The original Bullet Button. (Photo: Bullet Button)
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and Assemblyman David Chiu have introduced new legislation in California that would expand the Assault Weapons Control Act, or AWCA, to block the use of bullet buttons and severely restrict semi-automatic rifle ownership.
The proposed legislation would extend the ban to include all centerfire semi-automatic rifles that are capable of using a detachable magazine, even when the magazines require a tool to remove. Anyone already in possession of rifles with bullet buttons or other locks will have to register their firearms with the state as “assault weapons.” They’re calling it the “bullet button loophole.”
The text of the A.B. 1663 bill can be read here (.pdf) and A.B. 1664 is available here (.pdf).
The Attorney General’s office specifically seeks to ban “more technologically-advanced” rifles, arguing that these firearms pose a risk to the public, citing mass shootings.
“We must close the loopholes in our assault weapons ban so that guns like the ones used in San Bernardino, Newtown, and Aurora cannot be bought legally in our state,” said Chiu (D-San Francisco) in the A.G.’s official press release.
“Detachable magazines cost lives, and it is more important to save lives during future mass shootings than to be able to reload assault weapons in the blink of an eye,” continued Chiu. “I appreciate the sponsorship by Attorney General Harris and look forward to working this year with my colleagues and the Governor’s office on this and other efforts to prevent gun violence.”
A bullet button is a mechanical lock that prevent detachable magazines from releasing without a key or other tool—including the tip of a bullet—effectively converting a detachable magazine into a fixed magazine.
Bullet buttons and other similar devices are a popular and cost-effective way for Californians to make their modern rifles compliant with existing state law.
Harris called the ban “common sense” gun control.
“The devastation wrought by gun violence on innocent victims, children and families in this country is an international embarrassment,” said Harris. “This is a common sense solution that closes a dangerous loophole in California’s assault weapons ban. We simply must do everything we can to keep dangerous, high capacity firearms off of our streets and out of our communities.”
SEE ALSO: LAPIERRE CHALLENGES OBAMA…TO A DEBATE!
The California-based Firearms Policy Coalition has already issued a statement saying that they will fight the A.G.’s office on the proposed bullet button ban.
“Assembly Bill 1663 is yet another misguided attack on the civil rights of law-abiding Californians,” said Combs, President of Firearms Policy Coalition. “In the wake of a deadly terrorist attack on our soil, fringe San Francisco elitists like Assemblyman Chiu and Attorney General Harris would rather put innocent people in jail than face up to their own failed policies.”
“[The] Firearms Policy Coalition and our members will fiercely oppose A.B. 1664 throughout the legislative process,” added combs. “We’re going to defend the people’s fundamental, individual Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms at all costs.”
Combs argued that the bills are politically motivated, not a safety issue. “Semi-automatic firearms of the types AB 1664 seeks to regulate are used in so few crimes that they barely register on crime statistics,” said Combs. “A.B. 1664 is not a public safety bill, it’s a public control bill.”
It’s true that in California and nation-wide rifles are very rarely used in the commission of a crime. Even the New York Times has argued against “Assault Weapons” bans, pointing out that all rifles combined contributed to an insignificant percent of all gun crimes.
The Firearms Policy Coalition has already set up a petition to raise support in opposition to the proposed bills here and here.
The NRA-ILA has also issued a statement saying, “These bills are detrimental to the Golden State’s law-abiding gun owners, which number in the hundreds of thousands. They would turn legally-owned semi-automatic firearms into what California law defines as an ‘assault weapon.’ These same firearms are used in hunting, competitive shooting and for general legal use throughout the United States.”
In 2013, California Governor Jerry Brown (D) vetoed a similar bill that sought to ban semi-automatic rifles entirely. Brown said that the bill went too far and would not have an effect on crime.
