer is permissible only to the following persons:(1) A gunsmith employed the dealer.(2) A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for gunsmithing services.(c) Paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) applies only if the gunsmith receiving the assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part meets both of the following qualifications:(1) The gunsmith holds a dealer license issued pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.(2) The gunsmith holds any business license required by a state or local governmental entity.(d) In addition to the uses permitted in Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) of, and Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of, Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, any licensed gun dealer who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part pursuant to those provisions may do either of the following:(1) Transport the firearm or firearm precursor part between dealers or out of the state if that person is permitted pursuant to the National Firearms Act. Any transporting allowed by this section or Section 22949.62 shall be in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code.(2) Sell the firearm or firearm precursor part to a resident outside the state.(e) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any individual may, provided that the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is transported in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code, do any of the following:(1) Arrange in advance to relinquish an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to a police or sheriffs department.(2) Sell, deliver, or transfer an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to an authorized representative of a city, city and county, county, or state government, or of the federal government, provided that the entity is acquiring the weapon as part of an authorized, voluntary program in which the entity is buying or receiving weapons from private individuals.(3) Transfer, relinquish, or dispose of a firearm or precursor part in compliance with the requirements of Section 29810 or Section 29830 of the Penal Code.22949.64. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the requirements of this chapter shall be enforced exclusively through the private civil actions described in Section 22949.65. No enforcement of this chapter may be taken or threatened by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65.(b) The fact that conduct violates this chapter shall not be an independent basis for enforcement of any other law of this state, or the denial, revocation, suspension, or withholding of any right or privilege conferred by the law of this state or a political subdivision, or a threat to do the same, by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision, or a board, commission, or similar body assigned authority to do so under law, against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65. Nor shall any civil action predicated upon a violation of this chapter be brought by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision. For avoidance of doubt, the rights and privileges described by this subdivision include, but are not limited to, any business licenses and permits issued pursuant to this code or any firearms, ammunition, or precursor parts dealer or vendor licenses issued pursuant to Title 4 (commencing with Section 23500) of Part 6 of the Penal Code. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent or limit enforcement of any other law regulating conduct that also violates this chapter, including, but not limited to, Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not be construed to do any of the following:(1) Legalize the conduct prohibited by this chapter or by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(2) Waive any requirements prescribed in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(3) Limit or affect the availability of a remedy established by Section 22949.65.(4) Limit the enforceability of any other laws that regulate or prohibit any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts.22949.65. (a) Any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity in this state, may bring a civil action against any person who does any of the following:(1) Knowingly violates Section 22949.62.(2) Knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets a violation of Section 22949.62, regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the person aided or abetted would be violating Section 22949.62.(3) Knowingly commits an act with the intent to engage in the conduct described by paragraph (1) or (2).(b) If a claimant prevails in an action brought under this section, the court shall award all of the following:(1) Injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating this chapter or engaging in acts that aid or abet violations of this chapter.(2) (A) (i) Statutory damages in an amount of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated Section 22949.62, and for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant aided or abetted a violation of Section 22949.62.(ii) This subparagraph shall remain in effect unless found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, in which case this subparagraph is repealed and subparagraph (B) shall become operational.(B) (i) A civil penalty in an appropriate amount to be determined by the court for each violation of this chapter. In making that determination, the court shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, the number of firearms or precursor parts involved in the defendants violation of this chapter, the duration of the prohibited conduct, whether the defendant has previously violated this chapter or any other federal, state, or local law concerning the regulation of firearms, and any other factors tending to increase the risk to the public, such as proximity of the violations to sensitive places.(ii) This subparagraph shall become effective only if a court finds subparagraph (A) to be invalid or unconstitutional.(3) Attorneys fees and costs.(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a court shall not award relief under this section in response to a violation of subdivision (a) if the defendant demonstrates that the defendant previously paid the full amount of any monetary award under subdivision (b) in a previous action for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated, or aided or abetted a violation of, Section 22949.62.(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a cause of action under this section shall be extinguished unless the action is brought not later than four years after the cause of action accrues.(e) An act or omission in violation of Section 22949.62 shall be deemed an injury in fact to all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and any such person shall have standing to bring a civil action pursuant to this section.(f) Notwithstanding any other law, none of the following is a defense to an action brought under this section:(1) A defendants ignorance or mistake of law.(2) A defendants belief that the requirements of this chapter are unconstitutional or were unconstitutional.(3) A defendants reliance on any court decision that has been overruled on appeal or by a subsequent court, even if that court decision had not been overruled when the defendant engaged in conduct that violates this chapter.(4) A defendants reliance on any state or federal court decision that is not binding on the court in which the action has been brought.(5) Nonmutual issue preclusion or nonmutual claim preclusion.(6) Any claim that the enforcement of this chapter or the imposition of civil liability against the defendant will violate a constitutional right of a third party.(7) A defendants assertion that this chapter proscribes conduct that is separately prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state, or that this chapter proscribes conduct beyond that which is already prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state.(8) Any claim that the firearm or firearm precursor part at issue was not misused, or was not intended to be misused, in a criminal or unlawful manner.(g) (1) Both of the following are affirmative defenses to an action brought under this section:(A) A person sued under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person aided or abetted was complying with this chapter.(B) A person sued under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person was complying with this chapter or was aiding or abetting another who was complying with this chapter.(2) The defendant has the burden of proving an affirmative defense under this subdivision by a preponderance of the evidence.(h) This section shall not be construed to impose liability on any speech or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, or by Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.(i) Notwithstanding any other law, this state, a state official, or a district, county, or city attorney shall not intervene in an action brought under this section. However, this subdivision does not prohibit a person described by this subdivision from filing an amicus curiae brief in the action.(j) Notwithstanding any other law, a court shall not award attorneys fees or costs to a defendant in an action brought under this section.(k) An action pursuant to this section shall not be brought against a federal government, state, political subdivision, or an employee of a federal government, state, or political subdivision on the basis of acts or omissions in the course of discharge of official duties.22949.66. (a) A defendant against whom an action is brought under Section 22949.65 does not have standing to assert the right of another individual to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as a defense to liability under that section unless either of the following is true:(1) The United States Supreme Court holds that the courts of this state must confer standing on that defendant to assert the third-party rights of other individuals in state court as a matter of federal constitutional law.(2) The defendant has standing to assert the rights of other individuals under the tests for third-party standing established by the United States Supreme Court.(b) A defendant in an action brought under Section 22949.65 may assert an affirmative defense to liability under this section if both of the following are true:(1) The defendant has standing to assert the third-party right of an individual to keep and bear arms in accordance with subdivision (a).(2) The defendant demonstrates that the relief sought by the claimant will violate a third-partys rights under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution right as defined by clearly established case law of the United States Supreme Court.(c) Nothing in this section shall in any way limit or preclude a defendant from asserting the defendants personal constitutional rights as a defense to liability under Section 22949.65, and a court shall not award relief under Section 22949.65 if the conduct for which the defendant has been sued was an exercise of a state or federal constitutional right that personally belongs to the defendant.22949.67. This chapter shall not be construed to do any of the following:(a) Authorize the initiation of a cause of action under this chapter against a person purchasing, obtaining, or attempting to purchase or obtain an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part from a person acting in violation of this chapter.(b) Wholly or partly repeal, either expressly or by implication, any other statute that regulates or prohibits any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts, including, but not limited to, Chapters 1.5 and 2 (commencing with Sections 30400 and 30500, respectively) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting conduct relating to assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, unserialized firearms, or firearm precursor parts in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state.22949.68. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a civil action brought under Section 22949.65 shall be brought in any of the following:(1) The county in which all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred.(2) The county of residence for any one of the natural person defendants at the time the cause of action accrued.(3) The county of the principal office in this state of any one of the defendants that is not a natural person.(4) The county of residence for the claimant if the claimant is a natural person residing in this state.(b) Notwithstanding any other law, if a civil action is brought under Section 22949.65 in one of the venues described by subdivision (a), the action shall not be transferred to a different venue without the written consent of all parties.22949.69. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, this state has sovereign immunity, a political subdivision has governmental immunity, and each officer and employee of this state or a political subdivision has official immunity in any action, claim, or counterclaim or any type of legal or equitable action that challenges the validity of any provision or application of this chapter, on constitutional grounds or otherwise.(b) A provision of state law shall not be construed to waive or abrogate an immunity described by subdivision (a) unless it expressly waives immunity under this section.22949.70. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that every provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word in this chapter, and every application of the provisions in this chapter, are severable from each other.(b) If any application of any provision in this chapter to any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining applications of that provision to all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and shall not be affected. All constitutionally valid applications of this chapter shall be severed from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, leaving the valid applications in force, because it is the Legislatures intent and priority that the valid applications be allowed to stand alone. Even if a reviewing court finds a provision of this chapter to impose an unconstitutional burden in a large or substantial fraction of relevant cases, the applications that do not present an unconstitutional burden shall be severed from the remaining applications and shall remain in force, and shall be treated as if the Legislature had enacted a statute limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application does not present an unconstitutional burden. If any court declares or finds a provision of this chapter facially unconstitutional, when discrete applications of that provision can be enforced against a person, group of persons, or circumstances without violating the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, those applications shall be severed from all remaining applications of the provision, and the provision shall be interpreted as if the Legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the provisions application will not violate the United States Constitution and the California Constitution.(c) The Legislature further declares that it would have enacted this chapter, and each provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word, and all constitutional applications of this chapter, irrespective of the fact that any provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or word, or application of this chapter, were to be declared unconstitutional or to represent an unconstitutional burden.(d) If any provision of this chapter is found by any court to be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems shall be severed and remain in force.(e) A court shall not decline to enforce the severability requirements of this section on the ground that severance would rewrite the statute or involve the court in legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory provision of this chapter does not rewrite a statute, as the statute continues to contain the same words as before the courts decision. Each of the following is true about a judicial injunction or declaration of unconstitutionality of a provision of this chapter:(1) It is nothing more than an edict prohibiting enforcement that may subsequently be vacated by a later court if that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the California Constitution or the United States Constitution.(2) It is not a formal amendment of the language in a statute.(3) It no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the executive not to enforce a duly-enacted statute in a limited and defined set of circumstances.22949.71. This chapter shall become inoperative upon invalidation of Subchapter H (commencing with Section 171.201) of Chapter 171 of the Texas Health and Safety Code in its entirety by a final decision of the United States Supreme Court or Texas Supreme Court, and is repealed on January 1 of the following year.
