NEWSROOM Supreme Court to hear AR-15 cases December 2: what Viramontes and Grant mean for California

[Gawernator]

Current 2025–2026 Congress​

Several important Democratic proposals remain part of the current federal agenda:

S. 1531, Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 — PROPOSED. Sen. Adam Schiff introduced it with roughly forty Democratic-aligned senators. Its stated purpose is again to regulate “assault weapons.” GovInfo

H.R. 18, Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025 — PROPOSED. Rep. Mike Thompson introduced another bill requiring a background check for essentially every firearm sale. Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is a cosponsor, so again, technically bipartisan even though its support is overwhelmingly Democratic. GovInfo

H.R. 1674, Keep Americans Safe Act — PROPOSED. Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette's bill would regulate/prohibit newly covered “large capacity ammunition feeding devices.” GovInfo

H.R. 2368, Raise the Age Act of 2025 — PROPOSED. Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey's bill would prohibit FFLs from selling specified semiautomatic centerfire rifles and shotguns to persons under 21, subject to military and law-enforcement exceptions. GovInfo

H.R. 3868, Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2025 — PROPOSED. Another Democratic effort to extend the NICS unresolved-check waiting framework. GovInfo

Other current Democratic proposals include versions of the GOSAFE Act, 3D-printed-firearm restrictions, ammunition-sale restrictions, federal safe-storage mandates, expansion of dealer reporting requirements, restrictions on firearm marketing to minors, and legislation exposing firearm manufacturers and dealers to substantially more civil litigation.

---

2. California​

California deserves its own section because over these 20 years it has probably produced more consequential restrictive firearm legislation than any other state.

Schwarzenegger/Brown era, 2007–2018​

AB 1471 (2007) — ENACTED. Democratic Assemblyman Mike Feuer's microstamping legislation required qualifying new semiautomatic handgun models to incorporate microstamping technology once DOJ certified the technology as available. Certification occurred in 2013. This effectively became part of California's handgun-roster regime. California DOJ

AB 962 (2009) — ENACTED, later litigated/superseded. Democratic Assemblyman Kevin de León's ammunition legislation created handgun-ammunition vendor regulation, ammunition transaction records and face-to-face requirements. Legislative Information California

AB 144 (2011) — ENACTED. Democratic Assemblyman Anthony Portantino's law prohibited the previously lawful practice of openly carrying an unloaded handgun in most public places. Office of Senate Floor Analyses

AB 1527 (2012) — ENACTED. Extended the unloaded-open-carry prohibition to long guns.

AB 48 (2013) — ENACTED. Expanded restrictions involving large-capacity-magazine conversion kits/components.

SB 683 (2013) — ENACTED. Extended California's firearm-safety-certificate framework to long guns.

AB 1014 (2014) — ENACTED. Created California's Gun Violence Restraining Order system, allowing temporary firearm prohibitions based on court orders. It took effect in 2016.

AB 1135 / SB 880 (2016) — ENACTED. Rewrote California's assault-weapon definition to eliminate the “bullet button” pathway, causing affected rifles to become classified as assault weapons unless modified or registered. This generated the 2017–2018 “bullet-button assault weapon” registration period. California DOJ

AB 857 (2016) — ENACTED. Imposed state serial-number/application requirements on personally manufactured or previously unserialized firearms.

SB 1235 (2016) — ENACTED. Along with voter-approved Proposition 63, established California's modern ammunition-vendor and ammunition-background-check system. California DOJ

SB 1100 (2018) — ENACTED. Generally increased California's long-gun purchase age to 21 with exemptions.

SB 1346 (2018) — ENACTED. Explicitly incorporated bump stocks and similar devices into California's prohibited “multiburst trigger activator” definition. California DOJ

​

 

[Gawernator]

Newsom era, 2019–2026​

SB 61 (2019) — ENACTED. Prohibited sales of semiautomatic centerfire rifles to most persons under 21 and expanded the one-gun-per-30-days regime to semiautomatic centerfire rifles. Governor of California

AB 879 (2019) — ENACTED. Brought firearm precursor parts into California's licensed-vendor/background-check structure. Governor of California

AB 61 (2019) — ENACTED. Expanded who may seek a GVRO to include employers, coworkers and certain school personnel. Governor of California

AB 173 (2021) — ENACTED. Authorized California DOJ firearm-transaction information to be provided to designated firearm-violence researchers. California DOJ

AB 1621 (2022) — ENACTED. Further regulated unserialized firearms, frames/receivers and precursor parts, aimed specifically at “ghost guns.” Governor of California

AB 2571 (2022) — ENACTED. Restricted firearm advertising and marketing considered directed toward minors. Governor of California

