American Academy of Pediatrics, California s1

American Academy of Pediatrics, California 921 11th Street, Suite 1100, Sacramento CA 95814 Phone (626) 796 1632 | Fax (626) 628-3382 Email [email protected] | Website www.AAP-CA.org AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, CALIFORNIA

March 7, 2016

Assembly Public Safety Committee 1020 N Street (LOB), Room 111 Sacramento, CA 95814 Fax: (916) 319-3745

RE: AB 1695 (Bonta) False Reports of Stolen Firearms AAP-CA Position: Support

Dear Members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee:

The American Academy of Pediatrics, California (AAP-CA), representing over 5,000 California pediatricians, strongly supports AB 1695 (Bonta). AB 1695 would make it a misdemeanor to submit a false report of a lost or stolen firearm to local law enforcement, and would prohibit those who violate this law from owning a firearm for ten years thereafter. It would also require the Attorney General to inform each applicant for a firearm purchase of laws relating to firearms, gun trafficking, and safe storage.

Gunfire is among the leading causes of injury-based death for children and adolescents. As such, it is of critical importance that we not allow firearms to fall into the wrong hands. However, youth and criminals alike can illegally acquire firearms by purchasing from black market sellers who buy the guns in their name and then resell them, reporting them as stolen so as to avoid legal responsibility. Even more innocuous cases of such unregistered exchange of firearms can prevent the advancement of a gun-related investigation.

AB 1695 (Bonta) would help reduce illegal gun sales and transfers, and thus keep guns out of the hands of those who are not qualified to own them. This is a measure of utmost importance in California, where the gun death rate among children and adolescents is higher than that of many states with far higher gun ownership, including Colorado, Idaho, Texas, and West Virginia. It is our professional responsibility as pediatricians to support law enforcement in their efforts to trace weapons used in crimes, as well as to advocate for the strongest possible legislative and regulatory approaches to combat firearm injury and deaths.

Pediatricians urge your AYE vote on AB 1695 (Bonta). We thank you for your public service and leadership on behalf of the health and well being of children, youth, and families in California.

Sincerely,

Kris Calvin Chief Executive Officer American Academy of Pediatrics, California

CC: AAP-CA Leadership, Lydia Bourne, Assemblymember Rob Bonta

The American Academy of Pediatrics, California (AAP-CA) is a 501(c) 4 nonprofit organization, legally Incorporated separately from the National American Academy of Pediatrics.