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New Year Brings New Laws
ResumeCalifornia law enforcement agencies will get a new tool in January that they hope could prevent mass shootings. The new law is drawing criticism from gun rights advocates, while last month’s San Bernardino shooting has supporters hoping to expand its reach.
The law was written in response to a mass shooting near Santa Barbara in May 2014. A young man killed six people and injured 13 after his parents had warned law enforcement he could be dangerous. Within months, California had a new law allowing family members or law enforcement officials to seek a temporary “gun violence restraining order” against someone they believe could be dangerous.
Here & Now's Robin Young discusses the new legislation with Capital Public Radio's Ben Adler in Sacramento.
Other state laws that take effect January 1, 2016:
- Hawaii became the first state to raise the legal smoking age to 21.
- Tennessee launched a first-in-the-country statewide registry of animal abusers.
- And in Oregon, 300 new laws took effect, including allowing drives to pump their own gas in some rural counties. (Oregon and New Jersey restrict allow self-service gas stations.)
Guest
- Ben Adler, capitol bureau chief of Capital Public Radio in Sacramento.
This segment aired on January 1, 2016.