Watch CBS News

Gov. Brown Signs Bills To Speed Up Gun Seizures

SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) -- Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation expanding the ability of state agents to seize firearms from nearly 20,000 Californians who are not allowed to have them.

They collectively own more than 39,000 handguns and 1,670 assault weapons. But they are prohibited from owning firearms because they have been convicted of crimes, ruled mentally unstable or are subject to domestic violence restraining orders.

The bill the Democratic governor announced signing Wednesday authorizes $24 million for the state Department of Justice's Armed and Prohibited Persons program. The money will go to hire more agents to confiscate the weapons and reduce the backlog over the next three years.

Gov. Brown Signs Bills To Expedite Gun Seizures

The program, which is unique to California, cross-checks five databases to find people who bought weapons they are no longer legally allowed to own.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.