AB 1594 (2022) — ENACTED. Created California firearm-industry standards of conduct and expanded the ability of the state and private parties to sue firearm-industry members for alleged violations. California DOJ

SB 1327 (2022) — ENACTED. Created a Texas-abortion-law-style private enforcement mechanism regarding prohibited assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, ghost guns and certain firearm sales. Major portions became embroiled in constitutional litigation. Governor of California

AB 228 (2022) — ENACTED. Required recurring DOJ inspection of firearm dealers. Governor of California

AB 311 / AB 1769 (2022) — ENACTED. Prohibited firearms, ammunition or precursor-part sales at designated California fairgrounds. Governor of California

AB 28 (2023) — ENACTED. Imposed an additional 11% state excise tax on retail firearms, ammunition and precursor parts, on top of ordinary sales taxation and applicable federal excise taxation. California DOJ

SB 2 (2023) — ENACTED, heavily litigated. California's post-Bruen response. It substantially increased CCW training/licensing requirements and designated a very large range of locations as “sensitive places” where licensed carry was prohibited. Significant provisions have been challenged and enjoined during the litigation.

SB 452 (2023) — ENACTED. Revised and extended California's handgun microstamping requirements.

AB 1483 (2023) — ENACTED. Eliminated the private-party-transfer exemption from California's one-firearm-per-30-days statute beginning in 2025. California DOJ

SB 53 (2024) — ENACTED. Expanded firearm-storage requirements. It was authored by Democratic Sen. Anthony Portantino. Governor of California

AB 2917 (2024) — ENACTED. Expanded considerations and procedures surrounding GVROs. Governor of California

The 2024 package also included numerous dealer, prohibited-person, protective-order and firearm-regulation bills such as AB 2739, AB 2842, AB 2907, AB 3064, SB 758, SB 899, SB 902, SB 965 and SB 1002. Governor of California

California's September 2026 package added another group of firearm laws involving 3D-printed firearms, prohibited persons, storage programs, firearm-safety certification and other controls. Thus the California list is still expanding as of October 16, 2026.

Newsom has also advocated a proposed federal constitutional “28th Amendment” that would constitutionally authorize a national minimum purchase age of 21, universal background checks, a waiting period and a national assault-weapons ban. That is a political/constitutional proposal, not enacted law.

 

[Gawernator]

Oh yeah Reagan tho lolol should we continue the beatings? Which party was that again?

 

[Gawernator]

Let's not forget how fast Democrats brutalized Virginian's rights as soon as they gained power

Virginia​

Virginia demonstrates how quickly the legal environment changes with unified Democratic control.

2020 Northam package — ENACTED​

After Democrats obtained control of the General Assembly, Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation establishing:

• universal background checks for most firearm sales;
• one-handgun-per-30-days;
• ERPO/red-flag orders;
• local authority to restrict firearms in specified government/public-event locations;
• lost/stolen-firearm reporting requirements;
• additional child-access and storage provisions.

A full assault-weapons ban was also proposed in 2020 and passed the House but died in the Virginia Senate.

2026 Spanberger package — ENACTED​

Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed another major package in 2026. It includes:

HB 217 / SB 749: future restrictions on sale of defined “assault-style weapons.”

HB 1524: prohibition involving carrying assault-style weapons in specified public circumstances.

HB 871 / SB 348: firearm safe-storage legislation.

HB 1525: expanded/universal background-check requirements.

HB 901 / SB 495: expanded the categories of persons who may petition for an ERPO.

HB 40: unserialized/ghost-gun restrictions.

HB 21: firearm-industry civil-liability provisions.

HB 110 / SB 496: requirements concerning unsecured handguns stored in motor vehicles. Governor of Virginia

That makes Virginia one of the most significant recent examples.

 

[Gawernator]

Major local legislation​

This category is effectively impossible to make nationally exhaustive because the United States has tens of thousands of municipal governments, and whether municipalities may regulate firearms depends heavily on state preemption law. But several Democratic/progressive-controlled jurisdictions have enacted unusually significant laws.

San José, California​

2022 firearm-owner insurance and fee ordinance — ENACTED.

San José became the first major U.S. city to require firearm owners to maintain liability insurance meeting specified requirements and to impose an annual $25 “Gun Harm Reduction Fee.” City of San Jose

Los Angeles, California​

2015 large-capacity-magazine ordinance — ENACTED. Los Angeles prohibited possession of magazines holding more than ten rounds, including magazines previously lawfully possessed, with a disposal/removal period. American Legal Publishing

2015 safe-storage ordinance — ENACTED. Required handguns kept in residences generally to be secured in a locked container or disabled with a locking device unless carried on the person or within close proximity/control. City of Los Angeles

San Francisco, California​

San Francisco enacted or maintained local laws covering:

• possession of magazines exceeding ten rounds;
• safe storage of firearms;
• firearm storage in unattended vehicles;
• restrictions on firearms at public gatherings;
• regulation of firearm and ammunition sales.

