History
Major Accomplishments:
- Filed an Amicus Brief in support of the numerous petitioners who brought a lawsuit to the State of California’s Court of Appeals, contesting the passage of Proposition H, an ordinance banning possession of guns in the city of San Francisco. Judge James Warren concluded that this particular gun regulation was a violation of state law, and overstepped the authority reserved for city ordinances.
- In February 2006, the AEAA lobbied in favor of California Assembly Bill A.B. 2131, which sought to amend Sections 12285, 12286, and 12290 of the California Penal code, as it relates to assault weapons. The bill would have revised permit and registration procedures for assault weapons obtained from intestate succession and assault weapons being brought into the state by persons moving from another state.
- In August 2006, the AEAA actively engaged in the process of blocking certain provisions to California Assembly Bill A.B. 2521. This amendment would have required a California Department of Justice verification number for each individual firearms shipment transferred between FFLs, and would have greatly increased the transaction fees imposed on firearms dealers.
- An AEAA member obtained a formal advisory opinion from ATF clarifying the provisions of ATF Ruling 2004-2 as they pertain to the GCA and NFA. The formal opinion confirmed AEAA’s interpretation of the relevant regulations, which is that ATF would not take exception to the temporary importation of firearms, particularly post-86 NFA machineguns, by various entertainment industry Armorers pursuant to an approved DSP-61 from the Department of State, provided the conditions of ATF Ruling 2004-2 are met.
- In October 2009, AAEA lobbied in opposition of California Assembly Bill A.B. 962, which would have placed significant regulations upon the sale and transfer of handgun ammunition. AAEA, acting through its largest member, Independent Studio Services, objected to the bill because it would have obstructed the general public’s ability to obtain affordable firearms ammunition, and discriminated against qualified businesses in the entertainment industry actively engaged in the retail sale of ammunition for limited purposes in conjunction with productions efforts in the film and television industries.
Policy Points:
- A complete transition has been made in the trade regarding the use of Permanent Intermittent Employees within the entertainment industry. Industry members have retained different Armorers as part time permanent employees known as “Permanent Intermittent Employees,” as opposed to the former practice of listing these individuals as responsible parties on multiple Federal Firearms Licenses.
- There remains a need to enact federal legislation consistent with H.R. 5005 “Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act” bill, which was proposed by Rep. Pete Sessions in 2007and sought to permit theatrical Armorers to purchase and obtain post-86 machineguns for the sole purpose of using these firearms in theatrical productions. AEAA was successful in introducing such legislation as part of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009, which is currently pending before Congress.
- The AEAA remains interested in comprising, with the assistance and guidance of the ATF, a joint document or compliance handbook, that outlines the requirements of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (“GCA”), the National Firearms Act of 1934 (“NFA”), and the Arms Export Control Act (“AECA”) as they relate to the entertainment industry. This document would act as a compliance guide and specifically explain the various regulations, as they pertain to the use, transportation, and possession of firearms by actors, armories, and others associated with the entertainment industry.
