California Elected Officials Pass Governor Gavin Newsom’s Resolution for US. Constitutional Convention on Gun Control

By: José Niño

On September 14, 2023, California’s elected officials approved Governor Gavin Newsom’s resolution pushing for a constitutional convention of the states to consider the passage of a new amendment on gun control.

In the past summer, Newsom introduced the amendment proposal on national television, highlighting the California political class’s commitment to passing gun control.

Newsom’s resolution pushes the United States Congress to call a constitutional convention that would allow states to vote for an amendment that enacts new laws mandating background checks on all firearm transactions, increases the federal minimum age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21, implements a “reasonable waiting” period for all firearm purchases, and bans the sale of assault weapons to the public. On top of that, the resolution pushes for states to have the power to approve an amendment to further affirm that federal, state, and local governments have the power to impose regulations restricting firearm sales, possession, and carrying guns in public.

The California State Senate passed this resolution by a 24-11 vote earlier this month, with the California Assembly passing the resolution on a 51-14 vote.

For Newsom’s 28th Amendment proposal to receive a vote, legislatures in two-thirds of the states must vote to support a constitutional convention. Such a scenario would be hard to pull off owing to the fact that over half of state legislatures are under Republican control. Moreover, for a constitutional amendment proposal to become law, three-fourths of state legislatures must ratify this measure.

California is one of the premier trendsetters as far as anti-gun policies are concerned. It’s ranked in 48^th place for Guns & Ammo magazine’s “Best States for Gun Owners” rankings. If there is any radical gun control proposal being floated in public discourse, it can usually trace its origins all the way to the Golden State.

California is the posterchild for civilian disarmament, as evidenced by its political class’s enthusiastic support for an amendment that would fundamentally alter the right to bear arms. The case of California should offer a warning to all conservative operatives about the dangers of political complacency.

There was once a time that Republicans could win at the state level in the Golden State. However, with Democrats amassing political power in conjunction with a tone-deaf Republican Party that was incapable of getting behind popular grassroots issues, the state has become a one-party state that is thoroughly hostile to the right to bear arms.

The way to prevent red states from turning into facsimiles of California is by fighting back against all anti-freedom measures pushed by the political establishment. On top of that, grassroots activists must be ready to go on offense and pass solid legislation that expands Second Amendment freedoms while also rolling back gun control.

José Niño is a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. Contact him via Facebook, Twitter, or email him at [email protected]. Get his e-book, The 10 Myths of Gun Control, here.