Newsom wants constitutional amendment to curb gun violence

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that, if passed, would restrict access to gun ownership in all 50 states.

Newsom outlined his plan Thursday to pursue the amendment to implement four gun control safety regulations into the Constitution — raising the minimum age to purchase firearms from 18 to 21, implementing universal background checks, instituting a “reasonable” waiting period for gun purchases and preventing civilians from buying “assault weapons.” 

He said these proposals will respect the country’s gun-owning tradition protected by the Second Amendment but create common-sense safety measures. 

“Our ability to make a more perfect union is literally written into the Constitution,” Newsom said. “So today, I’m proposing the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution to do just that. The 28th Amendment will enshrine in the Constitution common sense gun safety measures that Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and gun owners overwhelmingly support – while leaving the 2nd Amendment unchanged and respecting America’s gun-owning tradition.”