SACRAMENTO - Assembly Member Mark DeSaulnier, the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Legal Community Against Violence and the Health Officers Association of California joined gun violence prevention advocates from throughout the state to highlight DeSaulnier’s Assembly Bill 2235, legislation that will require new safety technology for newly manufactured or imported handguns in California. 

AB 2235 would require all newly manufactured or imported handguns in California to be owner-authorized, or personalized in a way that would allow them to be fired only by authorized persons. This requirement will take effect eighteen months following verification by the California Attorney General that owner-authorized handguns are available for retail sale.

“We’ve known since 2003 that technology like this can save lives. Studies show that we could potentially save 37% of the children who find their parents’ guns; 37% of the depressed teenagers who wants to take their own lives; or 37% of fatalities that result from thieves who steal guns during a robbery,” said DeSaulnier. 

“I’m calling for my colleagues in the Assembly to join me and gun violence prevention advocates from throughout the state in recognizing our responsibility to save lives in California and fight to pass this bill.”

Industry experts believe that firearm manufacturers will be able to use biometric (fingerprint or grip recognition) technologies to improve gun safety within the next two years. These technologies would render handguns inoperable, ensuring that a handgun is only fired by the owner or an authorized user.  Biometric technologies, such as fingerprint or grip recognition, are already widely used in other applications and consumer products, including computers, cell phones, credit cards and door locks. New Jersey has a related handgun personalization law. 

“I know from my time on the California Air Resources Board, that we must recognize when industry has developed advanced technology that can make Californians safe. In the case of auto emissions standards, we recognized that advanced emission controls could reduce air pollution. In this case we can compel firearm manufacturers to recognize that owner authorization technology is available and should be implemented to save lives.”

A Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research study found that approximately 74% of adults in U.S. households favor legislation requiring owner-authorized technology for all new handguns. Assembly Bill 2235 will be heard by the Assembly Committee on Public Safety Tuesday, April 15, 2008.