Nuance: The Real Cost of Gun Ownership in California

What if the real barrier to gun ownership in California isn’t safety — it’s cost? Between the 11% excise tax created by AB 28, ammunition background checks, FFL fees, and a 16-hour mandatory CCW class, lawful gun owners now carry thousands in cumulative compliance costs. Meanwhile, criminals operate outside the system entirely. In this Nuance breakdown, Fredrick examines whether these policies reduce crime — or simply price ordinary Californians out of their ability to protect themselves and their families. If we’re serious about fairness, we need to ask who pays… and who doesn’t.