Californication is so far behind they THINK they are in first place.(THEY ARE NOT UNLESS YOU FACTOR AT STUPIDITY)
If the want to stop unnecessary murders then round up ALL THE ILLEGALS and DEPORT them, cut the crap with SANCTUARY CITIES (cesspool) for ILLEGALS PERIOD) and vote out ever DUMB-O-CRATS out and get common sense back in charge.
I grew up there and it was a truly great to live ,now I cant even speak the language and managed to escape 20 years ago and have watched it go down the toilet ever since.
If I was stupid enough to WANT to move back I could not even bring guns that I LEGALLY purchased there becaus they are NOT ON THE APPROVED LIST. Yes–I know what I am talking about because I did have an FFL but gave it up becaus of all the restrictions.
Those people who believe that banning California legal guns with the “bullet button” are this country’s real problem. Guns don’t kill people, people do. Criminals don’t follow the laws, so they won’t care if their ar15 is compliant or not. This is just taking one more thing away from us law bidding gun owning citizens!
People forget their history. Taxation without representation?
Wtf does “Detachable magazines cost lives” mean? Is it something like…large redwood trees cause cancer? Or the monarch butterfly caused world war two? My wife can go two days without complaining?
These people are absolute moron7s, and the sad thing is…..people love it. Welcome president Clinton II.
Wtf does “Detachable magazines cost lives” mean? Is it something like…large redwood trees cause cancer? Or the monarch butterfly caused world war two? My wife can go two days without complaining?
These people are absolute morons, and the sad thing is…..people love it. Welcome president Clinton II.
“Harris called the ban “common sense” gun control.” To a liberal Democrat the only “common sense gun control” is confiscation and elimination of the private possession of firearms. Anyone who does not believe this should listen to the 60 Minutes interview of Diane Feinstein by Leslie Stahl where she laments that she wished she had enough votes to place a provision in the 1994 Crime Bill to force all private individuals to turn in their firearms.
If liberal Democrats in California were serious about “closing the bullet button loophole” than they would simply pass a bill eliminating the sale of any rifle with a removable magazine. But why force owners of these rifles to register them as assault wepaons if not for future confiscation.
when there’s more of them than us, voting is not a solution.
We can belly-ache and moan about this forever to other gun owners but now is the time to let California representatives know how pissed we are about these bills. I know these liberal progressives that are trying to pass these bills won’t ever change their minds but possibly Brown who is an old school Democrat just might veto them if we shout loud enough. He vetoed another bill in 2013 that was trying to ban all semi-auto rifles and that is exactly what these bills are trying to do but only worse. These gun hating liberals that are looking for a feather in their cap must know that there will be resistance to this and they will not get what they want without a fight. California has a lot of them but they are in every state of this country waiting for a chance to do the same. If it happens in California, it is almost guaranteed to eventually happen in other states.
With all of the stupidity and idiotic thinking about guns and all in general caused by the scare tactics of the media of course, it makes me darn glad to NOT live in california any more! Why can’t people think for themselves instead of being sheeple and believing all the lies the media throws out there? Especially when it concerns laws the government wants to pass on background checks. Just read the article here from Korwin: The Manchin-Toomey Gun Myth. Too many idiots running the government and running around loose anymore!!!
So Chiu states why “be able to reload assault weapons in the blink of an eye”. So if a 10 round magazine can be loaded “in the blink of an eye” then what’s the point on banning “large capacity magazines”?
Havent the state of CA have given the law abiding citizens enough crap already. We have plenty of gunowners but our voices are never heard and our rights are taken away from us by the minute. CA gun laws takes away from rightful gunowners that are taking the punishment for the felons. Instead of making stricker penalty and give criminals more time for possession of a firearm they rather punish us. WHAT A FREAKIN JOKE.
Beware all sentences beginning with ” we simply must “.
My sincere hope is that the day will come people like Kamala Harris will will be tried for civil rights violations resulting from circumventing the 2nd amendment……..chances are she couldn’t care less, just wants to make a name for herself
My home defense weapon is already illegal in California. It is a carbine that holds 20 + 1 rounds of .40 S&W ammunition. I am going to buy a 30 round magazine for it in the near future to tick off Obama and his progressive communists even more.