Its local magazine ordinance prohibits possession of magazines over ten rounds and required existing owners to remove, surrender or lawfully dispose of them. American Legal Publishing

Its vehicle-storage ordinance requires specified locked storage and generally prohibits leaving firearms overnight in unattended vehicles. American Legal Publishing

Seattle, Washington​

2015 firearm/ammunition tax — ENACTED. Seattle imposed a local tax on firearm and ammunition sales.

2018 safe-storage ordinance — ENACTED. Seattle imposed firearm-storage requirements and potential civil penalties.

Boulder, Colorado​

After Colorado Democrats repealed state preemption, Boulder enacted a 2022 package regulating:

• assault weapons;
• large-capacity magazines;
• rapid-fire/trigger devices;
• unserialized firearms;
• acquisition by persons under 21.

Enforcement of portions of the assault-weapon/magazine regulations has been affected by litigation. City of Boulder

New York City​

NYC has supplemented New York state law with:

• extensive handgun and long-gun registration/licensing;
• post-Bruen CCW application and training requirements;
• designation of Times Square as a sensitive location;
• storage requirements;
• minimum-age rules for rifle/shotgun permits;
• extensive restrictions on where firearms may be carried. New York City Government

Cook County, Illinois​

The Blair Holt Assault Weapons Ban, originally adopted in the period beginning in 2006–2007 and subsequently amended, prohibits manufacture, sale, transfer, acquisition and possession of defined assault weapons and large-capacity magazines in covered areas of Cook County.

 

[Skilly]

*citation needed*
Which party made like 95% of our gun control laws again especially all the modern ones in CA?

Your insistence on being right misses the point (but go use those AI tokens). They LOVE your stance...dumb arguments about who screwed us WORSE. lol.

 

[Gawernator]

Your insistence on being right misses the point (but go use those AI tokens). They LOVE your stance...dumb arguments about who screwed us WORSE. lol.

View attachment 266471

this post is an attempt at changing the topic and derailing the matter at hand, which group has made like 97% of the anti gun owner laws in the last 20 years? That was just one sample I posted. You're trying to make a false dilemma or red herring to distract from this and you refused to answer one simple question:

Which party made or proposed those laws? If it's both groups as you claim then prove it. No need for personal attacks, use logic.

 

[TheRatDragon]

Your insistence on being right misses the point (but go use those AI tokens). They LOVE your stance...dumb arguments about who screwed us WORSE. lol.

View attachment 266471

When personal attacks are all you have left I think you know your argument didn’t hold water

Wait what's happening guys? What's the disagreement about?

 

[Gawernator]

Wait what's happening guys? What's the disagreement about?

I stated that the vast majority of gun laws especially in modern times have been proposed and passed by Democrats. @Skilly insulted me instead of responding with a retort to all the facts I posted. He implied that because Reagan many decades ago was in favor of some anti gun legislation that means Republicans in general are just as anti-gun as Democrats which is provably false as seen above. But he can speak for himself on that

 

[TheRatDragon]

I stated that the vast majority of gun laws especially in modern times have been proposed and passed by Democrats. @Skilly insulted me instead of responding with a retort to all the facts I posted. He implied that because Reagan many decades ago was in favor of some anti gun legislation that means Republicans in general are just as anti-gun as Democrats which is provably false as seen above. But he can speak for himself on that

Indeed it is true that a lot of gun control legislation has been passed in recent years by the Democratic Party in our state, federally, and other states like New York, New Jersey, Illinois, etc. However, interestingly enough, it was Republicans who really kickstarted the whole gun control thing here in the US. AND the first gun control bill in the US, the National Firearms Act of 1934 which is where NFA items comes into play was a bipartisan effort spearheaded by the Roosevelt Administration after the surge of crime in the early 30's. With the Gun Control Act of 1968 further defining the NFA and creating the foundation for gun control in the US and like you said the open carry bans by Reagan when he was Governor of California as well as contributing to gun control legislation in the late 80s. So in essence, you guys are both right. And that's the thing, we gun owners need to stick together. We can disagree on how things are run or how things should be but by the end of the day, it's important to preserve our constitutional rights like freedom of speech with the 1st and the right to bear arms with the 2nd.

