California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed a bill to restrict assault weapons modeled after Texas’ abortion law, CNN reports.
Newsom signed House Bill 1327, which is modeled after Texas’ law allowing private citizens to sue anyone who helps a woman get an abortion after the first six weeks of pregnancy.
The Texas law was challenged in court but the Supreme Court allowed it to stand while it is litigated, prompting California to challenge the system.
The California bill would allow private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, transports or imports assault weapons that are banned in the state.
The bill would allow people to sue licensed gun dealers who sell, supply, deliver or give possession or control of a firearm to anyone under 21 years old.
Private citizens can sue for at least $10,000 for each weapon involved and court costs.
Law to be challenged:
Newsom said he expects the law to be challenged in court.
"We believe this will be litigated in the Supreme Court and we believe the Supreme Court will be challenged. Because if there's any principle left whatsoever -- and that's an open ended question -- with this Supreme Court, there is no way they can deny us the right to move in this direction," Newsom said.
The bill itself says that it would become “inoperative upon invalidation” of the Texas law.
Newsom taunts Abbott:
Newsom, who is rumored to be considering a presidential bid, took out a full-page ad in three major Texas newspapers to hit out at Gov. Greg Abbott.
"If Texas can ban abortion and endanger lives, California can ban deadly weapons of war and save lives," Newsom said in a statement to CNN. "If Governor Abbott truly wants to protect the right to life, I urge him to follow California's lead."
"I can't take what's happening in this country, I can't take the assault on liberty and freedom. I can't take the rhetoric," he said Friday. "This is a challenging moment. The Supreme Court has put this responsibility squarely on the doorstep of governors now, and legislative leaders, and local leaders across this country. And we have to meet this moment and we can't do it with passivity that we've seen in the past."
