The California state Senate has passed a bill that would penalize parents if their children openly display a BB gun in a public place.
The legislation would fine parents one-hundred dollars for the first offense and two-hundred dollars for the second.
Supporters assert today’s BB guns are being manufactured to look just like real assault weapons. They said parents should take responsibility to make sure the guns are properly stored.
But Republican Senator Doug La Malfa said the bill goes too far.
“Back in my day," recalled La Malfa, "you could jump on your bike in the morning with your BB gun and drive all around the neighborhood or up through the hills and do what you do, a little plinking here and there, and it wouldn’t hurt anybody now at this point we’re going to make criminals out of people for not properly storing a BB gun.”
The bill has support from some law enforcement. It passed the Senate 21 to 17. It still faces one more vote in the Assembly before it could move to the Governor.
