Gov. Newsom officially requests convention to amend US Constitution.
California Governor Gavin Newsom Pushes for Constitutional Amendment to Address Gun Violence
The state of California is taking a bold step towards combating gun violence by proposing a 28th Constitutional amendment. Governor Gavin Newsom’s call for this amendment has gained support from the state’s legislature, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
NEW: California just became the first state in the nation to officially propose an Amendment to the United States Constitution to end our nation’s gun violence crisis.
Time to enshrine 4 widely supported gun safety freedoms —
1) Raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21…
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 15, 2023
In an effort to address gun violence, California is requesting a Constitutional convention to establish this amendment. However, for the amendment to be considered, it requires a two-thirds majority vote from state legislatures, according to the Times.
The proposed amendment, known as the “Right to Safety Amendment,” aims to implement several Democratic gun-control policies at the federal level. These policies include raising the minimum age for gun purchases to 21, implementing universal federal background checks, enforcing a mandatory waiting period for gun purchases, and banning certain types of semiautomatic rifles.
Governor Newsom has been advocating for this amendment since earlier this summer, emphasizing the need for common-sense reforms to protect citizens from the ongoing gun violence crisis.
When people ask why I am introducing a Constitutional Amendment on gun safety this is why.
Not only has Congress stalled for YEARS on passing common sense reforms — judges across the country are tearing down laws that Americans overwhelmingly support. Laws that keep us SAFE and…
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 9, 2023
Despite the proposed amendment’s potential impact on the American legal understanding of gun ownership, Governor Newsom assures that it will coexist with the Second Amendment. He believes that the Right to Safety Amendment will preserve the integrity of the Second Amendment while incorporating sensible safety provisions that enjoy overwhelming support from the American people, as stated in a news release.
However, the path to enshrining this amendment into law faces significant challenges. It requires approval from three-fourths of state legislatures, and with Republicans currently holding a majority in many state houses, the prospects may be slim.
It is worth noting that many of the amendment’s provisions are already in place in California. Despite having the toughest gun laws in the country, the state has experienced a high number of mass shootings. However, according to Giffords Law Center, California had the eighth-lowest gun-death rate among all states in 2021.
We have the toughest gun laws in America. Yet California has the most mass shootings. pic.twitter.com/tQT3znE2fA
— KDugan1850 (@KDugan1850) August 24, 2023
The California Assembly has passed Governor Newsom’s proposal with a 51-14 vote, although some Democrats chose not to vote, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Source: Gov. Gavin Newsom Officially Calls for Convention to Change US Constitution (The Western Journal)
How does raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21 aim to prevent young individuals from having easy access to firearms?
Rights, Governor Newsom maintains that it is necessary in order to address the crisis of gun violence that the nation is facing. He argues that common-sense gun safety reforms are needed to protect the safety and well-being of the American people.
One of the key provisions of the proposed amendment is raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21. This is a response to the numerous cases of gun violence involving individuals under the age of 21. By implementing this policy at the federal level, California aims to prevent young individuals from having easy access to firearms.
Another important aspect of the amendment is the implementation of universal federal background checks. Currently, background check requirements vary from state to state, which can create loopholes that allow individuals with criminal records or mental health issues to purchase guns. By standardizing background checks across the country, the amendment seeks to close these loopholes and ensure that individuals who should not have access to firearms are unable to obtain them.
In addition, the proposed amendment calls for the enforcement of a mandatory waiting period for gun purchases. This waiting period is intended to provide a cooling-off period and prevent impulsive acts of violence. It gives law enforcement officials the necessary time to conduct thorough background checks and ensure that individuals purchasing guns do not pose a threat to themselves or others.
Lastly, the amendment aims to ban certain types of semiautomatic rifles. These weapons have been used in numerous mass shootings and have the ability to cause extensive damage in a short period of time. By banning these weapons, the amendment seeks to reduce the potential for mass casualties in future incidents of gun violence.
Despite the importance of this amendment in addressing the urgent issue of gun violence, it faces significant hurdles in the form of the requirement for a two-thirds majority vote from state legislatures. The process of amending the Constitution is deliberately designed to be difficult in order to ensure that proposed amendments have widespread support and are truly reflective of the will of the people.
Governor Newsom’s push for this constitutional amendment demonstrates his commitment to tackling the issue of gun violence and protecting the safety of Californians and all Americans. By proposing these common-sense gun safety reforms at the federal level, he aims to create a safer society for everyone. While the amendment will face challenges in gaining the necessary support, it is an important step towards addressing the ongoing crisis of gun violence in the United States.
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