Newsom urges federal gun safety laws after Texas shooting.

California Governor Calls Out Texas Governor on Gun Control

Background

Following a mass shooting in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott appeared on Fox News and brought up California’s gun death statistics. California Governor Gavin Newsom did not take kindly to this and called out Abbott on Twitter.

The Debate

Abbott suggested that passing laws to get guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals and increasing penalties for criminals who possess guns could be a solution. He also acknowledged that there has been a dramatic increase in anger and violence in America and that Texas is working to address the root cause by addressing mental health problems.

Newsom responded by pointing out that Texas’ gun death rate is 73% higher than California’s. However, it is unclear where Newsom’s statistic comes from, as data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Texas’ rate is about 54% higher than California’s.

The Facts

Assessments show that both Texas and California have the top two highest amounts of total gun deaths so far this year. However, both states are also the largest by population in America. In 2022, California was home to around 39 million people, while Texas boasted around 30 million residents.

It is also unclear what Abbott is including in his assessment of Texas adding $25 billion to address mental health. Newsom pointed out that Abbott cut $211 million in mental health funding in April 2022, but in June 2022, an additional $105.5 million was announced by the Texas government for school safety and mental health initiatives.

Conclusion

The debate on gun control and mental health funding continues, with both sides presenting their arguments. It remains to be seen what actions will be taken to address the root causes of gun violence in America.

Key Points:

• Governor Greg Abbott brought up California’s gun death statistics on Fox News following a mass shooting in Texas.
• California Governor Gavin Newsom called out Abbott on Twitter, pointing out that Texas’ gun death rate is 73% higher than California’s.
• Assessments show that both Texas and California have the top two highest amounts of total gun deaths so far this year.
• It remains to be seen what actions will be taken to address the root causes of gun violence in America.

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