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Americans for Gun Safety, Press Release
September 30, 2002

Group Applauds Lockyer Announcement
On Gun Enforcement

Says California a leader for the nation in keeping guns
away from domestic abusers

WASHINGTON - Americans for Gun Safety (AGS) hailed today's announcement by California Attorney General Bill Lockyer regarding his initiative to seize firearms from domestic abusers, felons and the dangerously mentally ill.

"Attorney General Lockyer and California's leaders once again are leading the way for the nation on gun safety," said AGS spokesman Matt Bennett. "This type of smart, aggressive enforcement of existing gun laws will help keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people without impacting the
rights of law-abiding Californians."

The AGS comments came after General Lockyer announced his "Armed and Prohibited" program, a coordinated effort to investigate and disarm individuals who are barred by federal or state law from owning firearms. This new policy was created by SB 950, a bill signed by Governor Davis
last year, which allows the state Department of Justice to identify individuals who own guns illegally and work with local law enforcement to confiscate those firearms. His announcement came on the eve of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which begins tomorrow. (Under federal and state law,
individuals who have been convicted of an offense of domestic violence or have a domestic violence restraining order against them are prohibited from purchasing or owning firearms.)

"This initiative will go a long way to keep domestic violence survivors safe from the menace of guns in the hands of their abusers," Bennett continued. "AGS congratulates General Lockyer, Governor Davis, the California Sheriffs, Senator Republican Leader Jim Brulte, Senator Jack Scott (D), the state
legislature and all of the other sponsors of this important and ground-breaking measure."

In addition to this latest announcement, Lockyer has supported (and Davis has signed) legislation to:

Direct judges to inquire about firearms at domestic violence-related court hearings, thereby increasing the chance that firearms will be removed from the home of domestic abusers;

Lengthen the period of time that law enforcement may keep custody of firearms at the scene of a domestic violence incident; and Increase the power of law enforcement to take guns into custody at the scene of domestic violence.

"California has blazed the trail in aggressively attacking the serious problem of guns and domestic abuse -- we hope that other states will follow," Bennett concluded.