Gavin Newsom on Gun Control

	Gavin Newsom on Gun Control S.F. Mayor; former Gov. cand.

California's gun homicide rate 33% below national average

Thirty years ago, California's gun homicide rate was 50 percent above the national average. Now, it's 33 percent below the national average -- because of our gun safety laws. The red state refusal to follow our lead has had catastrophic impacts. Let's put it this way: If every state in America had California's gun death rate over the past decade, 140,000 more Americans would be alive today. Source: 2024 State of the State Address to California legislature , Jun 25, 2024

Allow suits against gun makers for negligence

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill allowing individuals as well as the state and local governments to sue gun makers for negligence, potentially paving the way to a wave of lawsuits if the legislation survives inevitable legal challenges. "If you've been hurt or a family member is a victim of gun violence, you can now go to court and hold these makers of deadly weapons accountable," Newsom said as he signed the bill in a tweeted video message. Source: Fortune magazine on 2022 California Gubernatorial race , Jul 12, 2022

Lift statutory cap on concealed carry license fee

Summary from California Rifle & Pistol Association: AB1297 removes the statutory cap on this fee for a concealed carry license, and instead requires local licensing authorities to charge a fee "equal to the reasonable costs for processing the application for a new license, issuing the license, and enforcing the license."

Legislative Outcome: Passed Assembly 48-21-11 on May/13/19; passed Senate 27-12-1 on Sept/9/19; Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Oct/11/19.

Source: CRPA on California Legislative voting record AB1297 , Oct 11, 2019

Supports background checks

Newsom is a longtime foe of the NRA. He was a primary sponsor of Proposition 63, a ballot measure voters approved in November that requires background checks to purchase ammunition, bans possession of high-capacity magazines and other gun-safety efforts. Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 California gubernatorial race , Jun 30, 2017

Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology.

Newsom adopted the manifesto, "A New Agenda for the New Decade":

Make America the “Safest Big Country” in the World
After climbing relentlessly for three decades, crime rates started to fall in the 1990s. Nonetheless, the public remains deeply concerned about the prevalence of gun violence, especially among juveniles, and Americans still avoid public spaces like downtown retail areas, parks, and even sports facilities.

We need to keep policing “smart” and community-friendly, prohibiting unjust and counterproductive tactics such as racial profiling; focus on preventing as well as punishing crime; pay attention to what happens to inmates and their families after sentencing; use mandatory testing and treatment to break the cycle of drugs and crime; and enforce and strengthen laws against unsafe or illegal guns. Moreover, we need a renewed commitment to equal justice for all, and we must reject a false choice between justice and safety.

Technology can help in many areas: giving police more information on criminal suspects so they do not rely on slipshod, random stop-and-search methods; allowing lower-cost supervision of people on probation or parole; and making it possible to disable and/or trace guns used by unauthorized persons.

Above all, we need to remember that public safety is the ultimate goal of crime policy. Until Americans feel safe enough to walk their neighborhood streets, enjoy public spaces, and send their children to school without fear of violence, we have not achieved public safety.

Goals for 2010

Reduce violent crime rates another 25 percent.
Cut the rate of repeat offenses in half.
Develop and require “smart gun” technology to prevent use of firearms by unauthorized persons and implement sensible gun control measures.
Ban racial profiling by police but encourage criminal targeting through better information on actual suspects.
Require in-prison and post-prison drug testing and treatment of all drug offenders.

Source: The Hyde Park Declaration 00-DLC11 on Aug 1, 2000