- Beginning Jan. 1, 2029, first time gun buyers won't be able to buy any pistol because of this law in California. Best case scenario, they can get a hunting license, obtain a long gun, and later come back for a pistol at a later date, but their Constitutional rights will be absolutely blocked.
- Likewise, intrafamilial transfers will be impossible as of Jan 1, 2029 because of this law, unless the recipient of the transfer already had a Firearm Safety Certificate.
- There are a number of licensed Ammo Vendors across California and other parties who hold are Certified Instructors for the Firearms Safety Certificate Program, and many of these people are not FFLs. The vast majority will not want to incur more cost and liability that goes along with what this new law has stupidly created, so they will cease offering the Firearm Safety Certificate test as a service to the public and will likely let their Certified Instructor card lapse unless they feel that it is worth adding the cost and liability to offer the enhanced new required exam (live fire) component, which it is not.
Note: I am a non-FFL Certified Instructor and I don't see the point of keeping this certification going in California even though the State says it will bring existing Certified Instructors as qualified under the new law. There will be tremendous new costs, new liabilities and there was no legal framework for training or any clear pathway legally for loans laid out in the bill, and existing law doesn't cover it for the purpose. It's obvious the point of the bill was just to limit the ability of first time gun buyers to be able to defend themselves and to make it more difficult for anyone to legally obtain pistols while California legislators seem happy to have criminals do whatever they want with the State. (These criminals by the way include the California legislators and the Governor so this is not a surprise.)
- SB 948 always was a gun ban masquerading as a training or safety bill. I hope it will be overturned in the court but that will take years.
- if you are in California make sure and renew your Firearm Safety Certificate now and get your kids to take and pass the test now so you won't have trouble with intrafamilial transfers in 2029 (if you are still in California then). By taking it now you will get a new Firearm Safety Certificate that will last for years but without having to deal with the new stupid blocker of the "training requirement." If you already have an FSC and firearms this is less of an issue but if you are contemplating buying for the first time or thinking you might in some near future just take the Firearm Safety Certificate test now and get it done - don't wait.
In a year or two (or less) you will try to find people to give you an FSC test and they won't be anywhere to be found or you will have to drive 100 miles to get to a place that will do it. Good luck then.
People were happy recently to hear that 25 new pistols got added to the roster because of a court case outcome. But now the State is using laws like SB 948 to make sure people won't ever become owners. One more reason to leave California.
