The Californer - California Becomes First State in America to Call for Constitutional Convention on Right to Safety

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SACRAMENTO ~ Today, California became the first state in the nation to call for a Constitutional Convention for gun safety, as Governor Gavin Newsom's proposal to amend the United States Constitution with a Right to Safety achieved a major milestone. The Assembly approved Senate Joint Resolution 7, authored by Senator Aisha Wahab and Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, officially requesting a constitutional convention.

Governor Newsom stated: "The Right to Safety Amendment would preserve the integrity of the Second Amendment, while enshrining in our Constitution commonsense safety provisions that are supported overwhelmingly by the American people. This action is even more urgent as radical judges use a warped interpretation of our Constitution to roll back gun safety laws in California, and across the country. In the face of decades of Congressional inaction and unelected judges that are putting Americans in danger, it is time for citizens to stand up for common sense to protect us against the uniquely American epidemic of gun violence."

The Right to Safety Amendment would ensure that elected representatives can determine what gun safety laws are appropriate for their communities and enshrine fundamental, broadly supported gun safety measures into law. These measures include raising the minimum age to buy a gun from 18 to 21; mandating universal background checks; instituting a waiting period for all gun purchases; and banning the sale of assault weapons and other weapons of war to civilians.

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Senator Wahab commented: "I'm proud to carry the Right to Safety Resolution. I worked hard with my colleagues to get more than 50% of the legislature, in both houses, to co-author this resolution. It's important to uplift the voices of victims we lost, and victims that live with the aftermath of gun violence. We need to take action, and with SJR7 we are taking action to save lives."

Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer added: "The passage of SJR 7 brings us a step closer to having a real national debate and course of action on addressing gun violence in our country. Maintaining integrity of Second Amendment while codifying new constitutional amendment that protects citizens from modern day weapons should be national priority."

California has been ranked #1 for gun safety due its effective laws which have helped save 19,000 Californians in last decade alone. If other states shared California's gun death rate, 140,000 Americans would still be alive today since early 1990s when California cut its own rate in half. Over half crime guns traced by authorities were sold in other states which further emphasizes need for nationwide legislation on this issue.

With today's approval from Assembly California has taken an important step towards achieving Governor Newsom's goal - creating safer communities through sensible legislation on firearms - while preserving Second Amendment rights at same time.

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