4860
4961 CHAPTER 38. Persons Engaged in the Manufacture, Distribution, Importation, Transportation, Sale, Lease, or Transfer of Firearms and Precursor Parts CHAPTER 38.
5062
5163 CHAPTER 38. Persons Engaged in the Manufacture, Distribution, Importation, Transportation, Sale, Lease, or Transfer of Firearms and Precursor Parts
5264
5365 CHAPTER 38.
5466
5567 22949.60. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the proliferation of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. All Californians are directly harmed by the proliferation of these weapons and this state has a compelling state interest in protecting its citizens from gun violence and from intimidation by persons brandishing these weapons. Further, this state has a compelling interest in enabling law enforcement authorities to trace firearms used, manufactured, distributed, or transported unlawfully.(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the proliferation of firearms to and among young people poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. Firearms are especially dangerous in the hands of young people because current research and scientific evidence show that young people are more impulsive, more likely to engage in risky and reckless behavior, unduly influenced by peer pressure, motivated more by rewards than costs or negative consequences, less likely to consider the future consequences of their actions and decisions, and less able to control themselves in emotionally arousing situations. In recognition of these facts, the Legislature has previously prohibited licensed firearm dealers from selling a firearm to a person under 21 years of age, subject to certain exemptions. This state has a compelling interest in further restricting the proliferation of firearms among those under 21 years of age.(c) The Legislature has previously restricted assault weapons based upon finding that each such firearm has such a high rate of fire and capacity for firepower that its function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings. The Legislature has also previously restricted .50 BMG rifles based upon finding that they pose a clear and present threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, because those firearms have such a high capacity for long-distance and highly destructive firepower that they pose an unacceptable risk of death and serious injury of human beings, destruction or serious damage of vital public and private buildings, civilian, police and military vehicles, power generation and transmission facilities, petrochemical production and storage facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Each of these previous findings is readopted. The Legislature further finds and declares that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and impedes law enforcement activities, and that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of firearm precursor parts and kits is contributing to the proliferation of unserialized firearms in the state.(d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to further restrict in this state the manufacture, distribution, transportation, importation, sale, lending, and transfer of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms, and further restrict the proliferation of firearms to and among those under 21 years of age, by creating new civil law prohibitions and a civil enforcement mechanism, independent of existing law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit in any way the enforceability of existing laws concerning firearms, including, but not limited to, Part 6 (commencing with Section 16000) of the Penal Code.
5668
5769
5870
5971 22949.60. (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the proliferation of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. All Californians are directly harmed by the proliferation of these weapons and this state has a compelling state interest in protecting its citizens from gun violence and from intimidation by persons brandishing these weapons. Further, this state has a compelling interest in enabling law enforcement authorities to trace firearms used, manufactured, distributed, or transported unlawfully.
6072
6173 (b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the proliferation of firearms to and among young people poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state. Firearms are especially dangerous in the hands of young people because current research and scientific evidence show that young people are more impulsive, more likely to engage in risky and reckless behavior, unduly influenced by peer pressure, motivated more by rewards than costs or negative consequences, less likely to consider the future consequences of their actions and decisions, and less able to control themselves in emotionally arousing situations. In recognition of these facts, the Legislature has previously prohibited licensed firearm dealers from selling a firearm to a person under 21 years of age, subject to certain exemptions. This state has a compelling interest in further restricting the proliferation of firearms among those under 21 years of age.
6274
6375 (c) The Legislature has previously restricted assault weapons based upon finding that each such firearm has such a high rate of fire and capacity for firepower that its function as a legitimate sports or recreational firearm is substantially outweighed by the danger that it can be used to kill and injure human beings. The Legislature has also previously restricted .50 BMG rifles based upon finding that they pose a clear and present threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, because those firearms have such a high capacity for long-distance and highly destructive firepower that they pose an unacceptable risk of death and serious injury of human beings, destruction or serious damage of vital public and private buildings, civilian, police and military vehicles, power generation and transmission facilities, petrochemical production and storage facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Each of these previous findings is readopted. The Legislature further finds and declares that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of unserialized firearms poses a threat to the health, safety, and security of all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and impedes law enforcement activities, and that the manufacture, distribution, transport, importation, and sale of firearm precursor parts and kits is contributing to the proliferation of unserialized firearms in the state.
6476
6577 (d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to further restrict in this state the manufacture, distribution, transportation, importation, sale, lending, and transfer of assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, and unserialized firearms, and further restrict the proliferation of firearms to and among those under 21 years of age, by creating new civil law prohibitions and a civil enforcement mechanism, independent of existing law. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit in any way the enforceability of existing laws concerning firearms, including, but not limited to, Part 6 (commencing with Section 16000) of the Penal Code.
