Written by William Hekman
After the Supreme Court decision on the Texas abortion law, Governor Gavin Newsom has decided to use the same tactics that Texas used for abortion but apply it to guns, particularly ghost guns and those who manufacture them.
Newsom tweeted out, “SCOTUS is letting private citizens in Texas sue to stop abortion?!
If that’s the precedent then we’ll let Californians sue those who put ghost guns and assault weapons on our streets.” State officials are already drafting legislation that would allow residents to seek damages of at least $10,000, plus legal fees, against anyone who manufactures, distributes or sells an assault weapon or ghost gun kit in California. Ghost guns are guns that can not be traced back to a manufacturer, as ghost guns are bought in pieces or sold in kits and put together. They can also be 3-D printed. Newsom’s plan is already generating a lot of controversy. The National Rifle Association (NRA) published a statement and called his proposal a “stunt” . In their statement, the NRA said, “Gov. Newsom misunderstands the actions of the Supreme Court – and the limits of his war on lawful gun ownership. His promise to run roughshod over the Second Amendment is little more than political theater.”
Newsom’s strategy may not be as popular as he thinks it is, even among his fellow Democrats. President Biden said that the Texas abortion law created, “ a sort of vigilante system”. Many wonder if Biden will apply the same logic to Newsom’s ghost gun proposal but knowing Biden, he will most likely support Newsom 100%. Newsom’s Democrat colleagues in the State Legislature seem to be on board with what he is doing. Assemblyman Phil Ting said that the gun industry “needs to be held liable”.
This proposal will surely be challenged in court, just like the Texas abortion law. The Democrats have attempted for years to go after gun manufacturers after mass shootings or other gun-related attacks, but many of those efforts have failed.
Photo Cred: Fred Greaves / Reuters file
