The state Department of Justice submitted draft regulations to the California Office of Administrative Law this week expanding the definition of an “assault weapon” in the state.
The state hasn’t released the proposed regulations to the public, submitting them “file and print only” even though California residents are facing an end of the year registration deadline to abide by the yet-to-be established rules.
This comes three months after the withdrawal of an initial proposed rule formulated during the administration of Attorney General Kamala Harris, now a U.S. senator, to address changes required by legislation passed last year. That rule had been submitted after a proposed emergency regulation on making now-outlawed pre-ban magazines capable of holding more than 10 cartridges compliant, which, in turn, has also been pulled.
The National Rifle Association and California Rifle & Pistol Association had fired off a prelitigation letter to the state, warning of several potential illegalities with the initially proposed regulations and now eagerly wants a look at the new regulations.
by Chris Eger