I am so glad I don’t live in California anymore. I left that state over ten years ago and I have no regrets. Love liberty and never give in to the tyrants!
“We must close the loopholes in our assault weapons ban so that guns like the ones used in San Bernardino, Newtown, and Aurora cannot be bought legally in our state,” said Chiu (D-San Francisco) in the A.G.’s official press release.
But they would still be bought/sold illegally, you morons!
I think we should go the opposite way of California. Legalize sound suppressors, short barrel rifles and short barrel shotguns. Only thing I am not for legalizing is fully automatic and burst fire guns. No prison time if you are caught with a fully automatic rifle or pistol. It just gets taken away.
We also need to get rid of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms. They are a worthless and tyrannical. Let the State agencies run the background checks on people. All 4473 forms they are keeping on file should be destroyed. After the background check for a firearm the form should be destroyed immediately.
Ive read through manny of the posted responces, And after 45 years as a FFL holder, and the ocational gun show seller, Iam
still trying to find the GUN SHOW LOOPHOLE.
If I made a sale at a show of a weapon, I would haver to log the sale in my”Bound Book” of recorrds, Fill out a NICS form and secure a back ground check.
I had to do ALL of the same paper work at the show as in my shop.
My question is were is theloop hole for the FFL holder???
May we get Ted Cruz for president and he selects a helluva bulldog of an AG who will go after states with their 100% unConstitutional laws and put on trial those who try to enforce them and/or legislate them and, if they are found guilty, jail them for attempting to subjugate the people of the USA.
Hey sfvshooter, I am glad you want to stay in land of the lost. You do know what a progressive is don’t you? What is wrong with 85 mph speed limiters in your state, or no sugar sodas? You see that is the problem with folks of your ilk. Because you do not like something you want to take it from someone who does. But when the case comes your way, you start whining like a little girl. However you are right, Calif. does have things to offer. The one and only time I was out there I found that LAX offered lots of jets heading to Texas. Long guns, long necks and long drop free mags. Get ya some. I don’t think you really own any weapons, but if yer a male ya might own a gun. Your post is moronic. Ssgt USA retired I earned ’em.
This is a direct violation of our Civil Rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 : US Code – Section 1983: Civil action for deprivation of rights – See more at: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/42/21/I/1983#sthash.Nm62VIpB.dpuf. Why aren’t gun rights groups suing under these provisions?
WOW I didn’t know what a “bullet button” was till now. Does that go a long with a “Button Head” ? Or am I thinking of “Butt Head” ?
California is a joke!!! I can honestly say there isn’t one thing in California that would make me want to visit, EVER. I mean there us literally NOTHING I want to go to CaliforniaI for. I want to feel sorry for the people who live there, but I can’t. Anyone that would choose to live under the communist rule the state is ruled by is either afraid to move or just as insane as their politicians. I’ve met people from California and I’ve even worked with a few and I’m leaning more the insane theory. Those people are a wee bit “throwed off!!!!”
Spoken like a true redneck –I’d rather be a throwed off Marine than a beer-guzzling throwup like you! Whine-complain, show the world what idiots we have to deal with–we got our own extremists–they’re called “rednecks” and we laugh at their crazy antics, and where they live is a blight upon the world. thank gawd for real people who produce more sanity per capita zone than any place in the ol’ south!
There are Hundreds of Thousands maybe more AR15 and AK gun owners in California including myself (we don’t just have one either) – WE aren’t all committing Mass Shootings. Only a few people or just one maniac does this usually every few months, and its not always in California, its all over the USA all over the world, but innocent Californians gets picked on? . A Virginia man kills 27 people = ban guns in California. Oregon, Colorado, Conn, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan Colorado…. on and on…..quick take guns from Californians! Its califonians fault, wrong and politicians need to start going to prison for this.
