California bill would have citizens enforce weapons ban

By JULIE WATSON and ADAM BEAM
Associated Press

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — A California bill would allow private citizens to go after gun makers in the same way Texas allows them to sue abortion providers. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday backed a new bill in the state Legislature that would let private citizens enforce the state’s assault weapons ban by filing civil lawsuits. It’s modeled after a Texas law that allows private citizens to sue abortion providers for performing abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the Texas law to stay in effect pending a legal challenge. A gunowners’ advocacy group promised an immediate legal challenge should the California proposal become law.