The California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA) is trying to bring awareness to proposed legislation which could greatly affect gun owners. Senate Bill 1160 would require every gun to be registered and taxed repeatedly.
Senate Bill 1160 states:
This bill would require every firearm in the state, except those specifically exempted, to be annually registered with the department. The bill would require the registrant to annually pay a fee, as specified, to be deposited into a special fund that is continuously appropriated to the department for the express purpose of carrying out the administration and enforcement of the firearm registry.
The bill would require the department to establish and maintain a system for the annual registration of firearms and would require the department to make registration information available to other law enforcement agencies, as specified. The bill would require the department to make reasonable efforts to notify firearms dealers, firearm owners, and the general public regarding registration requirements.
This bill would specify that registration shall not be deemed evidence that the registrant is lawfully permitted to own or possess the registered firearm nor that they are the lawful owner of the firearm. The bill would also, consistent with existing federal law, prohibit the use of certain federal records in establishing or enforcing the registry.
This bill would prohibit possession of an unregistered firearm, a violation of which would be punishable as an infraction.
“Those of you who thought gun control didn’t matter because they weren’t going after you or your gun, we told you this was always part of their plan” CRPA.org writes of the bill. “They want to know about every single gun in the state, and every single gun owner. And they are going to charge you a fee on each gun you have, every single year.”
“No one is safe from this. Every gun owner in California will be affected and will have to pay the state for the ‘privilege’ of owning a gun for sport or to defend your family” the website continues. “Your plinker? Registered and taxed annually. Your hunting shotgun? Registered and taxed annually.”