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Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders announce emergency actions to curb gun violence at a press conference in Sacramento on May 25, 2022.
Buffalo. Boulder. Aurora. Las Vegas. Orlando. San Bernardino. Sutherland Springs. Poway. Parkland. Sandy Hook.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom rattled off a list of towns that have become tragic metonyms of our nation’s epidemic of gun violence. “That’s just a short list,” Newsom said. On Tuesday, when a gunman stormed a southwest Texas elementary school and killed 19 children and two teachers, another place joined that macabre roster: Uvalde, Texas.
The press conference at the state Capitol was the first joint appearance in at least a year by the governor and the Legislature’s top Democrats, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins of San Diego and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon of Lakewood. The stated purpose, according to Newson, was “not to add to the rhetoric but to advance our resolve.”
But given that the state Legislature is already considering a raft of new gun proposals, Congress is beset by gridlock and the federal judiciary appears primed to slap down some of California’s existing gun laws, there wasn’t much to advance.
The news, such that it was: Newsom, Atkins and Rendon vowed to “expedite” the gun control bills currently moving through the Legislature. That includes a proposal making it easier to hold gun makers and distributors legally liable for injury and death committed with their products, a ban on the advertising of certain firearms to kids, and a bit of Texas-inspired legislation to give Californians the ability to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes or sells designated “assault weapons” or ghost guns.
California already bans so-called assault weapons, of the kind used in the Texas school massacre, and already has the nation’s strictest gun laws.
Newsom said he looks forward to “enthusiastically” signing this latest crop of bills by the end of next month, months ahead of the Aug. 31 legislative deadline.
But even if they do become law, these bills would likely face legal challenges. And the judiciary has not been a friendly place for California gun laws recently. Earlier this month, a Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel struck down a California law barring adults under the age of 21 from purchasing a rifle, an age limit that still applies to handguns. A spokesperson from Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said they are considering whether to petition for a rehearing.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule later this year on the right to carry concealed firearms. California has among the strictest concealed carry licensing schemes in the country.
State Sen. Anthony Portantino, a Democrat from Glendale, authored the invalidated age limit law. At the press conference, he spoke to my colleague, Alexei Koseff, noting that the shooters in both Buffalo, New York and Uvalde were 18-year-olds who legally acquired their AR-15 style semi-automatic rifles.
Newport Academy received numerous state citations before closing Pleasanton clinicsApril 28, 2026 6:00 am
“That includes a proposal making it easier to hold gun makers and distributors legally liable for injury and death committed with their products, a ban on the advertising of certain firearms to kids, and a bit of Texas-inspired legislation to give Californians the ability to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes or sells designated “assault weapons” or ghost guns.”
Yet another example of the upside-down view of law and order from the political left.
Guns (objects) “cause” violence. So, it only “makes sense” that the criminals who abuse them are victims of a “gun violence epidemic” while the citizens/businesses (manufacturing and selling legal products protected by the Constitution) are the new “public safety threats”. When can we sue the progressives for the resulting injuries from their soft on crime policies and ban their (false) advertisements?
“Your right to bare arms in no way supersedes my right to go to the grocery store, a concert, a school, a church without the fear of being shot and killed”
Period, end of story
“But even if they do become law, these bills would likely face legal challenges. And the judiciary has not been a friendly place for California gun laws recently.”
Imagine that. California thumbs its nose at the Constitutional rights of the citizens, gets called on it, and measures are eventually overturned! Perhaps it’s finally time to stop: promoting the myth that criminals will suddenly comply with/care about more laws, guns just “doing things” all by themselves, and rubber stamping anything that the gun control movement wants?
“Guns are objects. The people are to be blamed.”
For those of us who finished elementary school, we know that, in statistics, when you eliminate opportunities of something happening, you reduce the probability that it will happen. For example, if you raise the age to buy guns from 18 to 21, you reduce the chances of an 18-year old shooting a bunch of people which is what happened in Texas, New York and Connecticut. You will never eliminate it but better to reduce the chances that it will happen.
“For those of us who finished elementary school, we know that, in statistics, when you eliminate opportunities of something happening, you reduce the probability that it will happen. For example, if you raise the age to buy guns from 18 to 21, you reduce the chances of an 18-year old shooting a bunch of people which is what happened in Texas, New York and Connecticut. You will never eliminate it but better to reduce the chances that it will happen.”
For those of us who know anything about left wing politics, violence is always blamed on the gun.
The perpetrator is the “bystander” or “victim” of not enough regulations even if it was illegal activity. Law abiding gun owners are dismissed as “nuisances” and “public safety threats” who are “not doing enough” to stop violence. Therefore, anything to reduce/eliminate legal possession and availability of guns, ammunition, etc. is going to be supported for so called “prevention” purposes regardless of the amount of regulations already on the books/negative effects on the Constitutional rights of the law abiding.
Try opening up a gun shop, operating a gun show, or applying for a concealed weapons permit in the Bay Area and watch what happens. Expect be shut down for “safety” reasons and/or denied for not having a “need” – regardless of your willingness to comply with current and strict regulations to do any of these activities.
Analysis shows that Chicago is averaging one mass shooting every week since 2018. Thus far this holiday weekend there have been 40 people shot, 6 people killed. Why is there no HUE and CRY over this?
“Analysis shows that Chicago is averaging one mass shooting every week since 2018. Thus far this holiday weekend there have been 40 people shot, 6 people killed. Why is there no HUE and CRY over this?”
Democrats run Chicago, the city already has strict gun control, and the shootings don’t fit the “white supremacy” and “assault weapons” narratives from the Biden Administration.
OK. I just did a quick search:
“The top ten cities for mass shootings: All of them controlled by the democratic party”.
Chicago, New York, Philly, St. Louis, New Orleans, Houston, Baltimore, wash. DC, Detroit.
Speaking just about Chicago, most guns in Chicago come from out of state, which is why we need laws at the federal level.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/chicago-gun-trace-report-2017/27140/
This is not a Democrat vs Republican question. The majority of Americans want common sense gun laws.