OAN’s Noah Herring
11:03 AM – Thursday, June 8, 2023
California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a 28th amendment to implement brand-new gun control measures.
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In the wake of recent mass shootings, Newsom revealed the news on Thursday and claims that his proposed amendment has wide bipartisan support. The outline to his plan was reportedly backed and supported by funds leftover from his 2022 reelection campaign.
“Our ability to make a more perfect union is literally written into the Constitution,” Newsom said. “So today, I’m proposing the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution to do just that. The 28th Amendment will enshrine in the Constitution commonsense gun safety measures that Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and gun owners overwhelmingly support – while leaving the Second Amendment unchanged and respecting America’s gun-owning tradition.”
The announced proposal comes as pro-second amendment activists have been granted a series of wins in the federal courts, including the Supreme Court’s decision to get rid of a century-old New York law that made it much more difficult to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun.
The Democratic governor’s proposal would raise the minimum age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21, mandate universal background checks, institute a “reasonable” waiting period for gun purchases, and ban all civilians from purchasing assault rifles.
The proposed amendment also ensures that local governments, Congress, and states can enact additional measures, making it even more restrictive to purchase a firearm.
Congress can pass an amendment with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate. Current Republican control in the House makes the proposed amendment very unlikely to pass, since a constitutional amendment restricting gun rights will likely have little to no support among Republicans.
Newsom is calling for an Article V convention of the states to draft his proposed amendment. At least two-thirds of state legislators must pass a resolution calling for a convention before they can convene and consider adding an amendment to the Constitution. If a convention happens, then it will head back to state legislatures for ratification. Three-fourths of the states must ratify the proposed amendment for it to be added to the Constitution, a feat that has only happened 27 times in the nation’s history.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) condemned Newsom’s proposal, calling it an attack on the Second Amendment.
“Newsom’s latest publicly stunt once again shows that his unhinged contempt for the right to self-defense has no bounds,” the NRA said in a statement. “California is a beacon for violence because of Newsom’s embrace of policies that champion the criminal and penalize the law-abiding. That is why the majority of Americans rightfully reject his California-style gun control.”
According to a press release by Newsom, he claims that he will work with supporters, elected and civic leaders, as well as “broad and diverse coalitions” to push for resolutions on the proposed amendment to be passed in other state legislators.
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