A resolution to support Governor Gavin Newsom’s Right to Safety Amendment is coming back before the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, January 23. 

Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, the author of the resolution, is taking another shot at securing support for the Governor’s common-sense addition to the United States Constitution. In October, it did not pass because there was a two-two split vote.

The Right to Safety Amendment preserves the 2nd Amendment and would ensure the people’s elected representatives can determine what gun safety laws are appropriate for their communities and enshrine fundamental, broadly supported gun safety measures into law, including:

• Raising the minimum age to buy a gun from 18 to 21
• Mandating universal background checks
• Instituting a waiting period for all gun purchases
• Banning the sale of assault weapons and other weapons of war to civilians

“I want our County to put its full support behind Governor Gavin Newsom’s Right to Safety Amendment,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer, Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Passing this resolution will give our residents comfort in knowing we are supportive of the Second Amendment and give them the confidence of knowing their elected Supervisors believe in common sense gun safety regulations.” 

California has officially requested a Constitutional Convention on gun safety after the Assembly approved Senate Joint Resolution 7 authored by Senator Aisha Wahab and Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (Sept. 15, 2023). Congress must call a convention for proposing amendments upon application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states (i.e., 34 of 50 states).

In September, Supervisors Jim Desmond and Joel Anderson voted against the Right to Safety Amendment and in July the same two Republican Supervisors rejected a simple report back on gun violence reduction efforts, including an education program requested by San Diegans to be a part of policies previously approved by the County Board of Supervisors.  

Supervisor Lawson-Remer who hosted a Gun Violence Reduction Summit in September 2023, has listened to gun violence prevention advocates about their concerns and ideas; and worked with the community to take action by making ghost guns illegal in San Diego County, training County social workers to know the signs of potential gun violence in a home, requiring all firearms in unincorporated areas to be safely stored with a  trigger lock, or using a container, and authorizing the County law department to join and pursue lawsuits against gun manufacturers.