Why Gavin Newsom’s gun control constitutional amendment hasn’t gone beyond California

Get the news that matters to all Californians. Start every week informed.Flanked by lawmakers and gun safety advocates, Gov. Gavin Newsom signs new gun legislation into law in Sacramento on Sept. 26, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMattersSince Gov. Newsom proposed a 28th Amendment one year ago, there has been far more progress on online petitions than in other state legislatures. His team says the effort will pick up speed in 2025.

But the lack of progress so far raises questions about whether Newsom is seriously pursuing the constitutional amendment, which he has acknowledged faces overwhelming hurdles to becoming law, or whether it’s merely savvy political messaging.

It’s a route that might be even more challenging than getting a bill through Congress these days. Two-thirds of state legislatures — 34 out of 50 — must agree to convene the constitutional convention and then whatever text is proposed must be ratified by at least three-fourths of states, or 38, either through legislation or conventions. The last successful constitutional amendment was decades ago.

CalMatters contacted the offices of legislative leaders in those five states to ask whether their caucuses had considered Newsom’s plan. Many did not respond to numerous inquiries, but representatives for New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch and Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate said it had not come up for discussion and they were not aware of any outreach from Newsom’s team.

Despite often cheering the governor’s support for new gun control legislation and attending his signing ceremonies, none was quoted in aNewsom has nevertheless continued to encourage his followers to get involved with the campaign.

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