Gov. Gavin Newsom (D., Calif.) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) have renewed calls for stricter national gun laws following three mass shootings in California that killed 18 people over three days in January. Their argument hinges on the claim that state-level restrictions are insufficient without federal action.
California's Recent Mass Shootings Highlight Gun Law Debate
The first shooter used an illegal assault rifle with a prohibited silencer and 30-round magazine. The second shooter's gun was legally registered but included a banned 30-round magazine. Police have not identified the weapon in the third shooting but suspect gang-related activity.
Experts Question Impact of National Gun Restrictions
A 2016 Department of Justice study found 43% of criminals obtained guns through the black market, compared to 10% from retailers. Researchers at the Rockefeller Institute of Government recently noted that assault rifle bans and similar laws show little impact on mass shootings.
Newsom frequently cites California's gun death rate, 37% below the national average, as evidence of his policies' success. However, the state's violent crime rate remains higher than the national average, with gun-related homicides surging 52% from 2019 to 2021.
While gun laws can prevent access for criminals and the mentally ill and reduce accidents, experts stress they cannot stop determined individuals from obtaining illegal weapons. The Washington Post echoed this, noting that most mass shooters bypass legal channels.
Verdict: We rate this claim 3 Clintons.