A bill that would expand California’s concealed carry law, and a measure that would make it easier for Californians to obtain concealed carry permits, passed the state Assembly on Wednesday.
The measure would allow Californians over the age of 21 to carry concealed weapons without a permit, and make it a misdemeanor for a person under 21 to violate a permit requirement.
It also would make concealed carry of certain weapons a felony and add other misdemeanor offenses for violations.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where the Assembly Judiciary Committee will consider it.
“There is no question that the second California law, which I believe to be the most comprehensive in the nation, would help to address the epidemic of gun violence in California,” Assemblywoman Jane Kim, a Democrat, said in a statement.
“The Assembly is proud to support this commonsense legislation that will help make our state safer.”
The bill would allow gun owners over the legal age of 18 to carry a concealed firearm.
It also would increase the penalties for people who violate concealed carry permit requirements.
The measure would also allow for more guns on college campuses.
It’s the second time that California has expanded its concealed carry laws.
The Assembly last year passed a measure allowing gun owners to carry firearms on campus, but the bill stalled in the Senate.
In 2012, the California Senate approved a bill allowing people over the statutory age of 20 to carry guns without a license, but it failed to advance in the Assembly.
The state’s House of Representatives passed a bill in February that expanded the state’s concealed gun permit program, but that measure failed to make it out of committee.
The bill’s co-sponsors are Assemblyman Matt Dababneh, a San Francisco Democrat, and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, a Los Angeles Democrat.
In a statement, the bill’s sponsors said it was intended to provide more protections for gun owners in California and that it would provide more effective and efficient public safety programs for law enforcement and local governments.
“California’s existing laws have been proven to be effective and effective in preventing mass shootings,” the statement read.
“We are excited to see this measure become law and look forward to helping to make our communities safer.”ABC News’ John Sexton contributed to this report.