Dumbest Gun Law Award goes to Gavin Newsom, who signed a law making you tell the government whether you’ve checked every gun you already own before buying another one. I’m not joking. Under California’s AB 574, which took effect in March 2025, gun buyers must answer whether they’ve checked and confirmed possession of EVERY firearm they own within the previous 30 days. That’s right. You walk into a gun store to buy another rifle, and California wants to know whether you’ve recently checked on all the guns sitting in your safe.
Now, I don’t know how many of you gun nuts even know exactly how many firearms you own. Some of you probably have a pretty good idea, and others might have to do some counting. But why on earth is that the government’s business? The fact that Gavin Newsom signed a law putting this question into the gun-buying process is ridiculous. Apparently, before buying another gun, Sacramento needs to know whether you’ve been keeping tabs on the ones you already have. What could possibly go wrong?
— Stephen Ziegler
Outdoor writer