On Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a gun control bill that is modeled after the Texas abortion law. This controversial gun law is extremely similar to the vigilante abortion law that was passed recently in Texas, following the overturning of Roe vs Wade. He signed the bill at Santa Monica College which was the site of a 2013 shooting spree.
Similar abortion laws were also passed by other states across the nation that have Republican majorities that would enable the bill to pass. Newsom has set up a precedent of passing a similar one, but for gun control that could lead to a legal battle with the U.S. Supreme Court.
Last December, the Democratic governor who enjoys a majority in the Golden State, began a game of legal chess after he formulated gun control legislation that was based on a Texas law that authorized private citizens to sue anyone who has aided or abetted an abortion. The Texas High Court had declined to block the bill.
California Senate Bill 1327 allows private citizens to civilly litigate a licensed firearms dealer who “sells, supplies, delivers or gives possession or control of a firearm” to a person who is below the age of 21. The bill also lets citizens sue the dealer for at least $10,000 on each weapon and for attorney fees.
The original Texan law allows private citizens to civilly litigate abortion providers or a person who assisted a pregnant person to get an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy or more. Governor Newsom had expressed his outrage when the law was passed and asked his staff to formulate a similar bill for gun control.
Newsom has signed several legislations related to gun control but it remains to be seen which ones pass muster as the Supreme Court recently struck down many gun control laws in New York.
The law that was introduced in February also mentions that it would become “inoperative upon invalidation” of the Texas abortion law, if the Supreme Court or the Texas Supreme Court strike down the Texan law. Following that, California would repeal its law “on January 1 of the following year.”
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