Assembly Bill 1663 would “expand the classification of assault weapons” to include “Bullet Button” firearms

SACRAMENTO – Today, Firearms Policy Coalition announced its opposition to a new gun control bill that would expand the reach of California’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” to all semi-automatic centerfire rifles with detachable magazines, including “Bullet Button”-equipped firearms.

Assembly Bill 1663, authored by California Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco), is sponsored by Attorney General Kamala Harris. Harris is running to replace Barbara Boxer in the United States Senate against Rep. Loretta Sanchez and a number of Republican challengers.

Other recent attempts to expand California’s “assault weapons” ban failed passage in the Legislature or were vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown. Senator Leland Yee, the author of one such bill, pleaded guilty last July after being indicted on federal corruption and gun trafficking charges.

“Assembly Bill 1663 is yet another misguided attack on the civil rights of law-abiding Californians,” said Brandon 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.”

In her press release announcing AB 1663, Attorney General Harris bragged that “over the last two years,” her Department of Justice “doubled the average number of guns seized annually.”

“We knew coming into the 2016 legislative cycle that anti-gun California Democrats would follow President Obama’s lead and wage war on law-abiding gun owners,” noted Combs. “This might be their opening shot, but we’ve defeated assaults like AB 1663 before.”

“Ultimately, the democratic process is bigger than the Attorney General’s dangerous agenda, and so are constitutionally protected rights like the right to keep and bear arms.”

Concluded Combs, “The Second Amendment is just so crystal clear, there is no debate, no discussion.”

People who oppose AB 1663 can take action or learn more at FPC’s website, StopAB1663.com.