6678
6779 22949.61. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:(a) .50 BMG rifle means a center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon or a machinegun. .50 BMG rifle does not include any antique firearm, nor any curio or relic, as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.(b) (1) Assault weapon means the following designated semiautomatic firearms:(A) All of the following specified rifles:(i) All AK series, including, but not limited to, the models identified as follows:(I) Made in China AK, AKM, AKS, AK47, AK47S, 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(II) Norinco 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.(III) Poly Technologies AKS and AK47.(IV) MAADI AK47 and ARM.(ii) UZI and Galil.(iii) Beretta AR-70.(iv) CETME Sporter.(v) Colt AR-15 series.(vi) Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C.(vii) Fabrique Nationale FAL, LAR, FNC, 308 Match, and Sporter.(viii) MAS 223.(ix) HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, and HK-PSG-1.(x) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M11.(xi) SKS with detachable magazine.(xii) SIG AMT, PE-57, SG 550, and SG 551.(xiii) Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48.(xiv) Sterling MK-6.(xv) Steyer AUG.(xvi) Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78S.(xvii) Armalite AR-180.(xviii) Bushmaster Assault Rifle.(xix) Calico M-900.(xx) J&R ENG M-68.(xxi) Weaver Arms Nighthawk.(B) All of the following specified pistols:(i) UZI.(ii) Encom MP-9 and MP-45.(iii) The following MAC types:(I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.(II) SWD Incorporated M-11.(III) Advance Armament Inc. M-11.(IV) Military Armament Corp. Ingram M-11.(V) Intratec TEC-9.(VI) Sites Spectre.(VII) Sterling MK-7.(VIII) Calico M-950.(IX) Bushmaster Pistol.(C) All of the following specified shotguns:(i) Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12.(ii) Striker 12.(iii) The Streetsweeper type S/S Inc. SS/12.(D) Any firearm declared to be an assault weapon by the court pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990, or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, which is specified as an assault weapon in a list promulgated pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991.(E) Any firearm included in the list promulgated by the Attorney General pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, and any other models that are only variations of those weapons with minor differences, regardless of the manufacturer. The Legislature has defined assault weapons as the types, series, and models listed in this paragraph because it was the most effective way to identify and restrict a specific class of semiautomatic weapons.(F) As used in this paragraph, series includes all other models that are only variations, with minor differences, of those models listed in subparagraph (A), regardless of the manufacturer.(2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), assault weapon also means any of the following:(i) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(ii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(iii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(iv) A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:(I) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(II) A second handgrip.(III) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(IV) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(v) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(vi) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:(I) A folding or telescoping stock.(II) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.(vii) A semiautomatic shotgun that does not have a fixed magazine.(viii) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.(ix) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that does not have a fixed magazine, but that has any one of the following:(I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.(II) A thumbhole stock.(III) A folding or telescoping stock.(IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.(V) A flash suppressor.(VI) A forward pistol grip.(VII) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.(VIII) A second handgrip.(IX) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.(X) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.(x) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.(xi) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.(B) For purposes of this paragraph, fixed magazine means an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.(C) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting from the definition of assault weapon pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of assault weapon pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subparagraph (D).(D) Assault weapon does not include either of the following:(i) Any antique firearm.(ii) Any of the following pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subparagraph (C):MANUFACTURERMODELCALIBERBENELLIMP90.22LRBENELLIMP90.32 S&W LONGBENELLIMP95.22LRBENELLIMP95.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLI280.22LRHAMMERLI280.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLISP20.22LRHAMMERLISP20.32 S&W LONGPARDINIGPO.22 SHORTPARDINIGP-SCHUMANN.22 SHORTPARDINIHP.32 S&W LONGPARDINIMP.32 S&W LONGPARDINISP.22LRPARDINISPE.22LRWALTHERGSP.22LRWALTHERGSP.32 S&W LONGWALTHEROSP.22 SHORTWALTHEROSP-2000.22 SHORT(c) Federally regulated firearm precursor part means any firearm precursor part deemed to be a firearm pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and regulations issued pursuant thereto, and that has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms in compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations. (d) Firearm means a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel, a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.(e) (1) Firearm precursor part means any forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that has reached a stage in manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled or converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or that is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled, or converted.(2) Firearm parts that can only be used on antique firearms, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 16170 of the Penal Code, are not firearm precursor parts.(f) Unserialized firearm means a firearm that does not have a serial number as required by law or has had its serial number altered or obliterated.
6880
6981
7082
7183 22949.61. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
7284
7385 (a) .50 BMG rifle means a center fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an assault weapon or a machinegun. .50 BMG rifle does not include any antique firearm, nor any curio or relic, as defined in Section 478.11 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
7486
7587 (b) (1) Assault weapon means the following designated semiautomatic firearms:
7688
7789 (A) All of the following specified rifles:
7890
7991 (i) All AK series, including, but not limited to, the models identified as follows:
8092
8193 (I) Made in China AK, AKM, AKS, AK47, AK47S, 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.
8294
8395 (II) Norinco 56, 56S, 84S, and 86S.
8496
8597 (III) Poly Technologies AKS and AK47.
8698
8799 (IV) MAADI AK47 and ARM.
88100
89101 (ii) UZI and Galil.
90102
91103 (iii) Beretta AR-70.
92104
93105 (iv) CETME Sporter.
94106
95107 (v) Colt AR-15 series.
96108
97109 (vi) Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max 1, Max 2, AR 100, and AR 110C.
98110
99111 (vii) Fabrique Nationale FAL, LAR, FNC, 308 Match, and Sporter.
100112
101113 (viii) MAS 223.
102114
103115 (ix) HK-91, HK-93, HK-94, and HK-PSG-1.
104116
105117 (x) The following MAC types:
106118
107119 (I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.
108120
109121 (II) SWD Incorporated M11.
110122
111123 (xi) SKS with detachable magazine.
112124
113125 (xii) SIG AMT, PE-57, SG 550, and SG 551.
114126
115127 (xiii) Springfield Armory BM59 and SAR-48.
116128
117129 (xiv) Sterling MK-6.
118130
119131 (xv) Steyer AUG.
120132
121133 (xvi) Valmet M62S, M71S, and M78S.
122134
123135 (xvii) Armalite AR-180.
124136
125137 (xviii) Bushmaster Assault Rifle.
126138
127139 (xix) Calico M-900.
128140
129141 (xx) J&R ENG M-68.
130142
131143 (xxi) Weaver Arms Nighthawk.
132144
133145 (B) All of the following specified pistols:
134146
135147 (i) UZI.
136148
137149 (ii) Encom MP-9 and MP-45.
138150
139151 (iii) The following MAC types:
140152
141153 (I) RPB Industries Inc. sM10 and sM11.
142154
143155 (II) SWD Incorporated M-11.
144156
145157 (III) Advance Armament Inc. M-11.
146158
147159 (IV) Military Armament Corp. Ingram M-11.
148160
149161 (V) Intratec TEC-9.
150162
151163 (VI) Sites Spectre.
152164
153165 (VII) Sterling MK-7.
154166
155167 (VIII) Calico M-950.
156168
157169 (IX) Bushmaster Pistol.
158170
159171 (C) All of the following specified shotguns:
160172
161173 (i) Franchi SPAS 12 and LAW 12.
162174
163175 (ii) Striker 12.
164176
165177 (iii) The Streetsweeper type S/S Inc. SS/12.
166178
167179 (D) Any firearm declared to be an assault weapon by the court pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 19 of the Statutes of 1989, Section 1 of Chapter 874 of the Statutes of 1990, or Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, which is specified as an assault weapon in a list promulgated pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991.
168180
169181 (E) Any firearm included in the list promulgated by the Attorney General pursuant to former Section 12276.5 of the Penal Code, as it read in Section 3 of Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1991, and any other models that are only variations of those weapons with minor differences, regardless of the manufacturer. The Legislature has defined assault weapons as the types, series, and models listed in this paragraph because it was the most effective way to identify and restrict a specific class of semiautomatic weapons.
170182
171183 (F) As used in this paragraph, series includes all other models that are only variations, with minor differences, of those models listed in subparagraph (A), regardless of the manufacturer.
172184
173185 (2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), assault weapon also means any of the following:
174186
175187 (i) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:
176188
177189 (I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
178190
179191 (II) A thumbhole stock.
180192
181193 (III) A folding or telescoping stock.
182194
183195 (IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
184196
185197 (V) A flash suppressor.
186198
187199 (VI) A forward pistol grip.
188200
189201 (ii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
190202
191203 (iii) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.
192204
193205 (iv) A semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of the following:
194206
195207 (I) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.
196208
197209 (II) A second handgrip.
198210
199211 (III) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.
200212
201213 (IV) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.
202214
203215 (v) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
204216
205217 (vi) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:
206218
207219 (I) A folding or telescoping stock.
208220
209221 (II) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.
210222
211223 (vii) A semiautomatic shotgun that does not have a fixed magazine.
212224
213225 (viii) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.
214226
215227 (ix) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that does not have a fixed magazine, but that has any one of the following:
216228
217229 (I) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
218230
219231 (II) A thumbhole stock.
220232
221233 (III) A folding or telescoping stock.
222234
223235 (IV) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
224236
225237 (V) A flash suppressor.
226238
227239 (VI) A forward pistol grip.
228240
229241 (VII) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.
230242
231243 (VIII) A second handgrip.
232244
233245 (IX) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning the bearers hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.
234246
235247 (X) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.
236248
237249 (x) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
238250
239251 (xi) A semiautomatic, centerfire firearm that is not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun, that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.
240252
241253 (B) For purposes of this paragraph, fixed magazine means an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.
242254
243255 (C) The Legislature finds a significant public purpose in exempting from the definition of assault weapon pistols that are designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events. Therefore, those pistols that are sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee and by USA Shooting, the national governing body for international shooting competition in the United States, and that were used for Olympic target shooting purposes as of January 1, 2001, and that would otherwise fall within the definition of assault weapon pursuant to this section are exempt, as provided in subparagraph (D).
244256
245257 (D) Assault weapon does not include either of the following:
246258
247259 (i) Any antique firearm.
