SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D- Sacramento) today introduced Assembly Bill 424 (AB 424), which will close a loophole in California’s Gun Free School Zones law. While civilian possession of a gun on a school campus is prohibited, a school district can currently authorize an armed civilian with a Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) permit to enter a school campus.
A number of California school districts including Folsom Cordova Unified, Kingsburg Joint Union, Anderson Union, and Kern school districts have begun to issue these authorizations, increasing the number of guns on K-12 school campuses and the risk of an on campus shooting.
AB 424 would eliminate this loophole, reducing the number of guns on school campuses, making school campuses safer and fulfilling the original intent of California’s Gun Free School Zones law.
“Nothing that was important to me before Chris was killed is as important to me now,” said Richard Martinez, a member of the Everytown Survivor Network and Senior Associate for Everytown for Gun Safety, whose son Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez was shot and killed in Isla Vista, California in May of 2014. “The only thing that’s important is the work that I do to help prevent other families from experiencing the same loss. That’s why I support Assembly Bill 424.”
Since 2013, over 200 school shootings have taken place in America — an average of nearly one a week.
“A safe learning environment is essential for our children to be successful in the classroom,” said Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D – Sacramento). “That’s not possible if a school district allows armed civilians to roam California school campuses. I’m proud to author AB 424 and will continue to lead California’s efforts to keep guns out of our schools.”
AB 424 will be considered by the California State Assembly in the spring of 2017.
You can view an archived Facebook Live broadcast of the AB 424 introduction press conference at: www.fb.com/AsmKevinMcCarty
Kevin McCarty represents California’s 7th Assembly District, which include the cities of Sacramento, West Sacramento and unincorporated Sacramento County. McCarty serves as Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance.
