The Democratic governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has proposed a 28th amendment to the Constitution, which he claims would reduce gun violence in the United States.
Instead of discussing the scourge of mental illness or the lack of fundamental human empathy among past and potential shooters, it focuses on removing the right to bear arms from Americans.
The new amendment, which Newsom advocated via Twitter and a press release, would ban so-called “assault weapons” nationwide, impose waiting periods for purchasers, and implement background checks for everyone, he stated.
According to Newsom, the Second Amendment would also be protected if his proposed amendment were adopted.
“Our ability to make a more perfect union is literally written into the Constitution,” he stated. “So today, I’m proposing the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution to do just that.”
According to Newsom, a 28th amendment would “enshrine in the Constitution common sense gun safety measures that Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and gun owners overwhelmingly support—while leaving the 2nd Amendment unchanged and respecting America’s gun-owning tradition.”
NEW: I’m proposing the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution to help end our nation’s gun violence crisis.
The American people are sick of Congress’ inaction.
The 28th will enshrine 4 widely supported gun safety freedoms — while leaving the 2nd Amendment intact:
1)… pic.twitter.com/ZJ7fyfH0Cf
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 8, 2023
Inconspicuously hidden away in the news release is a line indicating that such a change would exceed the governor’s proposed measures.
According to the press release, “Additionally, the 28th Amendment will affirm that Congress, states, and local governments can enact additional common-sense gun safety regulations that save lives.”
This amendment has little chance of passing under Newsom’s leadership.
“In order to amend the Constitution, Congress would need to pass legislation with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate, the Western Journal noted.
Alternatively, two-thirds of state legislatures must request a constitutional convention.
Newsom stated that he will attempt to convince 33 state legislatures to agree with California that a constitutional amendment is necessary to reduce gun violence.
According to a statement released by Newsom’s office, he “will work with grassroots supporters, elected and civic leaders, and broad and diverse coalitions across the nation to fight for the passage of similar resolutions in other state legislatures to ensure the convening of a constitutional convention limited to this subject.”
The governor’s office noted that “33 other states, in addition to California, would need to take action in order to convene such a convention.”
The fact that many states in the Mountain West, Midwest, and South have actually loosened gun regulations in recent years makes this unlikely.
Given that Congress is evenly divided along party lines, a two-thirds vote in both houses to ratify something so contentious seems extremely implausible.
Thursday, Newsom’s office stated that the rest of the nation should adopt California’s strict gun control regulations.
“California’s nation-leading gun safety laws serve as a valuable blueprint for other states and Congress to save lives,” his office stated.
As the Supreme Court is presently stacked with pro-Second Amendment justices, it would also be a major obstacle for Newsom.
When the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in March that New York’s concealed carry law was unconstitutional, it was one of the most important victories for the Second Amendment in nearly two decades.
More on this story via The Republic Brief:
According to experts, the ruling means that similarly restrictive concealed carry laws, which are primarily found in blue states, are also likely to be challenged in court with the same results. CONTINUE READING…