It started with these messup NY politicians, they migrated to CA. It’s not enough they messup NY, they bring their crazy agendas to CA.
I’m an Angeleno and I’m about as progressive as they come. I vote democrat in local, regional, state, and presidential elections and donate to candidates in other states. And I won guns. Several in fact. They’re all purchased legally, registered, and stored per the laws of the state.
Instead of trying to prevent everyone from owning guns or limiting the type of guns we can own, I hope they’d figure out a way to keep it out of the hands of people who shouldn’t own them. I’m all for tougher background checks. I’m fine with closing the gun show loophole. But it does bother me that sane, law-abiding citizens like myself can’t own 30 round mags or certain rifles or pistols in my state. That’d be like telling automakers that since speed kills, they need to put a 85 mph limiter in cars sold in CA or soda makers that since soft drinks are horrible for everyone they can only put 5g of sugar in a 12 oz can for CA consumption.
I blame the NRA. Yes I own guns and I don’t like the NRA. If they wouldn’t oppose every measure, even ones anyone with a half a brain would agree makes sense, lawmakers wouldn’t go to these extremes. I don’t think the NRA is the only thing standing between us and the government seizure of all firearms, as they would like to to believe. The NRA likes to stoke the fire of “they’re out to take your guns” while every time a mass shooting occurs gun sales go up and gun makers make more money. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
CA is a great state. I’ve visited a lot of other states and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, besides maybe Kauai or NYC. There’s a reason why so many people want to live here. It has a lot, and I do mean a lot, to offer. And I’m not going to move out of state just because I want to own certain guns. I shouldn’t have to. We should be able to implement rational gun-control measures that differentiates between people like me and others who shouldn’t own guns.
I blame you, not the NRA, you stated right at the beginning who you vote for… So change your votes or stop crying about their anti gun decisions
The gun-grabbers won’t stop with restricting “people who shouldn’t own them.” You could find yourself in the position of being one of those whom they deem should not own guns. The “NRA is me!” It is not some shadowy anti-government militia. We are a very large group of citizens who believe in the Second Amendment, and we oppose any infringement thereupon–just like the Constitution reads and our Nation’s founders intended, with full knowledge, based on experience, that if we give an inch to the gun-grabbers, they will take a mile. Though you may not support the NRA, the NRA supports you–a law-abiding gun owner! Total confiscation is the gun control goal, and you should join the fight against those who would take away your rights. If the Second Amendment goes, so does the First Amendment and the next freedom you enjoy after that! It’s not about GUNS–it’s about CONTROL!
The people of California ,NYC, Connecticut, Massachusetts. Want gun control that’s how they vote.
Stand up and take responsibilities for your vote.
You get what you put into it.
You know I am just so freakin tired of these elected officials without a brain, coming up with BS. I know they are trying to feather their own caps and nothing else. Trying to make a name for themselves as ” Tough on Crime or Gun Violence”
My question is how many Criminals are going to register their Guns? How many law abiding people commit crimes with Guns?
Once they have stripped down the 2A to bare bones, where you can only defend yourself with a BB gun painted orange or pink. My question is which of our rights is next? Freedom of Religion, Right to Assemble, Freedom of speech etc.
The general consensuses is that most people feel less safe today than a few years back. How is the bill going to help the general public when they cant defend themselves. If this bill passes, I’m taking my business and money out of CA and leave it to the ^$&^%^%&^%&^
A society can only be enslaved if it allows itself to be.
French Revolutionary Jeanne Jacque Russeau (1700s)
I honestly think California and New York gun control bills should be eliminated from the news. They are depressing, and they will likely never change. Both states are a lost cause.
