California already has a few of the strictest gun laws in the nation, but Newsom’s measure comes in the wake of high-profile killings nationwide.
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“It’s a cynical shot by Gavin to push himself into the limelight in preparation for his run for governor”, said Eric Meyers of Napa, president of the Liberal Gun Club’s California chapter.
Newsom said these public provisions provisions will make California safer, but a few National Rifle Association members aren’t buying it.
These include an end to grandfathering of magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds, relinquishment of weapons by those prohibited by the state from legal possession and mandatory reporting of lost or stolen guns.
He has no major financial backers yet, Newsom said, but “I have no doubts that we’ll able to raise the resources to get our message out”.
“If you’re going to do something, go big”, Newsom said in an interview Thursday afternoon. Shortly after the Democratic Debate on Tuesday, Newsom publicly endorsed the candidates’ stance on gun control and especially praised Hillary Clinton’s performance. While California expanded its assault weapons ban in 1999 and prohibited extended magazines, owners were allowed to register and keep the weapons.
The measure needs 365,000 signatures to qualify for next year’s ballot – the means by which many of California’s most impactful proposals are adopted.
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, running to replace Gov. Brown, has proposed a sweeping voter initiative that a few call a declaration of war on law-abiding gun owners and Second Amendment rights.
Californians won’t elect their next governor for three more years, but the race is already shaping up to be one of the most compelling statewide contests the Golden State has seen in years, a new Field Poll shows. The question is whether California’s voters’ concepts of bold change are the same as Newsom’s. There are plenty of online outlets which sell ammunition, so unless Newsom wants every big box which isn’t from Amazon or Overstock.com checked by law enforcement (and they’ll need a warrant) there’s no way he can prevent people from buying bullets online. If the measure succeeds, California would become the first state to require background checks on ammunition purchases.
Newsom said that as a father he was deeply saddened and angered by the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut that left 27 victims dead.
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President Obama travels to Roseburg, Oregon and he could be close to using his executive authority to do what Congress won’t do: tighten gun laws in this country. “If you’re going to purchase ammunition you should purchase it from a licensed dealer and you be subject to the same background your subject to with gun sales”, Newsom said. Brown has signed legislation this year banning concealed carrying of handguns on campuses, however. The same law also bans the importation, manufacture and sale of ammunition magazines with 11 rounds or more. A system to take back firearms from people not allowed to own them would also be put in place if the proposed measure passed.
