California’s Latest Assault on Second Amendment Rights: SB 948 Mandates Costly Training to Purchase Firearms

In yet another brazen attempt to erode the constitutional rights of law-abiding Californians, state Democrats have introduced Senate Bill 948, which would impose an unprecedented eight-hour mandatory training requirement—including live-fire exercises—just to purchase a firearm. The bill, sponsored by Senator Jesse Arreguín (D-Oakland), not only targets new gun buyers but also closes a so-called “loophole” for individuals moving to California with legally owned firearms, forcing them to obtain a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) within 60 days of arrival. Antique firearms are exempt, but for everyone else, this adds layers of bureaucracy, time, and expense to exercising a fundamental right.

The proposal, set to take effect for FSC applicants starting July 1, 2028, requires at least eight hours of instruction on firearm safety, handling, and state laws, plus a minimum of one hour of live-fire shooting on a range. 

Critics, including prominent Second Amendment advocate Colion Noir, argue this isn’t about safety—it’s a deliberate barrier designed to discourage gun ownership. 

In a recent X post that has garnered over 82,000 views, Noir described SB 948 as transforming “a constitutional right into an eight-hour obstacle course that only people with time, money, and flexibility can afford to complete.”  He emphasized that criminals won’t comply, leaving vulnerable communities—often working-class neighborhoods hardest hit by crime—even more defenseless.

California Democrats are pushing a bill that would fundamentally change gun ownership in the state — and almost no one is talking about what it actually does.

For the first time in California history, this SB 948 proposal would require mandatory state-approved training,… pic.twitter.com/vXsyIZtWhn

— Colion Noir (@MrColionNoir) February 8, 2026

Noir’s breakdown highlights the bill’s insidious nature: it empowers the government to control training timelines, costs, and access, potentially turning a right into a privilege reserved for the elite. “If this were really about safety, the training would be free. It would be accessible. It would be encouraged—not weaponized,” Noir stated.  Estimates suggest the training could cost upwards of $395, plus additional fees for fingerprints and certification, effectively functioning as a modern-day poll tax on the Second Amendment. 

This isn’t California’s first rodeo in chipping away at gun rights. As the California Globe has previously reported, the Department of Justice recently filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for similar infringements, accusing them of trampling on gun owners’ rights through arbitrary delays and denials of concealed carry permits. 

Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration has a history of prioritizing restrictive gun laws over addressing root causes of crime, such as his surge in law enforcement funding amid rising violence—funding that critics say does little without enforcing existing statutes. Newsom has even mocked calls for prayer in the wake of school shootings, drawing widespread backlash for politicizing tragedy while pushing policies that disarm the innocent.

Gun rights groups like Gun Owners of California have mobilized against SB 948, labeling it a “permit-to-purchase scheme” that adds unnecessary hoops to an already burdensome process. “No other enumerated right requires classroom education and live training in order to exercise it,” they stated in a recent alert, urging Californians to contact the Senate Public Safety Committee to vote no.  Similar sentiments echo in online forums, where users compare it to requiring training for voting or free speech, calling it an “all-out assault on the 2A.” 

Defending the bill, Senator Arreguín has pushed back against the criticism, insisting it’s a “life-saving” measure to ensure education on gun laws and safe handling. “SB 948 enhances our state’s gun safety laws by holding new residents to the same standards as current owners,” his office stated in a press release, framing the training as essential for public safety.

However, with no provisions for free or subsidized training, the mandate risks pricing out low-income individuals precisely when crime rates in Democrat-led cities continue to plague the state.

As California grapples with this latest infringement, the broader pattern is clear: progressive policies that prioritize control over rights, all while failing to deter actual criminals.

The Globe will continue monitoring SB 948’s progress and its implications for Second Amendment freedoms.