California: Gavin Newsom Approves New Law for Citizens to Sue Manufacturers, Distributors of Assault Weapons in State

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking a page out of the Republican playbook by signing a bill into law that will allow private citizens to sue gun manufacturers. It is modeled after Texas's recent anti-abortion law.

According to CNN, California Senate Bill 1327 takes its inspiration from the new Texas law, which allows private citizens to sue abortion providers or those who assist any pregnant person in obtaining an abortion after as early as six weeks of pregnancy.

The decision came when the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Texas abortion ban to remain in effect. Newsom was "outraged" with the Supreme Court decision and directed his staff to draft a similar bill, this time regulating guns.

Newsom Acknowledges New Law May Likely Be Challenged in Court

The Hill reported that the law will award at least $10,000 for each illegal weapon or ghost gun identified in the lawsuit. Ghost guns are homemade guns that are made to avoid tracing, much like the one used to assassinate former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Dealers who illegally sell guns to persons under 21 years of age could also be sued by private citizens for a similar amount.

Newsom signed the bill at Santa Monica College, where another mass shooting occurred. This happened in 2013 when a gunman used an unserialized AR-15 rifle to shoot and kill five people.

However, the Democratic governor of California acknowledged this will be challenged in court and might even be litigated in the Supreme Court. "There is no way they can deny us the right to move in this direction," he said in a speech after signing the bill on Friday.

While it has been lauded by gun control advocates, the ACLU wrote a letter to the California state legislature last May criticizing the bill. They stated that the law "would set a dangerous legal precedent." They argued that this, along with the Texas abortion law, would legitimize these types of laws. The letter stated that these laws are running around the essential function of the courts, that is, to ensure that constitutional rights are protected.

California Strengthening Gun Control Stance

According to ABC News, California currently has the strongest and strictest gun control laws in the country. It also has the lowest firearm fatality rates in the country as well. With this new law, California aims to strengthen that further and protect its citizens.

It is known as SB 1327 and is the latest gun control law signed by Newsom. It joins the likes of AB 2571, which prohibits the marketing of firearms to minors, and AB 1594, which allows the state and local governments to sue gun manufacturers that do not follow the state's safety and marketing standards. AB1594 takes inspiration from the New York state law, which also allowed state and local governments to sue gun manufacturers for liability.

During a press briefing, Newsom stated that no other state in the United States is doing more on gun safety than California. He added that they are setting the tone for the rest of the country with this new bill.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Newsom signs gun law modeled after Texas abortion ban - Los Angeles Times