Attorney General Bill Lockyer Announces California Armed Prohibited Program Second Annual Firearm Destruction

108 Assault Rifles, Assault Pistols, Rifles, Shotguns and Handguns Destroyed

Thursday, May 26, 2005
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

(INLAND EMPIRE) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer today announced the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Inland Empire Task Force conducted their second annual firearm destruction. A total of 108 guns were seized during previous investigations of prohibited armed persons in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The destroyed firearms included assault rifles, assault pistols, rifles, shotguns and handguns.

In 2002, Attorney General Lockyer established the California Armed Prohibited Program (CAPP) to remove firearms from dangerous criminals who illegally purchase or possess them in violation of state law. Over the last three years, CAPP agents within the Attorney General's Firearms Division have recovered more than 4,655 firearms, including 1,117 assault weapons, from felons and other prohibited persons. The CAPP Inland Empire Task Force was established in March 2003, and is comprised of state and local law enforcement agencies. In 2004, the CAPP Inland Empire Task Force made 48 felony arrests and seized over 400 weapons from prohibited persons.

The 108 firearms destroyed are from seizures that occurred between 2003 and 2005. Pursuant to California law, a weapon is cleared for destruction when a final disposition has been reached, the appeals process has concluded and the case is closed.

California law prohibits convicted felons, violent offenders, the mentally ill, persons with restraining orders and other specified individuals from possessing a gun. In 2003, 22,311 aggravated assaults were committed involving the use of firearms as well as 1,733 homicides. More than 3,300 prohibited persons were denied the ability to purchase a firearm as a result of the background checks performed in a proper transaction process, however there are still many criminals who use alternative, and illegal, means to get their hands on guns. In light of these activities the California Armed Prohibited Program was created to help crackdown on illegal possession and distribution of weapons.

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