California lawmakers are advancing Senate Bill 248, a measure that would require the Department of Justice to mail new firearm owners a letter outlining “relevant” information about gun ownership. Introduced by Senator Susan Rubio and recently advanced by committee, the bill mandates that this letter include topics such as safe storage, suicide prevention, domestic violence, and how to relinquish firearms – all under the guise of public education.
But critics, including the California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA), see something more insidious: state-sponsored anti-gun propaganda sent directly to citizens’ mailboxes.
Inside the Bill: What SB 248 Says
According to the bill text published on LegiScan, SB 248 adds a new section to the California Penal Code. Starting July 1, 2027, the Department of Justice must send a letter to anyone who submits a firearm transaction report to the state. This includes those who acquire guns via gift, bequest, inheritance, or private transfer. The letter will contain information about California gun laws, risk statistics, legal ways to surrender firearms, and resources tied to mental health and domestic violence. Notably, it authorizes the use of the Dealer’s Record of Sale (DROS) Special Account to fund the program – an account already strained under current demands.
CRPA Sounds the Alarm on Propaganda and Fiscal Abuse
In a video posted by CRPA TV, host Kevin Small and CRPA Legislative Director Rick Travis tore into the bill. Travis didn’t mince words: “This is a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.” He argued that the letter is not a neutral educational resource but a targeted attempt to discourage firearm ownership. The most offensive part, according to Travis, is that this program will be paid for using the DROS fund, which is already underfunded and supposed to support law enforcement efforts to track down prohibited firearm possessors. Instead of catching felons, the state plans to send pamphlets to law-abiding citizens.
Weaponizing Grief and Confusion
Travis also drew attention to the vulnerable position many recipients of these letters will be in – especially those who receive firearms as gifts or inheritances after the death of a loved one. “You’re emotionally not where you would normally be,” he said, describing the potential effect of receiving a state-sanctioned warning letter right after a family member’s passing. “This gift comes with a new gift from the state… basically telling you that accepting this gift could cause all these problems.” He called it what it is: fearmongering. And the ultimate result? Discouraging ownership and tarnishing the legacy of those who passed firearms to their family.
A Trojan Horse for Gun Control Messaging
While the bill presents itself as an innocuous outreach initiative, Kevin Small said it plainly in the CRPA broadcast: “It’s propaganda.” He pointed out that the state is using its own mandatory reporting process – something law-abiding gun owners already comply with – to force-feed them curated messaging that frames firearms as inherently dangerous. Travis added, “The government doesn’t have the right to do that. That’s called propaganda, and there are laws against it.” For gun rights advocates, the issue isn’t just the content of the letter; it’s the intent and the precedent.
Draining the DROS Account—Again
One of the most criticized aspects of SB 248 is its financial mechanism. The DROS Special Account was originally created to support legitimate public safety needs, including enforcement against those who illegally possess firearms. But as Travis noted, that account is already overburdened. He cited the state’s failure to act on more than 25,000 known armed felons due to lack of funding. “So here comes another program that further depletes it,” he warned. Small compared it to spending the same $10 a hundred different ways. If this continues, CRPA fears it will serve as an excuse to raise fees on every legal gun purchase.
False Justification and Data Manipulation
Another issue with SB 248 is the total lack of justification. Travis challenged the bill’s supporters: “What problem is this bill solving?” He noted that when legislators are asked to identify harm caused by people inheriting or receiving guns as gifts, “absolute silence” follows. This is what CRPA sees as a key pattern – legislation based on assumption, fear, and vague risk statistics, not actual data or harm. Worse, it paints gun ownership as a public health hazard rather than a constitutional right, and it does so under the veil of public service.
Targeting First-Time Owners and New Californians
The bill would also target people moving into the state with legally owned firearms. Travis explained that there’s no clear mechanism to educate new residents about California’s strict gun laws, yet SB 248 makes no real effort to fix that either. Instead, it treats compliance as an opportunity to preach. For individuals who may not be steeped in California’s gun culture – such as those inheriting a firearm or receiving it as a keepsake – the arrival of an official letter from the DOJ could be enough to scare them into surrendering the weapon altogether.
The Emotional Cost of a State-Sponsored Message
CRPA also expressed concern about how this law would affect families. Travis used the example of an iconic family heirloom – a hunting rifle passed down through generations. He asked viewers to imagine a world where such a gift is accompanied by a letter essentially warning the recipient that the gift is dangerous and unwanted. “It discourages the gift,” he said. “But it also paints a picture of the person who passed away as someone who did something wrong.” That’s a profound cultural insult, and one that goes beyond policy into the realm of values.
Another Backdoor Attack on Gun Culture
From a constitutional perspective, SB 248 is troubling not because it bans firearms or mandates new restrictions, but because it turns a reporting process into a psychological operation. This is legislation aimed at reshaping public perception – particularly among the uninformed or emotionally vulnerable. The state doesn’t trust the gun-owning community to educate itself, nor does it respect the natural process of passing on firearms as part of family tradition. Instead, it wants to frame every gun acquisition as a public health crisis, inserting itself into the homes and hearts of citizens through mailers disguised as helpful guidance.
Where This Is Headed
SB 248 has passed through its initial committee and is now on its way to Appropriations. According to CRPA, this is where advocacy must ramp up. Kevin Small reminded viewers that political pressure and public engagement can still stop this bill from becoming law. “We will be advocating against this,” he said, urging gun owners and concerned citizens to stay informed and active. Travis added that once these types of programs take hold, they are used as justification for even greater fees and restrictions down the line. “This is the cycle we’re trying to break.”
Not Just a Letter—A Message with a Mission
SB 248 may seem harmless to the casual observer, but its implications run deep. It uses state funds to promote a narrative that gun ownership is inherently risky, unwanted, and dangerous. It leverages grief, bureaucracy, and compliance as tools to change minds – and ultimately, behavior. As Rick Travis and Kevin Small both argued, this is not about safety. It’s about control. And unless the public pushes back, California could very well normalize propaganda as a condition of exercising your rights.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa writes about homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Whether it’s canning vegetables or setting up a rainwater harvesting system, Lisa’s goal is to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.