Legislative Action Center

Back to Legislative Action Center

Victory in California: Governor Vetoes Firearms Training Bill

Following a strong campaign led by the California Association of Firearms Retailers and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) - the trade association for the firearms industry - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation, AB 2498, that would have forced all California residents seeking firearms training from an instructor with a non-related federal contract to provide firearms training (to federal employees or employees of civilian government contractors) to obtain a costly criminal/mental history background check as a condition of being eligible to receive training. They would have been required to do so merely because the instructor happened to have a federal contract for other kinds of training.

"The unfortunate and needless result of AB 2498 would have been a decline in firearms safety amongst the general public," said Marc Halcon, president of the California Association of Firearms Retailers.  "Governor Schwarzenegger did the right thing by vetoing this dangerous legislation."

Lawrence G. Keane, senior vice president and general counsel of the NSSF, added, "The defeat of this bill, legislation supported by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, marks a tremendous victory for all law-abiding Californians. Passage of AB 2498 would have resulted in many people deciding against firearm safety and proficiency training - a move that benefits no one."