Following the mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas that left at least 19 children and two adults dead Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) announced California will expedite commonsense gun safety laws that will protect people from gun violence.
“California will not stand by as kids across the country are gunned down,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a news release. “Guns are now the leading cause of death for kids in America. While the U.S. Senate stands idly by and activist federal judges strike down commonsense gun laws across our nation, California will act with the urgency this crisis demands. The Second Amendment is not a suicide pact. We will not let one more day go by without taking action to save lives.”
In response, the Governor has committed to signing a number of bills, including AB 2571, which looks to restrict advertising of firearms to minors; AB 1621, which looks to restrict ghost guns and the parts and kits used to build them; SB 1327, which creates private right of action to limit the spread of illegal assault weapons and ghost guns; and AB 1592, which allows governments and victims of gun violence to sue manufactures and sellers of firearms.
“We have gotten to a point where we can’t live our lives without the very real fear that every time we say goodbye to our children, spouses, and friends, it could be the last,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego). “These dreadful, devastating tragedies have to stop. Every politician, judge, or Supreme Court Justice who has opted to put more guns on our streets needs to resign today and hang their heads in deep shame. We have to do everything in our power to get guns out of our classrooms and grocery stores and away from people who should never have them. That includes our work this week to move expeditiously on more than a dozen bills that make our communities safer, and I’ll be continuing to work alongside Speaker Rendon and Governor Newsom to ensure that these bills move swiftly through the legislative process so that they can start to make positive change in our communities.”
Newsom and legislative leaders will continue working together to expedite additional bills pending before the legislature aimed at curbing gun violence and increasing safety in California communities, a news release says.
Photo courtesy of Governor Newson’s office. Governor Newsom and legislative leaders discuss actions to curb gun violence.
