- As students across the country march for gun control legislation, California’s candidates for governor split on what to do about gun violence.
- Democrats[1] say that a ban on assault weapons will keep students safe, while Republicans say that law-abiding citizens shouldn’t lose their guns, and that more people should be allowed to carry guns at schools.
- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom[2], a Democrat and the front runner in polls, did not attend. Neither did state Treasurer John Chain, also a Democrat.
A day after people across the country marched in a student-lead rally to end gun violence, four candidates running to be California’s next governor split along party lines for plans to keep schools safe.
At a debate in San Diego, the two Republican candidates rejected any policies that might make it difficult for law-abiding people to obtain certain types of firearms, while the two Democrats said that there is no need for civilians to own military-style assault weapons and called for more comprehensive vetting of gun buyers.
They discussed their positions a day after the March for Our Lives rallies around the country where participants called for tighter gun laws, and for legislators to take substantial steps to keep people safe, particularly students in schools. The events were organized in response to a Feb. 14 shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla, that left 17 dead and another 17 injured. San Diego police said that between 5,000 and 10,000 marched locally.
California is the only state to receive an “A” rating from the pro-gun-control group Giffords Law Center while the National Rifle Association[3]’s Institute for Legislative Action says it’s one of the 10-most restrictive. And depending on their party, the candidates said either more or fewer restrictions would increase safety.
“Our kids have to be made safe,” Assemblyman Travis Allen, R, Huntington Beach said. “That means that schools being gun-free zones absolutely doesn’t make any sense.”
School personnel, from administrators, support staff, civilian security and teachers, should be allowed to carry a firearm after they’ve been vetted and received special training, he said.
Current state law prohibits people from carrying guns on public or private school property, but has exceptions for police officers, armored truck guards, people who have obtained a restraining order and are fearful for their safety. Allowing more people to have weapons at schools will deter attackers, Allen said.
Similarly, Republican Businessman John Cox said “going after law-abiding citizens is not the answer.” Rather, there should be better access to mental healthcare, and a media blackout that keeps the killer’s name and image unpublished.
“We need to treat mental illness, we need to make it so these monsters do not get the fame that they seek,” he said.
Across the aisle, Democrats Antonio Villaraigosa[4], a former Los Angeles mayor, and Delaine Eastin, a former secretary of public instruction, said the state should ban assault weapons entirely.
“I don’t believe