248260
249261 (ii) Any of the following pistols, because they are consistent with the significant public purpose expressed in subparagraph (C):
250262
251263 MANUFACTURERMODELCALIBERBENELLIMP90.22LRBENELLIMP90.32 S&W LONGBENELLIMP95.22LRBENELLIMP95.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLI280.22LRHAMMERLI280.32 S&W LONGHAMMERLISP20.22LRHAMMERLISP20.32 S&W LONGPARDINIGPO.22 SHORTPARDINIGP-SCHUMANN.22 SHORTPARDINIHP.32 S&W LONGPARDINIMP.32 S&W LONGPARDINISP.22LRPARDINISPE.22LRWALTHERGSP.22LRWALTHERGSP.32 S&W LONGWALTHEROSP.22 SHORTWALTHEROSP-2000.22 SHORT
252264
253265 MANUFACTURER MODEL CALIBER
254266 BENELLI MP90 .22LR
255267 BENELLI MP90 .32 S&W LONG
256268 BENELLI MP95 .22LR
257269 BENELLI MP95 .32 S&W LONG
258270 HAMMERLI 280 .22LR
259271 HAMMERLI 280 .32 S&W LONG
260272 HAMMERLI SP20 .22LR
261273 HAMMERLI SP20 .32 S&W LONG
262274 PARDINI GPO .22 SHORT
263275 PARDINI GP-SCHUMANN .22 SHORT
264276 PARDINI HP .32 S&W LONG
265277 PARDINI MP .32 S&W LONG
266278 PARDINI SP .22LR
267279 PARDINI SPE .22LR
268280 WALTHER GSP .22LR
269281 WALTHER GSP .32 S&W LONG
270282 WALTHER OSP .22 SHORT
271283 WALTHER OSP-2000 .22 SHORT
272284
273285 (c) Federally regulated firearm precursor part means any firearm precursor part deemed to be a firearm pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and regulations issued pursuant thereto, and that has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms in compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations.
274286
275287 (d) Firearm means a device, designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel, a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion.
276288
277289 (e) (1) Firearm precursor part means any forging, casting, printing, extrusion, machined body, or similar article that has reached a stage in manufacture where it may readily be completed, assembled or converted to be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm, or that is marketed or sold to the public to become or be used as the frame or receiver of a functional firearm once completed, assembled, or converted.
278290
279291 (2) Firearm parts that can only be used on antique firearms, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 16170 of the Penal Code, are not firearm precursor parts.
280292
281293 (f) Unserialized firearm means a firearm that does not have a serial number as required by law or has had its serial number altered or obliterated.
282294
283295 22949.62. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, no person within this state may manufacture or cause to be manufactured, distribute, transport, or import into the state, or cause to be distributed, transported, or imported into the state, keep for sale, offer or expose for sale, or give or lend, any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or unserialized firearm, except as provided in subdivisions (e) and (f) and in Section 22949.63.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), or except by operation of law, it shall be unlawful for a person to purchase, sell, offer to sell, or transfer ownership of any firearm precursor part in this state that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part.(2) This subdivision (b) shall not apply to all of the following:(A) The purchase of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part by a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(B) The sale, offer to sell, or transfer of ownership of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part to a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or to a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.(C) A common carrier licensed under state law, or a motor carrier, air carrier or carrier affiliated with an air carrier through common controlling interest that is subject to Title 49 of the United States Code, or an authorized agent of any such carrier, when acting in the course and scope of duties incident to the receipt, processing, transportation, or delivery of property.(c) (1) A person licensed under Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, of the Penal Code shall not sell, supply, deliver, or give possession or control of a firearm to any person who is under 21 years of age.(2) (A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun or a semiautomatic centerfire rifle to a person 18 years of age or older who possesses a valid, unexpired hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.(B) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun, semiautomatic centerfire rifle, completed frame or receiver, or firearm precursor part to a person who is 18 years of age or older and provides proper identification of being an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States. For purposes of this subdivision, proper identification includes an Armed Forces Identification Card or other written documentation certifying that the individual is an honorably discharged member.(C) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun to any of the following persons who are 18 years of age or older:(i) An active peace officer, as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(ii) An active federal officer or law enforcement agent who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.(iii) A reserve peace officer, as described in Section 832.6 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment as a reserve peace officer.(iv) A person who provides proper identification of active membership in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States.(d) The prohibitions described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) apply whether or not the firearm or firearm precursor part is misused or is intended to be misused in a criminal or unlawful manner.(e) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to the sale of an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to, or the purchase, transport, importation, sale or other transfer, or manufacture of, an assault weapon, a .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part by, any law enforcement agency, public entity that employs peace officers, or any authorized law enforcement representative thereof, if that person or entity is not prohibited by law from possessing an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part, including, without limitation, the Department of Justice, a police department or sheriffs or marshals office, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, a district attorneys office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Cannabis Control, the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, a law enforcement or military agency of another state, any federal law enforcement agency, or any foreign government or agency approved by the United States Department of State, for use in the discharge of the official duties of such entities.(f) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle registered under Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or that was possessed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 30630 of the Penal Code, or a firearm assigned a serial number pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, that is disposed of as authorized by the probate court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500), of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.
284296
285297
286298
287299 22949.62. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, no person within this state may manufacture or cause to be manufactured, distribute, transport, or import into the state, or cause to be distributed, transported, or imported into the state, keep for sale, offer or expose for sale, or give or lend, any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or unserialized firearm, except as provided in subdivisions (e) and (f) and in Section 22949.63.
288300
289301 (b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), or except by operation of law, it shall be unlawful for a person to purchase, sell, offer to sell, or transfer ownership of any firearm precursor part in this state that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part.
290302
291303 (2) This subdivision (b) shall not apply to all of the following:
292304
293305 (A) The purchase of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part by a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or by a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.
294306
295307 (B) The sale, offer to sell, or transfer of ownership of a firearm precursor part that is not a federally regulated firearm precursor part to a federally licensed firearms manufacturer or importer, or to a federal licensee authorized to serialize firearms.
296308
297309 (C) A common carrier licensed under state law, or a motor carrier, air carrier or carrier affiliated with an air carrier through common controlling interest that is subject to Title 49 of the United States Code, or an authorized agent of any such carrier, when acting in the course and scope of duties incident to the receipt, processing, transportation, or delivery of property.
298310
299311 (c) (1) A person licensed under Sections 26700 to 26915, inclusive, of the Penal Code shall not sell, supply, deliver, or give possession or control of a firearm to any person who is under 21 years of age.
300312
301313 (2) (A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun or a semiautomatic centerfire rifle to a person 18 years of age or older who possesses a valid, unexpired hunting license issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
302314
303315 (B) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun, semiautomatic centerfire rifle, completed frame or receiver, or firearm precursor part to a person who is 18 years of age or older and provides proper identification of being an honorably discharged member of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States. For purposes of this subdivision, proper identification includes an Armed Forces Identification Card or other written documentation certifying that the individual is an honorably discharged member.
304316
305317 (C) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to or affect the sale, supplying, delivery, or giving possession or control of a firearm that is not a handgun to any of the following persons who are 18 years of age or older:
306318
307319 (i) An active peace officer, as described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.
308320
309321 (ii) An active federal officer or law enforcement agent who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment.
310322
311323 (iii) A reserve peace officer, as described in Section 832.6 of the Penal Code, who is authorized to carry a firearm in the course and scope of employment as a reserve peace officer.
312324
313325 (iv) A person who provides proper identification of active membership in the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the active reserve components of the United States.
314326
315327 (d) The prohibitions described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) apply whether or not the firearm or firearm precursor part is misused or is intended to be misused in a criminal or unlawful manner.
316328
317329 (e) Subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to the sale of an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to, or the purchase, transport, importation, sale or other transfer, or manufacture of, an assault weapon, a .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part by, any law enforcement agency, public entity that employs peace officers, or any authorized law enforcement representative thereof, if that person or entity is not prohibited by law from possessing an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part, including, without limitation, the Department of Justice, a police department or sheriffs or marshals office, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, a district attorneys office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Cannabis Control, the military or naval forces of this state or of the United States, a law enforcement or military agency of another state, any federal law enforcement agency, or any foreign government or agency approved by the United States Department of State, for use in the discharge of the official duties of such entities.
318330
319331 (f) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who is the executor or administrator of an estate that includes an assault weapon or a .50 BMG rifle registered under Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or that was possessed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 30630 of the Penal Code, or a firearm assigned a serial number pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, that is disposed of as authorized by the probate court, if the disposition is otherwise permitted by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500), of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.
