Gov. Newsom signs a law that makes guns and ammo more expensive

A new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Tuesday will raise gun and ammo taxes in California to fund school security and violence prevention programs.

The feds tax weapons and ammo at 10 or 11 percent, depending on the type. The gun control group Brady says Newsom's proposal adds an 11 percent tax on top of that, making it the only state to charge firearms and ammo.

Newsom is one of the most liberal governors and a prospective Democratic presidential candidate after 2024. He rarely raises taxes, even for climate change mitigation.

Newsom's support for state and federal gun regulations made it impossible for him to veto this tax increase. Newsom is running a national campaign to alter the U.S. Constitution to limit gun sales to those over 21, mandate comprehensive background checks, impose a waiting period, and ban assault-style weapons. Such restrictions exist in several states but not in the Constitution.

Newsom distinguished the levy from other general tax increases he opposes. He claimed that gun violence costs taxpayers a lot in health and criminal justice.

Additionally, Newsom signed a concealed weapon law revision on Tuesday. The new guidelines are a response to the U.S. Supreme Court's new gun law interpretation standard last year. Guns are banned in most public locations in California, including parks, playgrounds, protests, amusement parks, churches, banks, and alcohol stores.

Starting July 1, 2028, all California semiautomatic firearms must have microstamping, according to Newsom. Each bullet would have a unique marking, making it easier for law authorities to identify the gun.