People in Bakersfield react to Twitter war between Gov. Newsom and Speaker McCarthy
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A war of words between Governor Newsom and Speaker McCarthy, after the governor proposed a 28th amendment to the constitution, for more gun control.
Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom tweeted:
"I'm proposing to the united states constitution to help our nation's gun violence crisis.
The American people are sick of Congress' inaction.
The 28th will enshrine 4 widely supported gun safety freedoms -- while leaving the 2nd amendment intact:
- Raising the minimum age to purchase a gun to 21
- Universal background checks
- A reasonable waiting period for gun purchases
- Banning the civilian purchase of assault weapons
Bakersfield Congressman and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy then responded to that on Twitter:
"Hey Governor Newsom,
The 2nd amendment already exists-we don't need a 28th.
But what we need is for presidential aspirants to stop pushing their extreme positions nationally."
The Governor then tweeted a response:
"Hey Kevin,
What we need is you to own up to the fact that you represent a district with the highest murder rate in our state -- and you're doing nothing to address it."
The exchange has thousands engaged online so Eyewitness News took the streets to see how people were reacting to the exchange.
"I think they should be more professional and do the conversation in person than over on social media because social media platform is-it's just whatever cause everyone says their opinions on social media but they need to have a serious conversation in person" Adriana Esparza, a Bakersfield resident said.
Esperanza agrees with the Governor, particularly his restriction in the proposed amendment that would add a universal background check for people buying guns.
"Universal check, some type of mental check to make sure we're not just handing out guns to crazy people who would do crazy things, such as shootings you know like how it's been happening at schools and any other places too" Esperanza said.
Others say Speaker McCarthy is right here.
"I don't agree with Newsom at all. I agree with Kevin McCarthy" Maria Wells said. "I've known him for a little bit, but again like we said, guns kill people, people don't kill people."
"I think Kevin McCarthy is right on," Wells said. "We don't need a 28th amendment. We don't need it. Second amendment takes care of everything."
According to a 2022 Department of Justice report, Kern County does have one of the highest murder rates in the state based on its population. While the state overall has one of the lowest in the country.
The Governor's proposal is unlikely to become an amendment as it has to be approved by both houses of Congress and three-fourths of the states have to ratify it.