320332
321333 22949.63. (a) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may take possession of any assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle from any person to whom it is legally registered or who has been issued a permit to possess it pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or of any firearm precursor part, for the purposes of servicing or repair.(b) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may transfer possession of any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part received pursuant to subdivision (a), to a gunsmith for purposes of repairing or servicing that weapon. A transfer is permissible only to the following persons:(1) A gunsmith employed the dealer.(2) A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for gunsmithing services.(c) Paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) applies only if the gunsmith receiving the assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part meets both of the following qualifications:(1) The gunsmith holds a dealer license issued pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.(2) The gunsmith holds any business license required by a state or local governmental entity.(d) In addition to the uses permitted in Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) of, and Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of, Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, any licensed gun dealer who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part pursuant to those provisions may do either of the following:(1) Transport the firearm or firearm precursor part between dealers or out of the state if that person is permitted pursuant to the National Firearms Act. Any transporting allowed by this section or Section 22949.62 shall be in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code.(2) Sell the firearm or firearm precursor part to a resident outside the state.(e) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any individual may, provided that the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is transported in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code, do any of the following:(1) Arrange in advance to relinquish an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to a police or sheriffs department.(2) Sell, deliver, or transfer an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to an authorized representative of a city, city and county, county, or state government, or of the federal government, provided that the entity is acquiring the weapon as part of an authorized, voluntary program in which the entity is buying or receiving weapons from private individuals.(3) Transfer, relinquish, or dispose of a firearm or precursor part in compliance with the requirements of Section 29810 or Section 29830 of the Penal Code.
322334
323335
324336
325337 22949.63. (a) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may take possession of any assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle from any person to whom it is legally registered or who has been issued a permit to possess it pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, or of any firearm precursor part, for the purposes of servicing or repair.
326338
327339 (b) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any licensed firearms dealer may transfer possession of any assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part received pursuant to subdivision (a), to a gunsmith for purposes of repairing or servicing that weapon. A transfer is permissible only to the following persons:
328340
329341 (1) A gunsmith employed the dealer.
330342
331343 (2) A gunsmith with whom the dealer has contracted for gunsmithing services.
332344
333345 (c) Paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) applies only if the gunsmith receiving the assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part meets both of the following qualifications:
334346
335347 (1) The gunsmith holds a dealer license issued pursuant to Chapter 44 (commencing with Section 921) of Title 18 of the United States Code and the regulations issued pursuant thereto.
336348
337349 (2) The gunsmith holds any business license required by a state or local governmental entity.
338350
339351 (d) In addition to the uses permitted in Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) of, and Article 5 (commencing with Section 30900) of Chapter 2 of, Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code, any licensed gun dealer who lawfully possesses an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, or firearm precursor part pursuant to those provisions may do either of the following:
340352
341353 (1) Transport the firearm or firearm precursor part between dealers or out of the state if that person is permitted pursuant to the National Firearms Act. Any transporting allowed by this section or Section 22949.62 shall be in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code.
342354
343355 (2) Sell the firearm or firearm precursor part to a resident outside the state.
344356
345357 (e) Notwithstanding Section 22949.62, any individual may, provided that the assault weapon or .50 BMG rifle is transported in compliance with Sections 16850 and 25610 of the Penal Code, do any of the following:
346358
347359 (1) Arrange in advance to relinquish an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to a police or sheriffs department.
348360
349361 (2) Sell, deliver, or transfer an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part to an authorized representative of a city, city and county, county, or state government, or of the federal government, provided that the entity is acquiring the weapon as part of an authorized, voluntary program in which the entity is buying or receiving weapons from private individuals.
350362
351363 (3) Transfer, relinquish, or dispose of a firearm or precursor part in compliance with the requirements of Section 29810 or Section 29830 of the Penal Code.
352364
353365 22949.64. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the requirements of this chapter shall be enforced exclusively through the private civil actions described in Section 22949.65. No enforcement of this chapter may be taken or threatened by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65.(b) The fact that conduct violates this chapter shall not be an independent basis for enforcement of any other law of this state, or the denial, revocation, suspension, or withholding of any right or privilege conferred by the law of this state or a political subdivision, or a threat to do the same, by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision, or a board, commission, or similar body assigned authority to do so under law, against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65. Nor shall any civil action predicated upon a violation of this chapter be brought by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision. For avoidance of doubt, the rights and privileges described by this subdivision include, but are not limited to, any business licenses and permits issued pursuant to this code or any firearms, ammunition, or precursor parts dealer or vendor licenses issued pursuant to Title 4 (commencing with Section 23500) of Part 6 of the Penal Code. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent or limit enforcement of any other law regulating conduct that also violates this chapter, including, but not limited to, Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not be construed to do any of the following:(1) Legalize the conduct prohibited by this chapter or by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(2) Waive any requirements prescribed in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(3) Limit or affect the availability of a remedy established by Section 22949.65.(4) Limit the enforceability of any other laws that regulate or prohibit any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts.
354366
355367
356368
357369 22949.64. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the requirements of this chapter shall be enforced exclusively through the private civil actions described in Section 22949.65. No enforcement of this chapter may be taken or threatened by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65.
358370
359371 (b) The fact that conduct violates this chapter shall not be an independent basis for enforcement of any other law of this state, or the denial, revocation, suspension, or withholding of any right or privilege conferred by the law of this state or a political subdivision, or a threat to do the same, by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision, or a board, commission, or similar body assigned authority to do so under law, against any person, except as provided in Section 22949.65. Nor shall any civil action predicated upon a violation of this chapter be brought by this state, a political subdivision, a district or county or city attorney, or an executive or administrative officer or employee of this state or a political subdivision. For avoidance of doubt, the rights and privileges described by this subdivision include, but are not limited to, any business licenses and permits issued pursuant to this code or any firearms, ammunition, or precursor parts dealer or vendor licenses issued pursuant to Title 4 (commencing with Section 23500) of Part 6 of the Penal Code. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent or limit enforcement of any other law regulating conduct that also violates this chapter, including, but not limited to, Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.
360372
361373 (c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not be construed to do any of the following:
362374
363375 (1) Legalize the conduct prohibited by this chapter or by Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 30400) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 30500) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.
364376
365377 (2) Waive any requirements prescribed in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.
366378
367379 (3) Limit or affect the availability of a remedy established by Section 22949.65.
368380
369381 (4) Limit the enforceability of any other laws that regulate or prohibit any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts.
370382
371383 22949.65. (a) Any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity in this state, may bring a civil action against any person who does any of the following:(1) Knowingly violates Section 22949.62.(2) Knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets a violation of Section 22949.62, regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the person aided or abetted would be violating Section 22949.62.(3) Knowingly commits an act with the intent to engage in the conduct described by paragraph (1) or (2).(b) If a claimant prevails in an action brought under this section, the court shall award all of the following:(1) Injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating this chapter or engaging in acts that aid or abet violations of this chapter.(2) (A) (i) Statutory damages in an amount of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated Section 22949.62, and for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant aided or abetted a violation of Section 22949.62.(ii) This subparagraph shall remain in effect unless found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, in which case this subparagraph is repealed and subparagraph (B) shall become operational.(B) (i) A civil penalty in an appropriate amount to be determined by the court for each violation of this chapter. In making that determination, the court shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, the number of firearms or precursor parts involved in the defendants violation of this chapter, the duration of the prohibited conduct, whether the defendant has previously violated this chapter or any other federal, state, or local law concerning the regulation of firearms, and any other factors tending to increase the risk to the public, such as proximity of the violations to sensitive places.(ii) This subparagraph shall become effective only if a court finds subparagraph (A) to be invalid or unconstitutional.(3) Attorneys fees and costs.(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a court shall not award relief under this section in response to a violation of subdivision (a) if the defendant demonstrates that the defendant previously paid the full amount of any monetary award under subdivision (b) in a previous action for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated, or aided or abetted a violation of, Section 22949.62.(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a cause of action under this section shall be extinguished unless the action is brought not later than four years after the cause of action accrues.(e) An act or omission in violation of Section 22949.62 shall be deemed an injury in fact to all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and any such person shall have standing to bring a civil action pursuant to this section.(f) Notwithstanding any other law, none of the following is a defense to an action brought under this section:(1) A defendants ignorance or mistake of law.(2) A defendants belief that the requirements of this chapter are unconstitutional or were unconstitutional.(3) A defendants reliance on any court decision that has been overruled on appeal or by a subsequent court, even if that court decision had not been overruled when the defendant engaged in conduct that violates this chapter.(4) A defendants reliance on any state or federal court decision that is not binding on the court in which the action has been brought.(5) Nonmutual issue preclusion or nonmutual claim preclusion.(6) Any claim that the enforcement of this chapter or the imposition of civil liability against the defendant will violate a constitutional right of a third party.(7) A defendants assertion that this chapter proscribes conduct that is separately prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state, or that this chapter proscribes conduct beyond that which is already prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state.(8) Any claim that the firearm or firearm precursor part at issue was not misused, or was not intended to be misused, in a criminal or unlawful manner.(g) (1) Both of the following are affirmative defenses to an action brought under this section:(A) A person sued under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person aided or abetted was complying with this chapter.(B) A person sued under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person was complying with this chapter or was aiding or abetting another who was complying with this chapter.(2) The defendant has the burden of proving an affirmative defense under this subdivision by a preponderance of the evidence.(h) This section shall not be construed to impose liability on any speech or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, or by Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.(i) Notwithstanding any other law, this state, a state official, or a district, county, or city attorney shall not intervene in an action brought under this section. However, this subdivision does not prohibit a person described by this subdivision from filing an amicus curiae brief in the action.(j) Notwithstanding any other law, a court shall not award attorneys fees or costs to a defendant in an action brought under this section.(k) An action pursuant to this section shall not be brought against a federal government, state, political subdivision, or an employee of a federal government, state, or political subdivision on the basis of acts or omissions in the course of discharge of official duties.
