SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The lieutenant governor of the state with some of the strictest gun laws in the nation announced a voter initiative Thursday aiming to create even greater restrictions, including making California the only state to require on-the-spot background checks for ammunition sales.
The measure drafted by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democratic candidate for governor in 2018, also would require owners to turn in large-capacity magazines and report when their weapons are stolen. It comes in the wake of high-profile killings nationwide and three in the San Francisco Bay Area that were tied to stolen guns.
The strict ammunition rule follows a similar New York law passed shortly after the 2012 shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., that was suspended several months ago. Four states — Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Jersey — require ammunition purchasers to obtain permits ahead of time, according to the initiative’s supporters.
Newsom is partnering with the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence on the November 2016 ballot initiative, which also allows him to remain visible ahead of a gubernatorial run. Newsom, an early advocate of gay marriage, also is advocating to legalize recreational marijuana in California.
