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California Senate OKs Spending $24M For Gun Seizures

SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) -- State lawmakers have sent Gov. Jerry Brown a bill that would provide more money for a state program that confiscates guns from felons, those deemed mentally unstable and others who are prohibited from owning them.

The $24 million would be used over the next three years to hire more state Department of Justice agents. The money is designed to erase a backlog in the program.

The Armed and Prohibited Persons program is unique to California. Under the program, agents cross-check databases to find people who bought weapons they are no longer legally allowed to own.

The department says nearly 20,000 people illegally own more than 39,000 handguns and 1,670 assault weapons.

SB140 passed the Senate on a 37-0 vote Monday.

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