372384
373385
374386
375387 22949.65. (a) Any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity in this state, may bring a civil action against any person who does any of the following:
376388
377389 (1) Knowingly violates Section 22949.62.
378390
379391 (2) Knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets a violation of Section 22949.62, regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the person aided or abetted would be violating Section 22949.62.
380392
381393 (3) Knowingly commits an act with the intent to engage in the conduct described by paragraph (1) or (2).
382394
383395 (b) If a claimant prevails in an action brought under this section, the court shall award all of the following:
384396
385397 (1) Injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating this chapter or engaging in acts that aid or abet violations of this chapter.
386398
387399 (2) (A) (i) Statutory damages in an amount of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated Section 22949.62, and for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant aided or abetted a violation of Section 22949.62.
388400
389401 (ii) This subparagraph shall remain in effect unless found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, in which case this subparagraph is repealed and subparagraph (B) shall become operational.
390402
391403 (B) (i) A civil penalty in an appropriate amount to be determined by the court for each violation of this chapter. In making that determination, the court shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, the number of firearms or precursor parts involved in the defendants violation of this chapter, the duration of the prohibited conduct, whether the defendant has previously violated this chapter or any other federal, state, or local law concerning the regulation of firearms, and any other factors tending to increase the risk to the public, such as proximity of the violations to sensitive places.
392404
393405 (ii) This subparagraph shall become effective only if a court finds subparagraph (A) to be invalid or unconstitutional.
394406
395407 (3) Attorneys fees and costs.
396408
397409 (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a court shall not award relief under this section in response to a violation of subdivision (a) if the defendant demonstrates that the defendant previously paid the full amount of any monetary award under subdivision (b) in a previous action for each weapon or firearm precursor part as to which the defendant violated, or aided or abetted a violation of, Section 22949.62.
398410
399411 (d) Notwithstanding any other law, a cause of action under this section shall be extinguished unless the action is brought not later than four years after the cause of action accrues.
400412
401413 (e) An act or omission in violation of Section 22949.62 shall be deemed an injury in fact to all residents of, and visitors to, this state, and any such person shall have standing to bring a civil action pursuant to this section.
402414
403415 (f) Notwithstanding any other law, none of the following is a defense to an action brought under this section:
404416
405417 (1) A defendants ignorance or mistake of law.
406418
407419 (2) A defendants belief that the requirements of this chapter are unconstitutional or were unconstitutional.
408420
409421 (3) A defendants reliance on any court decision that has been overruled on appeal or by a subsequent court, even if that court decision had not been overruled when the defendant engaged in conduct that violates this chapter.
410422
411423 (4) A defendants reliance on any state or federal court decision that is not binding on the court in which the action has been brought.
412424
413425 (5) Nonmutual issue preclusion or nonmutual claim preclusion.
414426
415427 (6) Any claim that the enforcement of this chapter or the imposition of civil liability against the defendant will violate a constitutional right of a third party.
416428
417429 (7) A defendants assertion that this chapter proscribes conduct that is separately prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state, or that this chapter proscribes conduct beyond that which is already prohibited by the Penal Code or any other law of this state.
418430
419431 (8) Any claim that the firearm or firearm precursor part at issue was not misused, or was not intended to be misused, in a criminal or unlawful manner.
420432
421433 (g) (1) Both of the following are affirmative defenses to an action brought under this section:
422434
423435 (A) A person sued under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person aided or abetted was complying with this chapter.
424436
425437 (B) A person sued under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) reasonably believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the person was complying with this chapter or was aiding or abetting another who was complying with this chapter.
426438
427439 (2) The defendant has the burden of proving an affirmative defense under this subdivision by a preponderance of the evidence.
428440
429441 (h) This section shall not be construed to impose liability on any speech or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, or by Section 2 of Article I of the California Constitution.
430442
431443 (i) Notwithstanding any other law, this state, a state official, or a district, county, or city attorney shall not intervene in an action brought under this section. However, this subdivision does not prohibit a person described by this subdivision from filing an amicus curiae brief in the action.
432444
433445 (j) Notwithstanding any other law, a court shall not award attorneys fees or costs to a defendant in an action brought under this section.
434446
435447 (k) An action pursuant to this section shall not be brought against a federal government, state, political subdivision, or an employee of a federal government, state, or political subdivision on the basis of acts or omissions in the course of discharge of official duties.
436448
437449 22949.66. (a) A defendant against whom an action is brought under Section 22949.65 does not have standing to assert the right of another individual to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as a defense to liability under that section unless either of the following is true:(1) The United States Supreme Court holds that the courts of this state must confer standing on that defendant to assert the third-party rights of other individuals in state court as a matter of federal constitutional law.(2) The defendant has standing to assert the rights of other individuals under the tests for third-party standing established by the United States Supreme Court.(b) A defendant in an action brought under Section 22949.65 may assert an affirmative defense to liability under this section if both of the following are true:(1) The defendant has standing to assert the third-party right of an individual to keep and bear arms in accordance with subdivision (a).(2) The defendant demonstrates that the relief sought by the claimant will violate a third-partys rights under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution right as defined by clearly established case law of the United States Supreme Court.(c) Nothing in this section shall in any way limit or preclude a defendant from asserting the defendants personal constitutional rights as a defense to liability under Section 22949.65, and a court shall not award relief under Section 22949.65 if the conduct for which the defendant has been sued was an exercise of a state or federal constitutional right that personally belongs to the defendant.
438450
439451
440452
441453 22949.66. (a) A defendant against whom an action is brought under Section 22949.65 does not have standing to assert the right of another individual to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution as a defense to liability under that section unless either of the following is true:
442454
443455 (1) The United States Supreme Court holds that the courts of this state must confer standing on that defendant to assert the third-party rights of other individuals in state court as a matter of federal constitutional law.
444456
445457 (2) The defendant has standing to assert the rights of other individuals under the tests for third-party standing established by the United States Supreme Court.
446458
447459 (b) A defendant in an action brought under Section 22949.65 may assert an affirmative defense to liability under this section if both of the following are true:
448460
449461 (1) The defendant has standing to assert the third-party right of an individual to keep and bear arms in accordance with subdivision (a).
450462
451463 (2) The defendant demonstrates that the relief sought by the claimant will violate a third-partys rights under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution right as defined by clearly established case law of the United States Supreme Court.
452464
453465 (c) Nothing in this section shall in any way limit or preclude a defendant from asserting the defendants personal constitutional rights as a defense to liability under Section 22949.65, and a court shall not award relief under Section 22949.65 if the conduct for which the defendant has been sued was an exercise of a state or federal constitutional right that personally belongs to the defendant.
454466
455467 22949.67. This chapter shall not be construed to do any of the following:(a) Authorize the initiation of a cause of action under this chapter against a person purchasing, obtaining, or attempting to purchase or obtain an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part from a person acting in violation of this chapter.(b) Wholly or partly repeal, either expressly or by implication, any other statute that regulates or prohibits any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts, including, but not limited to, Chapters 1.5 and 2 (commencing with Sections 30400 and 30500, respectively) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.(c) Restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting conduct relating to assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, unserialized firearms, or firearm precursor parts in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state.
