Senate Bill 357 Could Ban Handgun Ammunition in California
Californians Take Action Now
Industry Members Take Action Now
The California legislature is considering a bill that would require serial numbers on all handgun ammunition, including rimfire ammunition, beginning in January of 2009. This bill, introduced by Senator Joseph Dunn and strongly supported by California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, is strongly opposed by SAAMI. The bill, if enacted, amounts to a de facto ammunition ban in California. Serialized ammunition would affect what is now a sophisticated, highly efficient bullet-manufacturing process that could lead to the bankruptcy of the ammunition industry in America. The bill intended to reduce the criminal misuse of firearms has no proven law enforcement benefits, and has the potential to affect national security. Read Senate Bill 357 introduced by Senator Dunn in February 2005 and subsequent Senate amendments [1] [2] [3] [4].
SAAMI Responds To Inaccurate Testimony
California Attorney General Lockyer's testimony in support of SB 357 raises more than a few important questions. He claims it would cost manufacturers an additional "one-quarter of one cent" to laser engrave a serial number on the base and side of a bullet of "handgun ammunition." Senator Dunn claims that the "cost is negligible" and that it is "easy to implement" bullet serialization into the ammunition manufacturing process. SAAMI accurately says it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars for firearms manufacturers to completely redesign their production facilities to incorporate the laser engraving bullets and casings and that bullet serialization is economically impossible.
A Bad Idea With National Repercussions
If SB 357 passes the California legislature, it will mandate that any handgun bullets and their cartridges manufactured, imported and sold in California be engraved with a serial number. The goal behind the serialization idea of matching bullets or their casings recovered at a crime scene with the purchaser of the ammunition may sound laudable in theory, but it is totally unrealistic. Manufacturers would be forced to abandon the California market or go bankrupt. Increased costs for ammunition would dramatically affect our armed forces and state and local law enforcement by forcing a curtailment of training that would threaten homeland security.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter Opposes SB 357: "I am a proud supporter of law enforcement's efforts to reduce the criminal misuse of firearms," says Duncan Hunter in a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. ". . . I am strongly opposed to this proposal because of the harmful impact it will have on the manufacturers of ammunition used by our nation's armed services and law enforcement agencies."
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is concerned for the future of the ammunition industry in his state. "I have toured one of the major manufacturing plants and cannot imagine it being practical to serialize each cartridge. ... My administration has reflected my high regard for law enforcement and homeland security. But because there is no safe, feasible way to implement the requirements of this bill, I do not believe it is justified."
Congressman for All Alaska, Don Young, in his letter to Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, says, "I am a firm believer that state issues fall squarely within the domain of state and local elected officials. However, because of the nature of ammunition manufacturing, the character of the California market, and the national security concerns, there is in this unique case a federal nexus for review."
Assemblymember Ray Haynes, in an editorial submitted to the Los Angeles daily Metropolitan News-Enterprise says the California Legislature is "missing the target again on crime."
View a modern ammunition factory in action
This visual tour through a modern ammunition factory shows the impossibility of bullet serialization. SB 357 threatens to disrupt a sophisticated, highly efficient bullet-manufacturing process.
Law Enforcement Does Not Support This Bill
Senator Dunn's bill is intended to help reduce the criminal misuse of firearms. Yet many in law enforcement oppose this bill because there are no proven law enforcement benefits. No study has been initiated to demonstrate any value in serialization and the enormous costs to implement a serialization system would impact funds for proven crime-fighting initiatives.
James J. Fotis, Executive Director of The Law Enforcement Alliance of America states that SB 357 will endanger officer safety by harming police firearms training. " . . . if passed, this legislation will certainly play out like a horror flick on public safety and law enforcement in California."
Anthony J. Craver, Sheriff-Coroner of Mendocino County states "This is not a way to reduce gun-related crimes. Let's face it; this is just one more way to make gun ownership in California more difficult for honest people."
Industry Leaders Voice Opposition
Winchester Ammunition manufactures several million rounds of ammunition in a single day to supply the military, law enforcement agencies and sportsmen.
"Any attempt to comply with the proposed requirements would result in a massive slowdown in production," says R. M. Hammet, president. "It would be impossible as a matter of pure economics for my company to comply with this proposal and remain profitable."
Thomas L. Millner, president and CEO of Remington Arms Company, Inc. claims that "this proposal would be prohibitively expensive to implement" and would "turn modern assembly lines into early 19th century piece work shops."
SAAMI's letter to the California legislature states that there are important cost/benefit and public policy questions that must be fully examined and answered before bullet serialization of ammunition is imposed upon the industry.
The National Association of Sporting Goods Retailers, the association of more than 51 of the strongest and best firearms and sporting goods wholesale distributors in North America, say that passage of this bill would have a tremendous negative impact on the sporting goods business in California. Technology is untested and serialization will not reduce crime.
The National Reloading Manufacturers Association (NRMA) represent American companies which manufacture reloading components and tools. Executive director, Greg Chevalier urges Governor Schwarzenegger to oppose bullet serialization "for the long term good and safety of California and all Californians." The bill will not reduce crime and will further burden "law-abiding gun owners and the millions of Californians who participate in the shooting sports and in the hobby of reloading."
The California Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc. opposes bullet serialization not only because there are too many "unconsidered and uncontrollable variables" that make this legislation an impractical crime-prevention tool, but also this "would quickly become just another poorly thought out law that in reality, once again, affects lawful citizens who are not a part of the firearms-related crime problem."
The CRPA is also urging California sheriffs to oppose serialized handgun ammunition. "The issue of survivability of a serial number on bullets is only a small part of the total picture ..."
Take Action Now.
A vote on this bill in the California Legislature is expected soon.
Voice your opposition and call your lawmakers today.
Address letters to:
Senator Joseph Dunn
State Capitol
Room 2080
Sacramento CA 95814
916-445-5831
916-323-2323