The end of rifles in Tulare County?

California is one step away from outlawing guns in the rural parts of the state — a big deal for Tulare County.

Most people in Tulare County, though, hope the proposed law goes by the wayside.

Assembly Bill 7, which criminalizes the carrying of a long gun in the unincorporated area of a county, has passed out of the California Legislature and is now awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown's signature.

If signed, AB 7 would eliminate the ability to openly bear arms anywhere in the state of California. Residents with concealed carry permits will still have the right to carry a handgun.

"We are an agricultural and sport hunting county community. The law-abiding people of this state are the losers within this bill if passed by the governor," said Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux. "These types of legislation only hurt the people who exercise their Second Amendment rights and who pose no threat of danger to the public."

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In 2016, California gun dealers sold 758,678 long guns — nearly double the previous year's total of 397,231 long guns sales, according to the California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General.

Long gun sales also surpassed the number of handguns sold in 2016.

The bill is unfair to those gun owners who abide by the existing law, Boudreaux said.

"The criminal element are those which need to be held accountable," Boudreaux said. "There are laws already on the books that allow us to successfully bring people to justice who violate the law."

Firearms Policy Coalition, a nonprofit whose mission is to protect and defend the second amendment, also released a statement in opposition to the measure.

“The Second Amendment to the US Constitution clearly enumerates a fundamental right to bear arms," said Craig DeLuz, Firearms Policy Coalition spokesman. "Nonetheless, the State of California has chosen to continue on the path toward completely eliminating this constitutional right in the Golden State."

AB 7 passed the State Assembly on Sept. 13.

If in violation of AB 7, gun owners can receive up to one year in a county jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine.

Local residents took to Facebook to voice their opposition of the legislation.

"What a total waste of taxpayers dollars to do this," wrote Fred Boyles. "Now if you can't carry a long gun, why would you buy a hunting license?"

Tulare County has several public areas for hunting, said Peter Tira, with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"All of the national forest land in the eastern part of the county – such as the Sequoia National Forest – as well as the Bureau of Land Management parcels in the county are open to public hunting during the respective hunting seasons," Tira said.

Brown has until Oct. 15 to either sign or veto the bill.