California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a measure that funds special agents to confiscate weapons from the mentally ill and those with criminal convictions.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the new law releases $24 million from the state’s surplus fund coffers to hire the new agents, who in turn will locate the estimated 40,000 weapons that are now illegally owned. The Blaze stipulated that the firearms were once legally owned. But owners lost their Second Amendment rights after committing crimes, or receiving treatment for various mental illnesses.
The state couldn’t afford to take steps to take back those weapons, though. The governor’s new bill frees up the funding — which will not only pay for special agents to do the on-ground confiscations, but also database improvements.
The Blaze said a “Prohibited Armed Persons File” through the Office of the Attorney General will cross-reference gun and hospital records, to expedite the up-to-date checks on owners.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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