SACRAMENTO — The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 4-2 today to approve Senate Bill 755, legislation by Sen. Lois Wolk to prevent gun violence by making several additions to the list of crimes subject to a 10-year firearms prohibition in California.

“This is a reasonable, commonsense measure to help prevent gun violence and keep our communities safe,” said Wolk, D-Davis, in a statement. “SB 755 respects the rights of law-abiding gun owners by focusing on keeping guns out of the hands of gang members, repeat drug and alcohol offenders, and other criminals. By preventing these convicted criminals from purchasing firearms, we will prevent a number of serious violent firearms crimes.”

The crimes added by SB 755 to the 10-year prohibition in California include multiple drug or alcohol offenses within a 3-year period, taking a firearm or weapon from a police officer, threatening an officer, bringing or carrying ammunition onto school grounds, and several gang-related offenses.

“We know from public health research that alcohol abuse is associated with risky firearm behaviors. There is also substantial evidence that individuals who abuse alcohol pose an increased risk of violence to their intimate partners and families,” said Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, which supports SB 755. “Population level estimates indicate that alcohol increases the risk of suicide by 50 percent among individuals with a history of violence, and the heavy use of alcohol has also been positively linked with firearm suicides.”

“Measures such as SB 755 that help keep guns out of the hands of persons with records of alcohol abuse enhance public safety and save lives,” said Kristen Rand, Legislative Director of the Violence Policy Center, a national non-profit organization that conducts research, policy development and advocacy to reduce gun violence.

Under current federal law, all convicted felons, drug addicts, domestic violence offenders, those deemed mentally ill by the courts, and several other categories are prohibited for life from purchasing or possessing firearms or ammunition. California law, passed in 1990, added a 10-year prohibition for those convicted of violent misdemeanors. In 2000, California created the Armed Prohibited Persons System, a system endorsed by the NRA that tracks individuals prohibited by federal or state law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

SB 755 is supported by a broad coalition that includes the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Courage Campaign, Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Los Angeles District Attorney.