Audit: CA Justice Dept. Failing to Keep Guns Away from Prohibited Persons

FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — A program to determine whether firearms are owned by potentially dangerous Californians has a severe backlog.

State Auditor Elaine Howle says the Department of Justice has failed to fully implement all but one, of the recommendations she made back in 2013.

The department is supposed to cross-reference databases, to find people who legally purchased guns before they became ineligible, due to criminal history or severe mental illness.

Howle says the longer it takes to review the backlogged records, the longer prohibited persons remain armed, increasing the risk to public safety.

The Justice Department blames a loss of staff, and the strong sales of guns in the Golden State, which hit a record last year.

However, the California Senate Republican Caucus says the department was given $24 million to clear the backlogs two years ago, with the promise it could be within a year.