California governor signs gun control law that mimics Texas’ controversial anti-abortion ‘bonus’ law

The governor of California signed a gun control law on Friday based on Texas’ controversial abortion rule, allowing private citizens to sue each other for gun law violations and collect financial rewards.

“We are sick and tired of defending this movement,” Governor Gavin Newsom said Friday, speaking from Santa Monica University, where five people were killed in 2013 by a gunman with a gun called “ghost gun”.

Mr Newsom continued: “It is time to put them on the defensive. “You cannot sell, you cannot manufacture, you cannot deliver these illegal weapons of war and mass destruction in the state of California. And if you do, there are 40 million people who could collect $10,000 from you and attorney fees, for engaging in that illegal activity. “

The bill would allow individuals to sue those who illegally sell assault weapons, gun parts, “ghost guns” without serial numbers or high-powered .50-caliber rifles and collect liquidation $10,000 payment and legal fees if successful.

Late last year, the governor called for legislation, SB 1327, after the Supreme Court passed a Texas law representing private citizens suing abortion providers.

“If that’s precedent, we’ll let Californians sue those who put ghost guns and assault weapons on our streets,” Newsom wrote on Twitter in December after the ruling. “If [Texas] can ban abortion and endanger lives, CA can ban deadly and life-saving weapons of war”.

The bill, in addition to being opposed by gun-owning groups, has been controversial with regular constituencies, who generally support the liberal governor’s agenda.

The problem with this measure is the same as the anti-abortion law in Texas: a letter of May criticizing SB 1327, warns the law will “escalate an “arms race” in states that are trying to use uncanny legal methods to pursue political priorities on contentious issues.

However, Newsom’s allies say the bill is a worthy attempt to raise the price of illegal gun activity in California.

“Nobody is saying you can’t have a gun,” said State Senator Bob Hertzberg, who helped shape the bill. The New York Times. “We are just saying that no constitutional rights to an AR-15, a .50 caliber machine gun or a ghost gun with a serial number are excluded.”

The new measure joins eight other gun laws that Newsom signed in recent days, including laws including safekeeping of firearms, 3D-printed guns, a ban on the sale of firearms on state property, and increased inspections. guns, limiting dealer fees and adding child and elderly abuse to the list of crimes that restrict people’s access to guns.

California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country and some of the lowest gun death rates. Californians are about 40% less likely to be killed by someone with a gun, and about 25% less likely to die in a mass shooting than the national average.

In addition to regulating public safety, some see the new gun bill as an attempt for Mr Newsom to raise his national profile ahead of the rumored 2024 presidential run.

Mr Newsom, who is running for re-election, said he has a “deep” interest in the White House, but has carried out attacks targeting Republican leaders outside of California in recent days.

This week, an advocacy committee put $30,000 worth of full-page ads in Texas newspapers, knocking out GOP governor Greg Abbott.

“The Creator gave us the right to live. And yet… children lose their right to life every year because of gun violence. In California, we work to save those lives,” the ad reads, a play on what Mr Abbott once said about California regarding abortion.

“Governor Newsom should focus on all the jobs and businesses that are leaving California and coming to Texas,” an Abbott spokesperson said of the ad.

Earlier this month, he spent even more on a video ad attacking Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ civil rights record.