After years of trying to pass comparable bills, California lawmakers on Thursday adopted legislation to charge a new tax on the sales of weapons and explosives to help fund gun violence prevention and education programs.
One of the only significant gun control bills still advancing through the Legislature at the moment is Assembly Bill 28, which would charge an 11% tax on sellers and suppliers for sales of firearms and ammunition. Democrats have successfully submitted a plan to tax weapons to the governor for the very first time.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has opposed or rejected the implementation of new taxes, but he has also approved several gun control laws.
Additionally, legislators in California are facing pressure to tighten gun control after multiple tragic shootings in schools throughout the nation and 2 high-profile murders in Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park this year caused new anger from advocates. However, new laws are frequently examined by the courts and dismissed for being unconstitutional.