Afternoon Hot Take: Top Seven Worst Gun Control Laws in California
California politicians are still trying to make California a Second Amendment-free zone…
The Second Amendment is the foundation of freedom in America, which ensures that we can protect ourselves, our families, and our liberty from oppression. George Washington declared that "A free people ought not only to be armed but disciplined… their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent." The Founding Fathers realized that it takes an armed citizenry to a free republic.
Thomas Jefferson restated this, stating, "The laws that forbid the carrying of arms… disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes… Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants." Their wisdom cautions against disarming law-abiding citizens, empowering criminals, and overreaching governments. California's aggressive gun control agenda stifles this right, punishing good citizens while criminals thrive.
Here are the top seven worst gun control measures in California…
Assault Weapons Ban
California's "assault weapons" ban on firearms like AR-15s strikes cosmetic features, prohibiting guns for sport, hunting, and defense.
High-Capacity Magazine Restrictions
The 10-round magazine limit undermines self-defense by restricting firepower. Regular magazines hold 15 or more rounds, which is critical in times of crisis.
10-Day Waiting Period
A 10-day waiting period on all handgun sales, even for existing owners, assumes guilt over innocence, placing people in immediate danger, like domestic violence victims.
Ammunition Background Checks
Coercing background checks and fees on purchases of ammunition is invasive and costly, turning daily transactions into government-tracked processes while criminals acquire ammunition on the black market.
Handgun Roster Limitations
The "safe handgun roster" excludes modern handguns, like new Glocks, for civilians (but not police) on outdated criteria, limiting options and forcing Californians to buy less effective weapons.
11% Firearm and Ammunition Excise Tax
The 2023 11% tax on ammunition and firearms increases the cost of Second Amendment rights, most forcefully impacting lower-income citizens in a regressive program.
Concealed Carry Permit Restrictions
California unjustly bans CCW carry in public parks, playgrounds, schools, colleges, government buildings, libraries, and amusement parks, where alcohol is sold, so most restaurants, hotels, and businesses accept by explicit allowance. Court rulings reinstated carry in hospitals, churches, and public transportation,
These seven are horrible, but they're merely a representative sample of California's gun-control bills—I could cite 50 easily. Each session introduces new threats, such as Assembly Bill 1127, authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-North Hollywood), which is currently pending and progressing through the legislative process. AB 1127 bans semiautomatic pistols like Glock Gen 3s, which are "readily convertible" to fully automatic using illegal "Glock switches" (already banned federally), shrinking the handgun list even further. Critics, like the California Rifle and Pistol Association and Gun Owners of California, have called it a backdoor ban on trustworthy guns, with criminals disregarding it.
Want to do something about this? Two groups I recommend you check out, of which I am a member: the California Rifle and Pistol Association and Gun Owners of California.