On Tuesday, April 15, the Assembly Public Safety Committee will consider Assembly Bill 2235, a bill to forbid the sale of handguns other than “owner-authorized (or “smart”) handguns”—that is, handguns with a permanent, programmable biometric feature that renders the firearm useless unless activated by the authorized user. No proven, viable handgun of this type has ever been developed.

Introduced by Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier (D-11), AB2235 would require the Attorney General to report to the Governor and Legislature on the availability of owner-authorized handguns; once the Attorney General finds that these guns are available, only “owner-authorized” handguns could be approved for sale in California.

The law enforcement community has even expressed concerns about the use of this technology in firearms. How often has your computer malfunctioned while simply sitting stationary on your desktop? With that in mind, are you willing to put your personal safety, and that of your loved ones, in the hands of a sensitive computer system exposed to recoil, heat, solvents, dirt and grime? For an informative article about smart guns and the New Jersey law this bill is based on, please click here.

Please contact the members of the Public Safety Committee today and respectfully urge them to oppose this ill-advised proposal. Contact information for the Committee can be found below.

State Assembly Member Jose Solorio (D-69), Chair
(916) 319-2069
Assemblymember.solorio@assembly.ca.gov

State Assembly Member Greg Aghazarian, (R-26), Vice Chair
(916) 319-2026
Assemblymember.aghazarian@assembly.ca.gov

State Assembly Member Joel Anderson (R-77)
(916) 319-2077
Assemblymember.Anderson@assembly.ca.gov

State Assembly Member Hector De La Torre (D-50)
(916) 319-2050
Assemblymember.DeLaTorre@assembly.ca.gov

State Assembly Member Fiona Ma (D-12)
(916) 319-2012
Assemblymember.Ma@assembly.ca.gov

State Assembly Member Anthony J. Portantino (D-44)
(916) 319-2044
Assemblymember.Portantino@assembly.ca.gov