California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two gun control laws prohibiting the marketing of firearms to minors and bolstering restrictions on “ghost guns.”
Holding an AR-15-style rifle, Newsom, who announced Friday he signed the legislation Thursday, scolded Republicans and the Supreme Court over their position on guns in a video message, arguing that new laws should not be necessary because keeping weapons out of children’s hands should be a “common understanding.”
“From members of Supreme Court to right-wing Republicans all across this country, have you no common decency, respect, or even common understanding? The kids should not have one of these,” he said, holding up the weapon. “This is an AR-15. This is a weapon of war, weapons of mass destruction, but you’re out there promoting and allowing marketing of these weapons of war to our kids.”
He highlighted guns such as a Wee 1 Tactical JR-15, an AR-15-style gun, that apparently was marketed for children. The JR-15 features an etching of a skull of a child with a pacifier surrounded by bones.
https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1542872574467510272?s=20&t=HEeoXZFqv-J-KXT1F5OZXQ
“Decent human beings, people with common sense, know that we should not be allowing this kind of disgusting marketing to go on another day,” he chided.
The bill, AB 2571, bars gun manufacturers from marketing guns in a way that “reasonably appears to be attractive to minors.” The “ghost gun” bill, AB 1621, tightens requirements for the microstamping of unserialized firearms. The provision clarifies that the so-called ghost guns, which are typically unserialized firearms from gun kits and 3D printers, cannot be sold in California unless they comply with federal regulations.
People who own ghost guns will be allowed to get them serialized by applying for markings from the Justice Department.
A Supreme Court decision last month nixed a long-standing concealed carry law in New York, prompting outcry from the Left and action from Democratic-controlled states. Some governors expressed outrage over the decision and vowed to ramp up gun control measures at the local level.
Newsom, who is up for reelection in November, drew headlines earlier in the week for signing a bill granting “inflation relief” checks of up to $1,050 to Californians. Last month, he also joined Trump-backed platform Truth Social to call “out Republican lies” amid chatter that he harbors 2024 presidential aspirations.
