SB 643

Current law provides that various conditions, including a background check of

a prospective purchaser, must be met before a federally licensed firearms dealer may

transfer a handgun after a sale. This bill prohibits the sale or transfer of any firearm

unless one of the following applies: the sale or transfer is by a federally licensed

firearms dealer; the sale or transfer is to or through a firearms dealer; the sale or

transfer is one for which the waiting period for the purchase of a handgun under

current law does not apply; the transfer is by gift, bequest, or inheritance to a family

member; or the transfer is intended to be temporary and the purpose of the transfer

is not illegal. In addition, this bill requires that, before any firearm that is not a

handgun is transferred, the person receiving the firearm must provide identification

to the firearms dealer and the firearms dealer must complete a notification form

listing his or her name, his or her contact information, and information to identify

the firearm and convey the information on the form to the Department of Justice.

Current law prohibits a person from possessing a firearm if he or she has been

convicted of a felony. This bill prohibits a person from possessing a firearm also if

he or she has been convicted of a "violent nonfelony offense" unless five years have

passed since the conviction. A violent nonfelony offense includes misdemeanor

battery, misdemeanor harassment, misdemeanor endangering safety by use of a

dangerous weapon, and exposing genitals to a child; violations of a domestic abuse,

child abuse, or harassment temporary restraining order or injunction; and

misdemeanors for which the maximum term of imprisonment has been increased for

use of a dangerous weapon when committing the misdemeanor.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,

the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to

result if the bill is enacted.