GIFFORDS applauds California lawmakers for passing life-saving gun laws
WASHINGTON — GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords congratulated California legislators and Governor Gavin Newsom for the passage of three new common sense gun laws. The laws will fill crucial gaps in California’s law enforcement system and will save lives across the state. Included in the signing was Wyland’s Law, named in honor of 10-year-old Wyland Gomes who was killed in part because of a delay in a restraining order filing that should have led to the removal of the firearm that took his life.
“Californians deserve to know they can rely on the systems designed to protect them and their loved ones. These important reforms will ensure that happens,” said Ethan Murray, GIFFORDS California State Policy Attorney. “GIFFORDS is thankful to the Assemblymembers Petrie-Norris, Stefani, and Irwin, who introduced this legislation, and to Governor Newsom for signing it into law. These laws will further strengthen California’s gun safety laws and fill key gaps that will ultimately save lives.”
The bills signed into law include:
- Wyland’s Law, AB 1363 (Stefani), will correct a severe gap in the current law enforcement system to ensure that protective orders are rapidly transmitted, verified, and enforced. The law’s implementation will include a notification system that will allow protected parties to check the status of their protective orders. Christy Camara Gomes, Wyland’s mom, wrote more about the law which you can read here.
- AB 451 (Petrie-Norris) will improve the implementation of protective orders by requiring all California law enforcement agencies to establish standardized protocols for the timely service and enforcement of restraining orders that include firearm restrictions. The law will more effectively keep guns out of the hands of people who aren’t allowed to have them.
- AB 1344 (Irwin) will create a pilot program allowing the District Attorneys of Alameda, El Dorado, Santa Clara, and Ventura Counties to petition for life-saving Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs).