Sheriffs in California said the same thing back in 1989 when Cali made such rifles illegal. How is that working out for them now!
Your comment is basically true, however there is a great deal of Historical and background information that one must be aware of before your comment should be discussed.
California is a severely fractured state and there is VERY significant differences in the operations of Law Enforcement and Courts between Urban-Suburban Counties and Rural Counties.
This has been going on since the Railroad Wars and the Water Wars of early California statehood, when County Sheriffs picked a side, armed and swore Deputies and shot it out against or alongside Pinkerton and Railroad "Police".
Timeline wise, California has never been more divided than now, and California State Government has never been less responsive and Representative of the California Citizen than now.
How is that working out for them now!
The proper and truthful answer to that is:
It depends on WHERE in California they are.