California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s deceptively named “Safety For All” ballot initiative has received enough valid signatures to go before voters, state election officials announced on Thursday. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, a random sample verification process estimated that at least 402,468 of the 600,000 signatures submitted were from registered voters—meaning that unless Newsom drops his proposal, the initiative will appear on the November state ballot.
Given that this onerous package of laws would require background checks for ammunition purchases, ban magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds, mandate the surrender or confiscation of such magazines already in circulation and more, you’d think anti-gun lawmakers would be celebrating. But in fact, these legislators are now pressuring Newsom to withdraw his ballot initiative.
Why? Fearing voters might reject Newsom’s ballot initiative, anti-gun lawmakers drafted legislation that essentially duplicates Newsom’s ideas. Their goal is to ramrod these proposals through the state Senate and Assembly, allowing them to circumvent the will of the people altogether.
