A gun control measure that Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to put on California's 2016 ballot would require the state of California to launch a new database tracking ammunition sales.
The measure, called "The Safety for All Act of 2016," would amend the California penal code to require vendors who sell or transfer ammunition in the state to fill out a form and submit it to the California Department of Justice. Data points would include the sale date, purchaser's full name and his or her driver's license or ID number, the purchaser's address and birth date, and the salesperson who processed the transaction.
"The Department shall retain this information in a database to be known as the Ammunition Purchase Records File.This information shall remain confidential" and "may be used by the department through the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, only for law enforcement purposes," the proposed ballot initiative reads.
California DOJ already has a registry for firearms sales. The Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) entry system is a Web-based application used by firearms dealers to report the sale, loan, transfer, redemption and acquisition of handguns and long guns to CalDOJ's Bureau of Firearms. The system processed 931,000 records of sale in 2014 and denied 8,500 purchases after completion of a background check and the state's 10-day waiting period.
In October, Newsom and gun control proponents announced their firearms-control measure. Besides requiring point-of-sale background checks for ammunition purchases, the initiative would require people to turn in large-capacity magazines that are banned to the police or an authorized reseller. California has outlawed gun magazines of more than 10 rounds. Gun owners also would be required to report to law enforcement if their gun is lost or stolen.
No other state requires background checks for ammunition purchases, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Last month the California Secretary of State cleared the proposed ballot measure to begin collecting the more than 365,000 signatures needed to be put on the ballot.
The measure undoubtedly will be a lightning rod in the months ahead for gun rights advocates and could play into Newsom's political aspirations. He already has declared his intention to run for governor.
The proposal for a database for ammunition sales also comes with some intrigue. As lieutenant governor, Newsom has been critical of how the state of California manages and procures technology; on more than one occasion he has compared the state's IT procurement efforts to a "cartel." Newsom has urged the state to use more cloud computing solutions and commercially available products.
