US: California enacts gun control law on the lines of Texas abortion ban
The law allowed the individuals who filed the civil complaints, to receive "damages" of at least $10,000, if they won their case.
Washington: California’s governor signed a new gun control legislation bill, which is modelled on a controversial legal approach used in Texas to curb access to abortions, Khaleej Times reported on Saturday.
Last year, well before the US Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to abortion, the Republican-controlled state of Texas enacted a new law allowing individuals to sue anyone assisting a pregnancy termination, if a foetal heartbeat could be detected.
The law allowed the individuals who filed the civil complaints, to receive “damages” of at least $10,000, if they won their case.
On those line officials in the heavily Democrat-leaning state of California, where there is solid support for abortion rights and strict gun control measures, decided to push for a new legislation that uses the same controversial legal mechanism.
The legislation that Governor Gavin Newsom signed on Friday will allow individuals to seek $10,000 from any person or company that manufactures, sells, or transports firearms banned in the state, which includes assault rifles and homemade “ghost” guns.
California Senator Anthony Portantino, stated that he and his bill co-authors had the Texas law in mind when they wrote their legislation, which is set to come into effect from January 1, 2023,
Court challenges to the California law, are expected to follow from conservative organizations and America’s powerful gun lobby. Governor Newsom argued that it was the US Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, who “opened the door” to such a move.
Last month, a decision by the Supreme Court also expanded the right to carry concealed firearms around the country.
