California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, announced on Thursday a campaign to add a gun control amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
According to a press release from Newsom’s office, the proposed 28th Amendment would enshrine in the U.S. Constitution “four broadly supported gun safety” measures:
- Raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21
- Universal background checks
- A reasonable waiting period for gun purchases
- Banning the civilian purchase of assault weapons
“Our ability to make a more perfect union is literally written into the Constitution,” Newsom said in a statement. “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 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.”
The new amendment would also “affirm Congress, states, and local governments can enact additional common-sense gun safety regulations that save lives.”
The governor’s office explained that passing the 28th Amendment requires an Article V Convention. California has vowed to be the first state to call for such action.
“The Governor 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. 33 other states, in addition to California, would need to take action to convene such a convention,” Newsom’s office continued.
Gun Owners of America, a gun rights advocacy group, expressed its opposition to Newsom’s gun control proposal.
“We’ve always warned those who cherish their God-given liberties that the ultimate goal of anti-gunners was the abolishment of the Second Amendment,” Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, said in a statement posted on Twitter.
“While they often try to hide behind legislative proposals and hush open talk of abolishing the Second Amendment, here we have a potential future presidential candidate now coming out and openly admitting what they’ve wanted to do all along,” Pratt said. “GOA will strongly oppose this proposal as we work to protect and restore the Second Amendment rights of all Americans.”
This was a breaking news story. The details were periodically updated as more information became available.
