On Sunday, October 14, 2002, Governor Gray Davis (D) signed SB 52 and AB 35, which remove the exemptions for licensed hunters and retired veterans from the requirement to obtain the Handgun Safety Certificate, formerly called the Basic Firearms Safety Certificate (BFSC). Those individuals that have served our country courageously, as well as those persons who have undergone hunter safety courses, now must take a written test, demonstrate "safe" handling procedures, and give a thumbprint before receiving state permission to purchase a handgun.

In addition to the increased regulations, the shelf life of the certificate is only five years, in comparison to the current BFSC, which is good for life.

The testing component, as prescribed by SB52, includes the following:

12804. (a) The department shall develop an instruction manual in English and in Spanish by October 1, 2002. The department shall make the instructional manual available to firearms dealers licensed pursuant to Section 12071, who shall make it available to the general public. Essential portions of the manual may be included in the pamphlet described in Section 12080.
(b) The department shall develop audiovisual materials in English and in Spanish by March 1, 2003, to be issued to instructors certified by the department.
(c) (1) The department shall develop a written objective test, in English and in Spanish, and prescribe its content, form, and manner, to be administered by an instructor certified by the department. If the person taking the test is unable to read, the examination shall be administered orally. The test shall cover, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A) The laws applicable to carrying and handling firearms, particularly handguns.
(B) The responsibilities of ownership of firearms, particularly handguns.
(C) Current law as it relates to the private sale and transfer of firearms.
(D) Current law as it relates to the permissible use of lethal force.
(E) What constitutes safe firearm storage.
(F) Issues associated with bringing a handgun into the home.
(G) Prevention strategies to address issues associated with bringing firearms into the home.
(2) If the person taking the test is unable to read English or Spanish, the test may be applied orally by a translator.
(d) The department shall prescribe a minimum level of skill, knowledge and competency to be required of all handgun safety certificate instructors.
 

According to SB52, the DOJ will recognize the following as Instructors who can provide the Handgun Safety Certificate:

 (j) Department Certified Instructor applicants shall have a certification to provide training from one of the following organizations as specified, or any entity found by the department to give comparable instruction in firearms safety, or the applicant shall have similar or equivalent training to that provided by the following, as determined by the department:
(1) Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California-Firearm Training Instructor.
(2) Director of Civilian Marksmanship, Instructor or Rangemaster.
(3) Federal Government, Certified Rangemaster or Firearm Instructor.
(4) Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Firearm Instructor Training Program or Rangemaster.
(5) United States Military, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) as marksmanship or firearms instructor. Assignment as Range Officer or Safety Officer are not sufficient.
(6) National Rifle Association-Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement Instructor, Rangemaster, or Training Counselor.
(7) Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), State of California-Firearm Instructor or Rangemaster.
(8) Authorization from a State of California accredited school to teach a firearm training course.
 

This is the safe handling demonstration required by the text of SB52:

   (D) Commencing January 1, 2003, except as authorized by the department, no firearms dealer may deliver a handgun unless the recipient performs a safe handling demonstration with that handgun.
The demonstration shall commence with the handgun unloaded and locked with the firearm safety device with which it is required to be delivered, if applicable.  While maintaining muzzle awareness, that is, the firearm is pointed in a safe direction, preferably down at the ground, and trigger discipline, that is, the trigger finger is outside of the trigger guard and along side of the handgun frame, at all times, the handgun recipient shall correctly and safely perform the following:
   (i) If the handgun is a semiautomatic pistol:
   (I) Remove the magazine.
   (II) Lock the slide back.  If the model of firearm does not allow the slide to be locked back, pull the slide back, visually and physically check the chamber to ensure that it is clear.
   (III) Visually and physically inspect the chamber, to ensure that the handgun is unloaded.
   (IV) Remove the firearm safety device, if applicable.  If the firearm safety device prevents any of the previous steps, remove the firearm safety device during the appropriate step.
   (V) Load one bright orange dummy round into the magazine.
   (VI) Insert the magazine into the magazine well of the firearm.
   (VII) Manipulate the slide release or pull back and release the slide.
   (VIII) Remove the magazine.
   (IX) Visually inspect the chamber to reveal that a round can be chambered with the magazine removed.
   (X) Lock the slide back to eject the bright orange dummy round.
If the handgun is of a model that does not allow the slide to be locked back, pull the slide back and physically check the chamber to ensure that the chamber is clear.
   (XI) Apply the safety, if applicable.
   (XII) Apply the firearm safety device, if applicable.
   (ii) If the handgun is a double-action revolver:
   (I) Open the cylinder.
   (II) Visually and physically inspect each chamber, to ensure that the revolver is unloaded.
   (III) Remove the firearm safety device.  If the firearm safety device prevents any of the previous steps, remove the firearm safety device during the appropriate step.
   (IV) While maintaining muzzle awareness and trigger discipline, load one bright orange dummy round into a chamber of the cylinder and rotate the cylinder so that the round is in the next-to-fire
position.
   (V) Close the cylinder.
   (VI) Open the cylinder and eject the round.
   (VII) Visually and physically inspect each chamber to ensure that the revolver is unloaded.
   (VIII) Apply the firearm safety device, if applicable.
   (iii) If the handgun is a single-action revolver:
   (I) Open the loading gate.
   (II) Visually and physically inspect each chamber, to ensure that the revolver is unloaded.
   (III) Remove the firearm safety device required to be sold with the handgun.  If the firearm safety device prevents any of the previous steps, remove the firearm safety device during the appropriate step.
   (IV) Load one bright orange dummy round into a chamber of the cylinder, close the loading gate and rotate the cylinder so that the round is in the next-to-fire position.
   (V) Open the loading gate and unload the revolver.
   (VI) Visually and physically inspect each chamber to ensure that the revolver is unloaded.
   (VII) Apply the firearm safety device, if applicable.
  

This bill went into effect January 1, 2003.