Gavin Newsom proposed a 28th Amendment to the Constitution "to to help end our nation's gun violence crisis." Through a video he shared on his Twitter account, the California governor stressed that "the American people are sick of Congress' inaction." He claims that his proposal will "enshrine 4 widely supported gun safety freedoms -- while leaving the 2nd Amendment intact".
NEW: I’m proposing the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution to help end our nation’s gun violence crisis.
The American people are sick of Congress’ inaction.
The 28th will enshrine 4 widely supported gun safety freedoms -- while leaving the 2nd Amendment intact:
1)… pic.twitter.com/ZJ7fyfH0Cf
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 8, 2023
The proposal is "overwhelmingly" supported
In a statement, Newsom stressed that his proposal "guarantees common sense constitutional protections and gun safety measures that Democrats, Republicans, independent voters, and gun owners overwhelmingly support."
Our ability to make a more perfect union is literally written into the Constitution. So today, I’m proposing the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution to do just that. The 28th Amendment will enshrine in the Constitution common sense gun safety measures that Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and gun owners overwhelmingly support – while leaving the 2nd Amendment unchanged and respecting America’s gun-owning tradition..
The main measures of the 28th Amendment
The main measures included in the proposed amendment from the California governor are:
- Raise the federal minimum age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21;
- Mandate universal background checks to prevent truly dangerous people from buying a gun that could be used in a crime;
- Establish a reasonable waiting period for all arms purchases; and
- Ban the civilian purchase of assault weapons that serve no purpose other than to kill as many people as possible in a short time, weapons of war that our nation's founders never envisioned.
Newsom needs 33 more states' approval needed to convene Article V Convention
In order for this 28th Amendment to be approved, a convention, known as the Article V Convention or amending convention, is required. In addition to The Golden State's request, it is required that 33 other states take action in order for it to be convened. The California governor's statement notes that "Working in partnership with members of the California State Senate and Assembly, California will be the first state in the nation to call for such a convention with a joint resolution being introduced by California State Senator Aisha Wahab and Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer."
