Video Highlights
- Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, proposes the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
- The amendment aims to implement gun safety measures without altering the Second Amendment.
- The proposed changes include raising the minimum age for firearm purchase, universal background checks, waiting periods, and banning civilian access to assault weapons.
- The chances of ratifying the 28th Amendment are slim due to the difficult process of amending the Constitution.
- Four potential routes for amendment are discussed, each requiring a two-thirds majority and ratification by three-fourths of the states.
- The current political climate and the strong support for Second Amendment rights make the ratification of the amendment highly unlikely.
Video Summary
In recent news, Governor Gavin Newsom of California has put forth the proposal for the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The amendment aims to introduce gun safety measures while respecting the Second Amendment and the nation's tradition of gun ownership. However, the likelihood of the amendment being ratified and becoming part of the Constitution is highly improbable. In this article, we will delve into the details of Newsom's proposal, examine the challenging process of amending the Constitution, and analyze the political landscape surrounding gun rights in America.
Gavin Newsom's 28th Amendment Proposal: Governor Newsom's proposal for the 28th Amendment focuses on implementing four key gun safety measures. First, it seeks to raise the federal minimum age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21. Second, the proposal mandates universal background checks to prevent individuals with criminal records or mental health issues from acquiring firearms. Third, it calls for a reasonable waiting period for all gun purchases, ensuring that sufficient time is provided for thorough background checks. Lastly, the amendment aims to bar civilian access to assault weapons, which are considered to have no purpose other than inflicting mass harm in a short span of time.
Chances of Ratifying the 28th Amendment: While Newsom's proposal may seem like a significant step toward enhancing gun safety, the process of amending the United States Constitution is complex and challenging. Four potential methods for amending the Constitution are outlined in Article 5, each requiring substantial support from the legislative bodies and state governments.
The first approach involves a two-thirds vote in both houses of the U.S. Congress, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures. The second approach is similar but replaces ratification by state legislatures with ratification conventions in three-fourths of the states. Both of these methods necessitate significant consensus among lawmakers at both the federal and state levels, making them highly improbable considering the current political polarization on the topic of gun rights.
The third and fourth methods propose calling a national Constitutional Convention, with the former requiring two-thirds of state legislatures to initiate the convention, while the latter involves conventions in three-fourths of the states for ratification. However, even the initial step of gathering support from two-thirds of the states seems unlikely given the prevailing stance on Second Amendment rights. Many states have embraced constitutional carry, advocating for the expansion of citizens' gun rights rather than supporting additional regulations.
Conclusion: In summary, while Governor Gavin Newsom's proposal for the 28th Amendment aims to introduce gun safety measures without infringing upon the Second Amendment, the chances of its ratification are slim. The arduous process of amending the United States Constitution, requiring significant consensus from federal and state authorities, makes it highly improbable to pass such an amendment in the current political climate. While Newsom's proposal may appeal to his political base and further his aspirations for higher office, it remains more of a political ploy than a realistic avenue for achieving gun safety measures at the constitutional level.
