Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has challenged California Governor Gavin Newsom to a debate over a recently proposed constitutional amendment.
The 28th Amendment, proposed by Newsom via Twitter on Thursday, would implement what he says are “commonsense” gun safety measures. The Democratic governor’s plan includes raising the federal minimum age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21, mandating universal background checks before the purchase of a firearm, implementing a waiting period for gun purchases, and banning assault weapons.
“Our ability to make a more perfect union is literally written into the Constitution,” Newsom said. “So today, I’m proposing the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution to do just that. The 28th Amendment will enshrine in the Constitution the commonsense gun safety measures that Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and gun owners overwhelmingly support while leaving the Second Amendment unchanged and respecting America’s gun-owning tradition.”
NEW: I’m proposing the 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution to help end our nation’s gun violence crisis.
The American people are sick of Congress’ inaction.
The 28th will enshrine 4 widely supported gun safety freedoms — while leaving the 2nd Amendment intact:
1)… pic.twitter.com/ZJ7fyfH0Cf
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 8, 2023
Reeves, a Republican who often touts gun rights along the campaign trail, immediately responded to Newsom’s announcement.
“Gov. Newsom, I am willing to debate you on this in Mississippi any time,” Reeves wrote on Twitter. “So on your next trip to our state to campaign for my opponent, give me a call.”
Newsom, who has previously voiced his support for Mississippi Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley, fired back calling Mississippi out for the state’s rising gun violence death rate.
“Can’t wait for you to defend the fact that Mississippi has the highest gun violence death rate in the nation … (377% higher than California’s, by the way). You can’t be serious.”
Reeves tweeted back that he was “serious as a heart attack.”
“Let’s debate taking away guns away from law-abiding Mississippians while leftwing activists are using California cash to sue us to prevent police and prosecutors from operating in our capital city,” Reeves wrote. “I know you would prefer the French Laundry … but let’s do the debate at my deer camp instead.”
Newsom has not responded further to Reeves’ request for a debate at this time.
