It is undeniable that school shootings and their staggering frequency have become a tragedy nationwide. Even though California has the lowest rate of gun violence out of any US state, this perceived safety still does not erase the atrocities of shootings in places like Monterey Park or Half Moon Bay, nor does it make the risk of a firearm entering a classroom any less plausible. Fortunately, the preemptive action of our state lawmakers suggests that this concern is a top priority among many. On the second day of the 2024 session of the California State Senate, a new gun law was introduced. Senators Nancy Skinner and Catherine Blakespear brought forth Senate Bill 899, also called SB 899, as a means of strengthening the “red flag”, or gun confiscation, law in the state of California.
The current “red flag” law, enacted under Assembly Bill 1014, enables gun violence restraining orders, or GVROs, to be given out by the California courts to individuals who are proven to pose a threat to themselves or others with a firearm. The GVRO temporarily confiscates and prevents the purchase of firearms, but the practicality of this solution has been less than optimal. In a January 4th press release, Senator Skinner admitted that recipients of a GVRO often do not turn in their guns as ordered. SB 899 would follow up on this systematic flaw to guarantee that a GVRO could not simply be denied; if a proper receipt of compliance is not submitted to court, they would have the power to employ law enforcement to force the turnover of the confiscated weapon.
“After all,” Senator Blakespear said, “ laws are only as effective as their implementation.”
This is not the first time that the CA Senate has targeted gun laws; California actually has the most active firearm restrictions of any state and the lowest rates of gun violence. In fact, California Governor, Gavin Newsom, has been such a vocal proponent of firearm safety that he proposed an amendment to the United States Constitution in June of 2023. The amendment would make the process of purchasing guns more rigorous, as well as raise the minimum age to get an owner’s license to 21. Just a month later in September, he signed a bill doing nearly exactly that, set to take effect on the first day of 2024. Two months after being signed into action, it was blocked by a federal judge. Newsom successfully fought the block, taking it to the federal court of appeals which dissolved the block, allowing the restriction to take effect on the first day of this year.
Whatever the case may be, the renewed attention being given to “red flag” laws and general limits on firearms provides hope that safety will continue to be a top priority among California legislators. Camden Barber, a senior at Claremont High, agrees.
“I think that they [California lawmakers] want to pass more gun laws because California is a very dense state with a lot of areas which can lead to violence and illegal activities,” said Barber. “It’s also very hard to keep track of weapons because of how many people there are, so the easy solution is to pass a plethora of gun laws.”
The country can afford to learn from Barber’s words as an adolescent constantly in fear of a mass shooting. States beyond California can follow our lead in reaching the “excessive” firearm measures this state has, and realize that there can never be an excess of lives saved. Every life counts and every voice supporting that statement does too.