I was born and spent a great deal of life there. I have always found that the problem in California political system and the voters is a simple one. Most of the Voters are educated citizens. but most will believe the Liberal Press that thrives there. I have found that very few voters in California ever read the wording of bill brought up to be voted either by themselves or the Sacramento Cartel. They instead that spend time looking more to the talking heads that advise them of the different political questions. I don’t remember ever being able to discuss a issue with a voter in California, I find most of their views are simply the opinions they hear on T.V. or editorials. Most don’t read the issues and make there own conclusions . They are more interested in Sports or National news that is spoon fed to them. A few Liberal activist can easily sway a entire group of people. If you look at the representatives they have chosen they are more likely elected on their social position than there background in politics.
I no longer live in California I live in northern Nevada. California just ignores the problem or throws money at a problem hopping it will go away.. Nevada has to spend the taxes carefully because Tax money is limited. The feeling that Acts of Violence can not be corrected by more laws but by enforcing the one’s we have. The violence problem we face are not caused by availability guns but by the problems of mental health and social responsibility.
I forget the “Journalist’s?” name right now, but the idiot told an interviewer that the “Bullet Button” was for converting a SEMI-auto into a FULL auto just by depressing the “magic” Bullet Button. That happened right after the Islamic Terrorist massacre in California. He portrayed himself as an expert on “Assault” (I hate that term) Weapons”. He was not an expert but a complete and utter imbecile.
Except that the “Islamic terrorist massacre” was carried out by either Craft, Blackwater, or Mossad, via eye-witnesses.
You’re also guilty of believing what these “journalists” are feeding you, too.
next they will tell us a Ruger 10/22 is an assault weapon, it can take a 25 or 50 round magazine. hurrah for Hollywood!!!!!!!!!!!!
California land of fruits, nuts, and flakes. oh yes I forgot illegals out the as&&&&&&.
The only good thing about the State is the weather. If you are a Conservative or a not so Conservative, but believe in the US Constitution and Individual Freedom – GET OUT. Leave the State for Liberals to further run into the ground. If this passes, next comes any magazine fed, even internal magazine, firearm. And ultimately all firearms.
I was Born and raised in Commiefornia, and it used to be the Greatest place to live, we had everything, you could go from the Beach to the snow, from the Forest to the Desert, all in the same State, then the Demo Craps took over and started to control everything we say and do. They would get together in Sacramento and do what they wanted and to hell with what the People wanted, and now CaliFu%kme is nothing but a tore up Welfare State were the People no longer have a real voice, just look at one of the biggest Anti-Gun Representatives from San Francisco gets Busted for running a Major Gun, and Explosives Ring, and yes he was a Demo Crap, and these Demo Craps aren’t going to be happy until they have 100% Control of the whole State that they have run into the Ground with all their Laws, Rules, and Regulations, and lets not forget Taxing the People to Death, while they all live the Good Life all at your expense, CommieFornia is a good look at the future of America if we keep letting these Career Criminals walk on us, and doing what they want and not what We the People want, and need, like all of their BS Gun Laws, that We the People didn’t even have a say in, just like that BS High Speed Train from LA to Vegas just so People can go Gamble, with the State in Dire Straights and the Sacramento Zoo Crew would rather build that than fix other things in the State that would really help the People, like getting more Water for one…
ifleifleHave the California lawmakers completely lost their minds? The bullet button was made a requirement in California in order to force a shooter to slow down reloads by having to use a tool to drop an empty magazine instead of simply pressing a button. Now, the people who forced that addition to semi-auto think that it should be removed? Maybe the legislators saw a piece on Fox News that made the claim that the bullet button allowed a semi-auto firearm to fire in full automatic mode, and they forgot that they had demanded that button in the first place. On top of that, they want to ban ‘assault weapons,’ a weapon that does not even exist, but is a term the anti-gun forces coined because the majority of Americans know so little about firearms that the term scared the daylights out of them. Assault rifles do exist, but they have a feature the dreaded ‘assault weapons’ don’t have, the ability to fire in full auto mode called select fire. The reasons that the proposed guns to be banned is not that they are more deadly than other guns, which they aren’t, but because they look scary, and scary looks never hurt anyone. Sturm Ruger makes a fine semi-auto rifle called the Mini 14. It is a traditional looking rifle that seemingly bothers no one. Polished walnut stock and bright bluing, a beautiful work. It fires the Rem .223/NATO 5.56 X45 round, the workhorse of the military, and fires in semi-auto only, so it is legal for civilians to own. The AR-15 is a black rifle that does look scary, but it fires the exact same round as the Mini 14 in the exact same manner, one round per pull of the trigger. The Ar platform did not begin as a military weapon that was re-designed for the civilian market but was originally designed as a semi-auto only that the military demanded the selective fire capability. By the way, AR does not stand, as some think, for Assault Rifle, but for Armalite Rifle because when Gene Stoner designed the rifle, he was employed by the Armalite company. Today, many call it America’s Rifle, as it is the most popular modern sporting rifle in history. It uses an intermediate round, rated somewhere between a pistol round and a rifle cartridge. Any deer rifle is a much deadlier, more powerful rifle. The AR-15 is simply a versatile, rugged, fun gun to shoot, and effective as a home defense weapon, small game hunting, target and competition shooting rifle extant.
