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Governor Gavin Newsom shares harsh words for two federal judges who he says are threatening the state’s gun control laws.
A day after a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school left 21 dead, including 19 children, Governor Newsom gathered with legislative Democrats and called for an effort to track gun control bills working their way through the Legislature. He is planning to sign them into law next month, but during the gathering saved harsh comments for two federal judges. “The only thing that can stop [California’s gun control laws] by the way are these extremist judges, which is an issue. You can ask Judge (Roger) Benitez about how he’s feeling about these last 10 days. Ask Judge (Ryan) Nelson how he’s feeling. Specifically Judge Nelson." Judge Benitez is a federal court judge for the Southern District of California, and Judge Nelson is a circuit court judge in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Governor Newsom has been vocally critical of Republican lawmakers this week, targeting Oklahoma Governor Stitt for signing legislation on abortion a day following the shooting, and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
“Judge Benitez, who said about our assault weapons ban that an assault weapon is nothing more than a Swiss Army knife. These are extremists. That’s the world we’re living in right now, wake up folks. Read these opinions. Pay attention to what’s going on,” Governor Newsom said. Governor Newsom also criticized “extremist” federal judges who have ruled against some of California’s gun laws — Judge Benitez has compared assault weapons to Swiss Army knives, and Judge Nelson wrote a majority opinion blocking the state’s ban on the sale of semiautomatic weapons to adults under 21 earlier this month.