The ballot title and explanatory statement were written by the State Attorney General as required by law. As It Presently Exists Under our state constitution individual citizens have the right to bear arms in defense of themselves or the state. Past Supreme Court decisions have held that this right is subject to reasonable regulation to protect the public safety, health, morals and general welfare.
Current law contains no specific training requirements for handgun owners.
Current law allows a chief of police or sheriff to issue a temporary emergency license for good cause. This measure would make it unlawful to knowingly sell, deliver, loan or otherwise transfer any handgun unless it is equipped with a trigger-lock or similar device. The measure would also require that anyone, before buying, taking possession or control of a handgun, obtain a handgun safety license, renewable every five years. Handgun safety licenses would be issued by the department of licensing and an on-line database of all handgun safety license holders would be created for law enforcement and corrections departments. The training requirement would be waived for certain law enforcement officers or for persons with military training on the safe operation, handling, and storage of handguns.