456468
457469
458470
459471 22949.67. This chapter shall not be construed to do any of the following:
460472
461473 (a) Authorize the initiation of a cause of action under this chapter against a person purchasing, obtaining, or attempting to purchase or obtain an assault weapon, .50 BMG rifle, unserialized firearm, or firearm precursor part from a person acting in violation of this chapter.
462474
463475 (b) Wholly or partly repeal, either expressly or by implication, any other statute that regulates or prohibits any conduct relating to firearms or firearm precursor parts, including, but not limited to, Chapters 1.5 and 2 (commencing with Sections 30400 and 30500, respectively) of Division 10 of Title 4 of Part 6 and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 29180) of Division 7 of Title 4 of Part 6 of the Penal Code.
464476
465477 (c) Restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting conduct relating to assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, unserialized firearms, or firearm precursor parts in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state.
466478
467479 22949.68. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a civil action brought under Section 22949.65 shall be brought in any of the following:(1) The county in which all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred.(2) The county of residence for any one of the natural person defendants at the time the cause of action accrued.(3) The county of the principal office in this state of any one of the defendants that is not a natural person.(4) The county of residence for the claimant if the claimant is a natural person residing in this state.(b) Notwithstanding any other law, if a civil action is brought under Section 22949.65 in one of the venues described by subdivision (a), the action shall not be transferred to a different venue without the written consent of all parties.
468480
469481
470482
471483 22949.68. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a civil action brought under Section 22949.65 shall be brought in any of the following:
472484
473485 (1) The county in which all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred.
474486
475487 (2) The county of residence for any one of the natural person defendants at the time the cause of action accrued.
476488
477489 (3) The county of the principal office in this state of any one of the defendants that is not a natural person.
478490
479491 (4) The county of residence for the claimant if the claimant is a natural person residing in this state.
480492
481493 (b) Notwithstanding any other law, if a civil action is brought under Section 22949.65 in one of the venues described by subdivision (a), the action shall not be transferred to a different venue without the written consent of all parties.
482494
483495 22949.69. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, this state has sovereign immunity, a political subdivision has governmental immunity, and each officer and employee of this state or a political subdivision has official immunity in any action, claim, or counterclaim or any type of legal or equitable action that challenges the validity of any provision or application of this chapter, on constitutional grounds or otherwise.(b) A provision of state law shall not be construed to waive or abrogate an immunity described by subdivision (a) unless it expressly waives immunity under this section.
484496
485497
486498
487499 22949.69. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, this state has sovereign immunity, a political subdivision has governmental immunity, and each officer and employee of this state or a political subdivision has official immunity in any action, claim, or counterclaim or any type of legal or equitable action that challenges the validity of any provision or application of this chapter, on constitutional grounds or otherwise.
488500
489501 (b) A provision of state law shall not be construed to waive or abrogate an immunity described by subdivision (a) unless it expressly waives immunity under this section.
490502
491503 22949.70. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that every provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word in this chapter, and every application of the provisions in this chapter, are severable from each other.(b) If any application of any provision in this chapter to any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining applications of that provision to all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and shall not be affected. All constitutionally valid applications of this chapter shall be severed from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, leaving the valid applications in force, because it is the Legislatures intent and priority that the valid applications be allowed to stand alone. Even if a reviewing court finds a provision of this chapter to impose an unconstitutional burden in a large or substantial fraction of relevant cases, the applications that do not present an unconstitutional burden shall be severed from the remaining applications and shall remain in force, and shall be treated as if the Legislature had enacted a statute limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application does not present an unconstitutional burden. If any court declares or finds a provision of this chapter facially unconstitutional, when discrete applications of that provision can be enforced against a person, group of persons, or circumstances without violating the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, those applications shall be severed from all remaining applications of the provision, and the provision shall be interpreted as if the Legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the provisions application will not violate the United States Constitution and the California Constitution.(c) The Legislature further declares that it would have enacted this chapter, and each provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word, and all constitutional applications of this chapter, irrespective of the fact that any provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or word, or application of this chapter, were to be declared unconstitutional or to represent an unconstitutional burden.(d) If any provision of this chapter is found by any court to be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems shall be severed and remain in force.(e) A court shall not decline to enforce the severability requirements of this section on the ground that severance would rewrite the statute or involve the court in legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory provision of this chapter does not rewrite a statute, as the statute continues to contain the same words as before the courts decision. Each of the following is true about a judicial injunction or declaration of unconstitutionality of a provision of this chapter:(1) It is nothing more than an edict prohibiting enforcement that may subsequently be vacated by a later court if that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the California Constitution or the United States Constitution.(2) It is not a formal amendment of the language in a statute.(3) It no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the executive not to enforce a duly-enacted statute in a limited and defined set of circumstances.
492504
493505
494506
495507 22949.70. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that every provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word in this chapter, and every application of the provisions in this chapter, are severable from each other.
496508
497509 (b) If any application of any provision in this chapter to any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining applications of that provision to all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and shall not be affected. All constitutionally valid applications of this chapter shall be severed from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, leaving the valid applications in force, because it is the Legislatures intent and priority that the valid applications be allowed to stand alone. Even if a reviewing court finds a provision of this chapter to impose an unconstitutional burden in a large or substantial fraction of relevant cases, the applications that do not present an unconstitutional burden shall be severed from the remaining applications and shall remain in force, and shall be treated as if the Legislature had enacted a statute limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application does not present an unconstitutional burden. If any court declares or finds a provision of this chapter facially unconstitutional, when discrete applications of that provision can be enforced against a person, group of persons, or circumstances without violating the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, those applications shall be severed from all remaining applications of the provision, and the provision shall be interpreted as if the Legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the provisions application will not violate the United States Constitution and the California Constitution.
498510
499511 (c) The Legislature further declares that it would have enacted this chapter, and each provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, and word, and all constitutional applications of this chapter, irrespective of the fact that any provision, section, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or word, or application of this chapter, were to be declared unconstitutional or to represent an unconstitutional burden.
500512
501513 (d) If any provision of this chapter is found by any court to be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems shall be severed and remain in force.
502514
503515 (e) A court shall not decline to enforce the severability requirements of this section on the ground that severance would rewrite the statute or involve the court in legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory provision of this chapter does not rewrite a statute, as the statute continues to contain the same words as before the courts decision. Each of the following is true about a judicial injunction or declaration of unconstitutionality of a provision of this chapter:
504516
505517 (1) It is nothing more than an edict prohibiting enforcement that may subsequently be vacated by a later court if that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the California Constitution or the United States Constitution.
506518
507519 (2) It is not a formal amendment of the language in a statute.
508520
509521 (3) It no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the executive not to enforce a duly-enacted statute in a limited and defined set of circumstances.
510522
511523 22949.71. This chapter shall become inoperative upon invalidation of Subchapter H (commencing with Section 171.201) of Chapter 171 of the Texas Health and Safety Code in its entirety by a final decision of the United States Supreme Court or Texas Supreme Court, and is repealed on January 1 of the following year.
512524
513525
514526
515527 22949.71. This chapter shall become inoperative upon invalidation of Subchapter H (commencing with Section 171.201) of Chapter 171 of the Texas Health and Safety Code in its entirety by a final decision of the United States Supreme Court or Texas Supreme Court, and is repealed on January 1 of the following year.
516528
517529 SEC. 2. Section 1021.11 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, to read:1021.11. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief to prevent this state, a political subdivision, a governmental entity or public official in this state, or a person in this state from enforcing any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or any other type of law that regulates or restricts firearms, or that represents any litigant seeking that relief, is jointly and severally liable to pay the attorneys fees and costs of the prevailing party.(b) For purposes of this section, a party is considered a prevailing party if a court does either of the following:(1) Dismisses any claim or cause of action brought by the party seeking the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), regardless of the reason for the dismissal.(2) Enters judgment in favor of the party opposing the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), on any claim or cause of action.(c) Regardless of whether a prevailing party sought to recover attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action, a prevailing party under this section may bring a civil action to recover attorneys fees and costs against a person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, that sought declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a) not later than the third anniversary of the date on which, as applicable:(1) The dismissal or judgment described by subdivision (b) becomes final upon the conclusion of appellate review.(2) The time for seeking appellate review expires.(d) None of the following are a defense to an action brought under subdivision (c):(1) A prevailing party under this section failed to seek recovery of attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action.(2) The court in the underlying action declined to recognize or enforce the requirements of this section.(3) The court in the underlying action held that any provision of this section is invalid, unconstitutional, or preempted by federal law, notwithstanding the doctrines of issue or claim preclusion.(e) Any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief as described in subdivision (a), shall not be deemed a prevailing party under this section or any other provision of this chapter.
