For years, and now most recently  following numerous mass killings in the United States, special agents with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) Firearms Bureau have been showing the nation how taking guns from the hands of convicted felons and the mentally ill can save lives.

“DOJ special agents have a program that works, the Armed and Prohibited Persons System (APPS) and they excel at it,” said Alan Barcelona, president of the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA).  CSLEA represents DOJ special agents along with nearly 7,000 other law enforcement, public safety and consumer protection professionals who work for the state of California. 

“Because this program works, because it saves lives and because California needs more than just 33 special agents assigned to it, CSLEA is in full support of SB 140,” said Barcelona. 

Senate Bill 140 appropriates $24 million dollars from funds that are already available,  for the Attorney General to add additional agents to the Bureau of Firearms in order to expand gun law enforcement efforts.

As the national spotlight continues to shine on this program, support for SB140 is incredibly strong.  The minority that opposes it, wants more local law enforcement involvement and/or financing to come from the state’s general fund rather than a fund generated by gun registration fees.

Attorney General Kamala Harris addressed the opposing view in a Special To The Sacramento Bee published Saturday, March 23, 2013.

CSLEA invites you to read the Attorney General’s point of view and to support DOJ special agents and their successful fight to remove firearms from those, who by law, cannot possess them.  

“SB140 is an investment in a program that works,” said Barcelona. ” A  program that , undoubtedly, saves lives. ”