California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed into law a bill that would enable private citizens to sue anyone who makes, sells, and distributes specific illegal firearms. The law draws inspiration from a Texas law targeted toward abortion.
A statement from Newsom’s office shows that at least $10,000 will be awarded for every illegal assault weapon and ghost gun identified in a lawsuit.
The citizens who sue could also be entitled to that amount if a dealer sells to someone under the age of 21.
This new law is modeled after passed in Texas last fall.
Only the Texas law enabled private citizens to sue anyone who performed, aided, or abetted an abortion after a fetal heartbeat was detected.
Newsom first called for California to enact a similar law on guns after a court upheld the Texas law.
In a statement announcing the passage of the law, Newsome wrote, “Our message to the criminals spreading illegal weapons in California is simple: You have no safe harbor here in the Golden State.”
The California Governor then called out the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on gun laws, stating, “While the Supreme Court rolls back reasonable gun safety measures, California continues adding new ways to protect the lives of our kids. California will use every tool at its disposal to save lives, especially in the face of an increasingly extreme Supreme Court.”
The state legislature in California passed the law following the Supreme Court 6-3 ruling to expand gun rights. The ruling states that the Second Amendment allows individuals to carry handguns outside the home.