Of course, everything you say here is true, Allen. But I’m afraid you’re preachin’ to the choir. The liberal know-nothing airhead tyrants in Kalifornica are elected by a bunch of left-wing co-dependent nutcases, who get what they deserve. And that is very unfortunate to the relatively few more rural Californians who have little say in the matter. I’m afraid that any liberty-loving soul who lives in that commie state will just have to leave, if he wishes to be free. As far as I’m concerned, anyone who proudly calls himself “Californian,” should be required to obtain a visa to enter any of the other 49 states.
California “The Unconstitutional State”. A beautiful State ruined by it’s leaders.
Just another example of why I no longer live in California. At what point do people start suing the state for violating the second amendment protections? Maybe the 12th of never??? How in the heck does anyone not understand that these infringements are unconstitutional violations of “…shall not be infringed.”?
I forgot to mention that there are some serious downsides to the bill, first being that it bans the manufacture of “assault weapons,” which means that it bans building 80% lowers, and second, it bans the sale or transfer of “assault weapons” in state, meaning you cannot sell them or give them away unless the recipient resides out of state, the idea being that in a couple of generations, all the existing ARs and AKs will be gone from the state. In theory.
We need to close the “California Loophole.”
We need to close the “California Loophole.”
I think you need to check your poophole, You people just don’t get it. there have been so many laws about weapons of any type, and if you have been paying attention NOTHING!! has changed…
This is a revisitation of a bill previously proposed by Senator DeLeon and (then Senator) Yee, that was quietly withdrawn when Yee was charged with in a gun running scheme. As obnoxious as it is, it leaves many unanswered questions, and possibly creates a whole new loophole. for one, building 80% lowers became a very popular past time in California, and there are probably tens of thousands (or more) of unserialized ARs and AKs in the state. Second, there was no registration for long guns until January 1, 2015, so there are probably a couple of million (legally) unregistered ARs and AKs in the state right now. Third, by requiring owners to register their ARs as “assault weapons,” the bill arguably re-opens the long closed AW registry, and once you have a registered AW, one can, at least theoretically, remove the bullet button. And wouldn’t that be nice! So even though NEW rifles woulsd be effectively neutered (without a bullet button, the action has to be opened to reload an internal mag), the bill might just promote exactly what it seeks to prevent.
You bring up a good point, and the one question I have regarding this registration of AW’s. If we need to register Cali compliant AR’s and AK’s that we purchased and dros’d legally as AW’s does this mean we have a legal AW and can remove the bullet button? It seems logical because up until now a registered AW has no bullet button, but I’m certain that is not the intention of law makers and this will be clarified.
I hope it passes. Liberals shouldn’t have access to weapons. They are conducting the vast majority of shootings.
America needs to stand up to this threat.
Liberals run the government here, so as they will exempt themselves, they’ll have all the weapons.