Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to regulate the sale of ammunition in California, including the implementation of background checks, as well as an outright ban on owning magazines holding 10 rounds or more. However, several law enforcement leaders—including Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood—say the problem isn’t Second Amendment rights, it’s the state’s soft sentencing of convicted criminals.
Youngblood told BakersfieldNow.com, “We’re having a gang war in this county with gang members in retaliation, which has nothing to do with gun control, that’s human behavior.” The sheriff went on to say that if the ballot initiative passes, it won’t stop crime or bring down the number of deaths in Kern County, but rather make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves.
Several other police officers have joined with Youngblood, encouraging pro-gun voters to learn about the new legislation and take action. The initiative is currently scheduled for the November ballots.