Welcome to California 2A Litigation Updates from Mike Ellias
Ventura County Gun Owners Government Affairs Report April 6, 2025
As Joe Halpert stated at last month’s meeting, our Government Affairs committee is implementing more aggressive, proactive tactics in interaction with our local officials to defend our 2A rights. Once again, this year is shaping up to be a battle, but we’re ready. The committee members are: Mike Ellias Joe Halpert Lawrence Noble Michael Cresto Steve Strull Nick Owen Cindy Godinez Anyone interested in joining the committee, please contact me [Mike Ellias michalelellias@gmail.com or 818/731-9852]
The Legislature got off to a slow start as they were wasting time and taxpayer money trying to “Trump proof” California. However, they’re at it again and have introduced a bunch of bills during the past several weeks, almost all are anti 2A. Here are just a few.
First a sampling of good bills (WE SUPPORT)
AB 1488 Preemptive Self Defense Act – a direct counter to the recently withdrawn AB 1333, which was withdrawn by its author, and would have required a person under assault to retreat. By the way, we have not seen the last of AB1333. AB1488, the Preemptive Self Defense Act of 2025, would clarify that a party who reasonably perceives an imminent threat of bodily harm may make lawful resistance to the commission of a public offense and that the resistance authorized is required to be proportional to the reasonably perceived threat and to cease when the threat is no longer present. The bill would prohibit a party’s background, level of training (implicitly fire arm training), and professional fighting skills from being taken into account when determining whether a party has taken reasonable defensive action. WE NEED TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT THIS BILL. We will provide updates as to any scheduled hearings.
AB 68 Armed School Safety Officers – sought to require every school (K thru 12 grade) to have a trained, armed safety office on campus. Unfortunately, the bill’s author withdrew it since he was recently appointed US Attorney for the Central District, which is a good appointment. Nonetheless, this bill will be reintroduced soon.
AB 1092 CCW Licenses – sought to extend the term of a CCW license to 4 years from the current 2 years. Regrettably, this was defeated a few days ago in the Assembly Public Safety Committee, despite having overwhelming support from almost all the state’s 58 Sheriffs.
SB 818 Hunting and the use of dogs – this bill would allow hunters to use dogs to track bears. Dogs can’t take down a bear, however bears know that people with guns typically follow dogs. As with the state’s population of bears, wolves, mountain lions and coyotes are far too many. This is causing a critical imbalance between these predator animals and non-predator animals (e,g.- sheep, cattle, elk, domestic pets, etc.) in addition to presenting encounters with population centers. CRPA supports this bill. Remember – Even if you don’t hunt, hunting rights are 2A rights.
Bad Bills (WE OPPOSE)
AB 1187 Firearm Safety Certificate – Bill would create a contradiction in that in order to purchase a firearm, one would have to pass an FSC exam including 8 hours of training with the gun the applicant desires, which will create a heavy burden on few ranges in our county. However, the applicant wouldn’t be able to possess the gun until such time as he/she passes the test but has to possess and use the gun for live fire qualifications during the exam. Additionally, this would essentially create a “license” to purchase/own a firearm, which is unconstitutional. Very Confusing.
AB 933 Camps for Kids – Yet another bill seeking to curtail introduction to firearms.
SB 15 FFL Dealers – Further restriction and obstacles for FFL dealers, especially smaller dealers.
SB 704 Barrels – If enacted this would treat the sale or transfer of barrels as the same as a firearm or ammunition- that is a background check, with additional costs and delays. Another bill aimed at making it more difficult and expensive to own and maintain firearms.
Please refer to the CRPA magazine, Firing Line, for a much more detailed explanation of legislation and litigation.
Finally, Cindy Godinez and I are scheduled to meet with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin April 5th. Also, I will be attending CRPA’s Capitol Day April 9th in which we’ll be meeting with several legislators and their staffs.
UPDATE_ Here are a couple of developments that ought to provide further motivation to get engaged and fight: Colorado’s legislature has passed a bill to effectively ban semi-automatic firearms and has forwarded the bill to the liberal democrat governor. You better believe this idea will soon make its way to CA. By the way, semi autos have been in use since Teddy Roosevelt was president.
As reported in Brietbart News (Apr 6 2025): New York state will now require credit card companies to implement a special merchant code for the purchase of firearms and ammunition. Governor Hochul noted that “This gives law enforcement the opportunity to find out exactly who may be stockpiling ammunition. And this is an indicator that something untoward could be happening, so it’s an important data point for us to have.” WTF – how much ammo are you storing?
Stay informed, stay engaged and fight for the 2A ! ---Mike Ellias |