 

[Skilly]

I stated that the vast majority of gun laws especially in modern times have been proposed and passed by Democrats. @Skilly insulted me instead of responding with a retort to all the facts I posted. He implied that because Reagan many decades ago was in favor of some anti gun legislation that means Republicans in general are just as anti-gun as Democrats which is provably false as seen above. But he can speak for himself on that

SMH...as @Gawernator clutches his pearls feeling insulted (apparently he's very good at dishing out but not on the receiving end) I said, wrong argument.

its totally fair to say that pro-gun is usually red and stupid 2A restrictions come from blue, but its not exclusive. Politicians are fake and go where the money is NOT anywhere else - neither side actually cares about 2A. The point being as long as we 'pick a team' we lose the plot - they are all crooks, regardless of their team color.

He's just stuck in the mud because the most recent 2A infringement is democrats in the recent decades. It wasnt always, and it wont always be...apparently that caused 3 pages of AI response.

 

[Skilly]

Indeed it is true that a lot of gun control legislation has been passed in recent years by the Democratic Party in our state, federally, and other states like New York, New Jersey, Illinois, etc. However, interestingly enough, it was Republicans who really kickstarted the whole gun control thing here in the US. With the Gun Control Act of 1968 and like you said the open carry bans by Reagan when he was Governor of California as well as contributing to gun control legislation in the late 80s. So in essence, you guys are both right. And that's the thing, we gun owners need to stick together. We can disagree on how things are run or how things should be but by the end of the day, it's important to preserve our constitutional rights like freedom of speech with the 1st and the right to bear arms with the 2nd.

THIS!!! lol...thank you!! that was my point - its a freedom thing, not a stupid team color thing!!

 

[TheRatDragon]

SMH...as @Gawernator clutches his pearls feeling insulted (apparently he's very good at dishing out but not on the receiving end) I said, wrong argument.

its totally fair to say that pro-gun is usually red and stupid 2A restrictions come from blue, but its not exclusive. Politicians are fake and go where the money is NOT anywhere else - neither side actually cares about 2A. The point being as long as we 'pick a team' we lose the plot - they are all crooks, regardless of their team color.

He's just stuck in the mud because the most recent 2A infringement is democrats in the recent decades. It wasnt always, and it wont always be...apparently that caused 3 pages of AI response.

Hey, you can disagree with him but at the end of the day, we're on the same side here guys! You can disagree with him but you won't win any arguments if you insult the other party. I agree with both of you and I do solidly agree with you that is has been a bipartisan thing for over a century because both parties have conducted and produced varying levels of gun control legislation from minor gun control to nationwide changing gun control. For example, the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban which was in effect from 1994 to 2004 effectively killed importation of foreign firearms such as historical firearms, forced manufacturers to adapt by putting on ugly looking stocks and banned by name certain models and manufacturers which that bill was spearheaded by the Clinton Administration at the time. They tried to extend the bill and keep it from sunsetting but the Bush administration had a majority in both the House and the Senate so it effectively died in 2004.

 

[TheRatDragon]

THIS!!! lol...thank you!! that was my point - its a freedom thing, not a stupid team color thing!!

Yes, I do agree with you though AND I agree with Gawernator too. Again, like I said, you're both right lol! It is a freedom thing, not one political party doing it more than the other because at the end of the day, we're all here for a reason. We love our 2A rights and we want to be able to exercise those rights for the better and to carry it onto the next generation. Gun owners in California are the minority and we need to be loud and we need to our voices heard!

 

[Gawernator]

SMH...as @Gawernator clutches his pearls feeling insulted (apparently he's very good at dishing out but not on the receiving end) I said, wrong argument.

its totally fair to say that pro-gun is usually red and stupid 2A restrictions come from blue, but its not exclusive. Politicians are fake and go where the money is NOT anywhere else - neither side actually cares about 2A. The point being as long as we 'pick a team' we lose the plot - they are all crooks, regardless of their team color.

He's just stuck in the mud because the most recent 2A infringement is democrats in the recent decades. It wasnt always, and it wont always be...apparently that caused 3 pages of AI response.

Where did I insult you? Calling it AI is just a deflection again because it's all factual. I'm gonna vote for pro gun politicians, the question is why aren't you?

 

[mbuss101]

There’s a disconnect with the moderates on this website and in general that somehow voting red in the slightest will change the state to some draconian dictatorship overnight. As much as I hate being a single issue voter sometimes the best shot this state has while we are still a state of a nation is to vote in some amount of balance and work towards eliminating the massive super majority CA has had for a long time now.

You get what you tolerate though and apparently people see the decay of CA and continue down the same path. Unfortunately the right has been branded and will continue to be branded by Trump being so unpopular in this state. You can see that with Steve Hilton currently where a republican having the endorsement of a sitting republican president viewed as a stain by many