Lawmakers are looking to end another backlog in the state, this one involving illegal guns. 

The Armed and Prohibited Persons System, better known as APPS, is still the only state-run program in the country for an automated system for tracking prohibited firearm owners. 

It’s been around for more than a decade.

The system isn’t perfect.

In March, the Department of Justice released new data showing more than 10,000 people are still in the system. 

It’s a backlog. 

“The difficulty for the Department of Justice and our APPS program is we haven’t been able to — the last year or two — grow with the population that is possessing weapons,” said Xavier Becerra, Attorney General. 

Looking at year to year numbers, only about 400 people were taken off the list over the past year. 

But DOJ says it doesn’t show the full picture, with thousands of new people now prohibited from owning firearms, DOJ says they cleared 7,200 from the list. 

Still, the backlog, is upsetting some lawmakers. 

“They’re on a list. We know they have guns. We know they’re not allowed to,” said Asm. Catharine Baker (R-San Ramon).

Bay Area Republican Assemblymember Catharine Baker and Southern California Assemblymember Melissa Melendez first requested the state legislature to give DOJ additional dollars this year. 

Their proposal — $25 million over two years. 

With a catch — DOJ had to cut the list in half by next July or lose the money. 

But last week, an assembly budget subcommittee voted unanimously, providing DOJ less than 10 million over 2 years. 

“We’re ready to work with the Legislature on a bipartisan basis to make sure we come up with a good proposal for the APPS program moving forward,” said Becerra.

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