The weekend shooting in Sacramento, that left six people dead and at least 12 others wounded happened a few blocks from the Capitol in a state with the nation's strongest gun laws. The case has led politicians from President Biden all the way down to Sacramento city council members to demand that more be done to address gun violence, NPR reports. California has the most gun laws of any state: 107, according to the State Firearm Laws project at Boston University. Even when states make it harder to get guns, gun violence occurs all too often. This was one of the three most deadly shootings in the U.S. this year — and it came just weeks after four people were killed at a church in Sacramento County.
Ari Freilich of the gun-control group Giffords says that overall, California has enacted the strongest laws over the largest number of areas. The state restricts access to military-style weapons, assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. Making sure these measures are effective has meant legislators have had to craft new laws to close loopholes and keep up with technology and gun traffickers. This year, lawmakers have proposed more than two dozen gun safety bills or bills for investments in violence prevention programs. Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a bill that would allow private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, imports into the state or sells assault weapons or so-called ghost guns. As in Texas, those who prevail could be awarded damages of at least $10,000 per violation plus costs and attorneys' fees. Another bill under discussion would ban ghost guns in their entirety, not just their parts. Ghost guns can be assembled from kits and do-it-yourself components, allowing people to build guns without serial numbers.