California Governor Gavin Newsom recently attempted to soften his stance on gun control in an interview with Shawn Ryan, claiming he supports the Second Amendment. After receiving a California-compliant SIG Sauer P365 X-Macro, Newsom stated he’s mainly concerned with “large capacity magazines” and “weapons of war,” a term often used by Democrats to describe AR-15 rifles. However, critics argue that Newsom’s political record contradicts his claims.

Since becoming governor in 2019, Newsom has signed nearly 70 gun control laws. Among them is SB 1327, allowing private citizens to sue over illegal firearms, and an 11% tax on gun and ammunition sales to fund safety programs. Critics say these measures are aimed at discouraging gun ownership. Newsom’s anti-gun track record dates back to his time as San Francisco mayor when he supported Proposition H, an attempted citywide handgun ban.

As lieutenant governor in 2016, Newsom spearheaded Proposition 63, which banned high-capacity magazines and introduced background checks for ammo purchases. Despite his recent rhetoric, his active leadership in advancing strict gun laws has made him a central figure in the national gun control debate.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clashed with Newsom following raids at California farms. ICE agents rescued eight unaccompanied migrant children from alleged labor exploitation at a marijuana facility, prompting DHS to publicly criticize the governor after he expressed outrage over the operation.

In response to violent protests against law enforcement, Donald Trump granted ICE full authorization to arrest assailants using “whatever means is necessary,” further escalating the national conversation around immigration, law enforcement, and state leadership.