In the wake of two mass shootings in his state, California Governor Gavin Newsom called the Second Amendment a “suicide pact” during an interview with CBS News. This is a gross misunderstanding of the amendment and of the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
The Second Amendment does not grant unlimited rights to bear arms; it merely protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. This right is not absolute, and it can be regulated by the government in the interest of public safety. However, government regulations should not infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms for self-defense.
Newsom’s criticism of high-capacity gun magazines is misdirected. While it is true that these magazines can be used to kill large numbers of people in a short period of time, they can also be used for self-defense or for hunting purposes. The vast majority of gun owners use their firearms responsibly and do not misuse them.
It is also important to note that many of the weapons used in mass shootings are already illegal in California. The shooter in the Monterey Park shooting used an AK-47, which is illegal to possess in California. The shooter in the San Francisco mushroom farm shooting used a semi-automatic rifle, which is also illegal in California. These laws did not stop these shooters from obtaining these weapons; they simply made it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves.
Governor Newsom claims that he respects lawful gun owners, but his actions speak louder than his words. His push for more restrictions on firearms will only make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to obtain them. It is time for California to respect the rights of its lawful gun owners and stop passing laws that only serve to make them criminals.