518530
519531 SEC. 2. Section 1021.11 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, to read:
520532
521533 ### SEC. 2.
522534
523535 1021.11. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief to prevent this state, a political subdivision, a governmental entity or public official in this state, or a person in this state from enforcing any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or any other type of law that regulates or restricts firearms, or that represents any litigant seeking that relief, is jointly and severally liable to pay the attorneys fees and costs of the prevailing party.(b) For purposes of this section, a party is considered a prevailing party if a court does either of the following:(1) Dismisses any claim or cause of action brought by the party seeking the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), regardless of the reason for the dismissal.(2) Enters judgment in favor of the party opposing the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), on any claim or cause of action.(c) Regardless of whether a prevailing party sought to recover attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action, a prevailing party under this section may bring a civil action to recover attorneys fees and costs against a person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, that sought declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a) not later than the third anniversary of the date on which, as applicable:(1) The dismissal or judgment described by subdivision (b) becomes final upon the conclusion of appellate review.(2) The time for seeking appellate review expires.(d) None of the following are a defense to an action brought under subdivision (c):(1) A prevailing party under this section failed to seek recovery of attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action.(2) The court in the underlying action declined to recognize or enforce the requirements of this section.(3) The court in the underlying action held that any provision of this section is invalid, unconstitutional, or preempted by federal law, notwithstanding the doctrines of issue or claim preclusion.(e) Any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief as described in subdivision (a), shall not be deemed a prevailing party under this section or any other provision of this chapter.
524536
525537 1021.11. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief to prevent this state, a political subdivision, a governmental entity or public official in this state, or a person in this state from enforcing any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or any other type of law that regulates or restricts firearms, or that represents any litigant seeking that relief, is jointly and severally liable to pay the attorneys fees and costs of the prevailing party.(b) For purposes of this section, a party is considered a prevailing party if a court does either of the following:(1) Dismisses any claim or cause of action brought by the party seeking the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), regardless of the reason for the dismissal.(2) Enters judgment in favor of the party opposing the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), on any claim or cause of action.(c) Regardless of whether a prevailing party sought to recover attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action, a prevailing party under this section may bring a civil action to recover attorneys fees and costs against a person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, that sought declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a) not later than the third anniversary of the date on which, as applicable:(1) The dismissal or judgment described by subdivision (b) becomes final upon the conclusion of appellate review.(2) The time for seeking appellate review expires.(d) None of the following are a defense to an action brought under subdivision (c):(1) A prevailing party under this section failed to seek recovery of attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action.(2) The court in the underlying action declined to recognize or enforce the requirements of this section.(3) The court in the underlying action held that any provision of this section is invalid, unconstitutional, or preempted by federal law, notwithstanding the doctrines of issue or claim preclusion.(e) Any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief as described in subdivision (a), shall not be deemed a prevailing party under this section or any other provision of this chapter.
526538
527539 1021.11. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief to prevent this state, a political subdivision, a governmental entity or public official in this state, or a person in this state from enforcing any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or any other type of law that regulates or restricts firearms, or that represents any litigant seeking that relief, is jointly and severally liable to pay the attorneys fees and costs of the prevailing party.(b) For purposes of this section, a party is considered a prevailing party if a court does either of the following:(1) Dismisses any claim or cause of action brought by the party seeking the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), regardless of the reason for the dismissal.(2) Enters judgment in favor of the party opposing the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), on any claim or cause of action.(c) Regardless of whether a prevailing party sought to recover attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action, a prevailing party under this section may bring a civil action to recover attorneys fees and costs against a person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, that sought declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a) not later than the third anniversary of the date on which, as applicable:(1) The dismissal or judgment described by subdivision (b) becomes final upon the conclusion of appellate review.(2) The time for seeking appellate review expires.(d) None of the following are a defense to an action brought under subdivision (c):(1) A prevailing party under this section failed to seek recovery of attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action.(2) The court in the underlying action declined to recognize or enforce the requirements of this section.(3) The court in the underlying action held that any provision of this section is invalid, unconstitutional, or preempted by federal law, notwithstanding the doctrines of issue or claim preclusion.(e) Any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief as described in subdivision (a), shall not be deemed a prevailing party under this section or any other provision of this chapter.
528540
529541
530542
531543 1021.11. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief to prevent this state, a political subdivision, a governmental entity or public official in this state, or a person in this state from enforcing any statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, or any other type of law that regulates or restricts firearms, or that represents any litigant seeking that relief, is jointly and severally liable to pay the attorneys fees and costs of the prevailing party.
532544
533545 (b) For purposes of this section, a party is considered a prevailing party if a court does either of the following:
534546
535547 (1) Dismisses any claim or cause of action brought by the party seeking the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), regardless of the reason for the dismissal.
536548
537549 (2) Enters judgment in favor of the party opposing the declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a), on any claim or cause of action.
538550
539551 (c) Regardless of whether a prevailing party sought to recover attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action, a prevailing party under this section may bring a civil action to recover attorneys fees and costs against a person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, that sought declaratory or injunctive relief described by subdivision (a) not later than the third anniversary of the date on which, as applicable:
540552
541553 (1) The dismissal or judgment described by subdivision (b) becomes final upon the conclusion of appellate review.
542554
543555 (2) The time for seeking appellate review expires.
544556
545557 (d) None of the following are a defense to an action brought under subdivision (c):
546558
547559 (1) A prevailing party under this section failed to seek recovery of attorneys fees or costs in the underlying action.
548560
549561 (2) The court in the underlying action declined to recognize or enforce the requirements of this section.
550562
551563 (3) The court in the underlying action held that any provision of this section is invalid, unconstitutional, or preempted by federal law, notwithstanding the doctrines of issue or claim preclusion.
552564
553565 (e) Any person, including an entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive relief as described in subdivision (a), shall not be deemed a prevailing party under this section or any other provision of this chapter.
554566
555567 SEC. 3. (a) A statute that regulates or prohibits firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute that regulates or prohibits firearms, either wholly or partly, unless the later-enacted statute explicitly states that it is repealing the other statute.(b) A statute shall not be construed to restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting firearms in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state, unless the statute explicitly states that political subdivisions are prohibited from regulating or prohibiting firearms in the manner described by the statute.(c) Every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each of its applications to every person and circumstance. If any statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is found by any court to be unconstitutional, either on its face or as applied, then all applications of that statute that do not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution shall be severed from the unconstitutional applications and shall remain enforceable, notwithstanding any other law, and the statute shall be interpreted as if containing language limiting the statutes application to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application will not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution.
556568
557569 SEC. 3. (a) A statute that regulates or prohibits firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute that regulates or prohibits firearms, either wholly or partly, unless the later-enacted statute explicitly states that it is repealing the other statute.(b) A statute shall not be construed to restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting firearms in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state, unless the statute explicitly states that political subdivisions are prohibited from regulating or prohibiting firearms in the manner described by the statute.(c) Every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each of its applications to every person and circumstance. If any statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is found by any court to be unconstitutional, either on its face or as applied, then all applications of that statute that do not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution shall be severed from the unconstitutional applications and shall remain enforceable, notwithstanding any other law, and the statute shall be interpreted as if containing language limiting the statutes application to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application will not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution.
558570
559571 SEC. 3. (a) A statute that regulates or prohibits firearms shall not be construed to repeal any other statute that regulates or prohibits firearms, either wholly or partly, unless the later-enacted statute explicitly states that it is repealing the other statute.
560572
561573 ### SEC. 3.
562574
563575 (b) A statute shall not be construed to restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting firearms in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state, unless the statute explicitly states that political subdivisions are prohibited from regulating or prohibiting firearms in the manner described by the statute.
564576
565577 (c) Every statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is severable in each of its applications to every person and circumstance. If any statute that regulates or prohibits firearms is found by any court to be unconstitutional, either on its face or as applied, then all applications of that statute that do not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution shall be severed from the unconstitutional applications and shall remain enforceable, notwithstanding any other law, and the statute shall be interpreted as if containing language limiting the statutes application to the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the statutes application will not violate the United States Constitution and California Constitution.