Gov. Brown Takes Aim At Loose Gun Laws In Neighboring States
PARIS (CBS13) – Governor Jerry Brown had the mass shooting in San Bernardino on his mind Saturday at the climate change conference in Paris.
Speaking to a reporter from the Sacramento Bee, Governor Brown took aim at the looser gun regulations California's neighbors have.
"California has some of the toughest gun control laws of any state," Brown said. "Nevada and Arizona are wide open, so that's a gigantic back door through which any terrorist can walk."
VIDEO: Gov. Brown speaks to Sacramento Bee over gun control
And Brown is not alone in having this view. This week, a UC Davis researcher interviewed by CBS13 made the same point.
Dr. Garen Wintemute – one of few researchers in the country who studies guns and violence – recommends California work with neighboring states that have looser gun laws.
"So that it becomes harder for people to go to gun dealers or gun shows in Arizona and Nevada, buy weapons that are illegal in California and just bring them back," Dr. Wintemute said.
California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. All gun sales require a background check, while military-style assault weapons are banned. Plus, last year California became the first state to enact a law that allows a judge to issue a temporary restraining order to remove guns from someone believed to be dangerous.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey shot back at Brown's comments, issuing the following statement:
"All of Arizona mourns for the victims in California. To politicize a tragedy of this magnitude and use it as an opportunity to attack our state is out of bounds. Not only will we be ignoring Gov. Brown's advice, but I call on him to retract his incredibly thoughtless and ill-advised comments."