Charlie Beck Supports United Senate Bill 551 NR15910bm

Los Angeles: This morning, Chief Beck expressed his support for the “The Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015.”

“I fully support United Senate Bill 551 and the Senate’s efforts to keep firearms and explosives out of the hands of terrorists,” said Chief Charlie Beck. “Recent events in San Bernardino, California and Paris, make passing this legislation even more critical, and may help prevent future deadly attacks.”

Currently in California, when an individual is convicted of a Felony, certain Misdemeanors, Federal crimes, and some other violations, they are no longer legally permitted to have a firearm under their control. This also applies to individuals who are listed on restraining orders.

Since 2006, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Gun Unit, in collaboration with the California Department of Justice (DOJ), began to automate a list of “Armed Prohibited Possessors” (APPS) of firearms. The APPS enables us to identify people who have either purchased or registered a handgun or assault weapon, and have subsequently become prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. Persons listed in the APPS database are fully investigated to determine that no firearms are in their possession, and ensure that they no longer legally possess any firearm.

Currently, persons on the “no fly” list are not permitted to travel on airplanes, but they are allowed to purchase firearms. The “Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015”, like the APPS database, will close a dangerous loophole and help to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals that should not possess them.