Newsom Goes Nuts! Signs Bevy of Anti-Gun Bills Into Laws — 11% Tax on Firearms, Gun-Free Zones, More!

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed multiple anti-gun bills into law on September 26th, drawing criticism from gun-rights advocates.

Quote from Newsom

“While radical judges continue to strip away our ability to keep people safe, California will keep fighting — because gun safety laws work,” said Newsom in a press release obtained by GunsAmerica.

“The data proves they save lives: California’s gun death rate is 43% lower than the rest of the nation. These new laws will make our communities and families safer.”

Anti-Gun Legislation

• Senate Bill 2: Enhances the issuance criteria for carry permits, increasing the scope of gun-free zones and restricting permit holders to only their registered handguns.
• Senate Bill 452: Focuses on the microstamping feature in semi-automatic pistols, setting guidelines for replacing this component and detailing its potential mandatory implementation by 2028.
• Assembly Bill 28: Introduces an 11% excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and firearm parts, with proceeds going to a “gun violence” fund.
• Assembly Bill 1089: Extends California’s ban on manufacturing firearms using CNC milling machines or 3D printers by private individuals.
• Assembly Bill 1587: Mandates credit card issuers to identify firearm and ammunition retailers using specific Merchant Category Codes.

Concerns Raised by Advocates

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) expressed concerns over the new laws. They allege they undermine the rights of law-abiding citizens.

Andrew Gottlieb, CCRKBA’s Managing Director, criticized Newsom for penalizing honest gun owners.

“Gavin Newsom continues to blame gun owners for problems he is not addressing as the state’s chief executive,” said Gottlieb.

“Instead of cracking down on law-abiding gun owners by signing Senate Bill 2, which restricts lawful concealed carry, and Assembly Bill 28, creating an 11 percent excise tax on firearms and ammunition, he should be focusing his attention on the people committing crimes,” he continued.

Again – as a courtesy, the NRA has condensed California Gov. @GavinNewsom's gun-control press conference down to 30 seconds for you.

Two things are clear: he's hell-bent on dismantling the Second Amendment, and he HATES the NRA's SCOTUS victory in NYSRPA v. Bruen. pic.twitter.com/YEohRJRyC2

— NRA (@NRA) September 27, 2023

SEE ALSO: California Lawmakers Back Newsom’s Push to Ratify Anti-Gun 28th Amendment

CCRKBA Board Member Cam Edwards noted that while Attorney General Rob Bonta claimed the right to carry escalates violent crime rates, data shows a nationwide drop in these rates over the past 30 years.

“Of course, it’s gun owners, not guns that these bills are cracking down on. Bonta claimed that the right to carry increases violent crime by 29%, even though violent crime rates have plunged across the country for the past 30 years even as a majority of states have adopted first shall-issue and now permitless carry laws,” said Edwards.

NRA’s Stance on Newsom’s Anti-Gun Laws

"The NRA vows to fight these oppressive laws, standing firm with the majority of Americans in opposition to @GavinNewsom’s draconian initiatives." https://t.co/kAYlf5zmvX

— NRA (@NRA) September 26, 2023

The National Rifle Association (NRA) stated that these laws would fail to impact criminals in California. They believe the measures will only create more obstacles for legal gun owners.

The NRA’s legal team announced plans to explore and possibly challenge these laws in court.

Conclusion… Lawsuits Inbound!

We just filed a motion for preliminary injunction in our lawsuit challenging California's new public carry bans. You can read it here: https://t.co/99Fs7qDSt3

— Firearms Policy Coalition (@gunpolicy) September 26, 2023

There’s little doubt that pro-2A groups will be challenging some of these new laws in the coming weeks. Check back for updates.

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