Governor Newsom condemns Trump administration proposal to weaken federal gun safety

What you need to know: Governor Newsom condemns Trump for his dangerous proposal to weaken commonsense gun safety rules.

SACRAMENTO - Governor Gavin Newsom today blasted the Trump Administration's proposed changes to federal firearm regulations as a giveaway to gun traffickers, a threat to law enforcement, and a dangerous move away from common-sense practices that protect children. The proposal comes as California is making meaningful progress on public safety, with every major statewide crime rate declining in 2025 and the state recording its lowest homicide rate since statewide data collection began in 1966. While many of California's protections that go further than federal law will continue to safeguard Californians, opening the door to straw purchasers and gun traffickers creates unnecessary vulnerabilities even in our state.

The Trump administration is moving forward with changes it openly admits may result in more mass shootings and military veteran suicides. It calls child safety warnings 'an undue burden' on firearms dealers. And it is orchestrating a purge on records that would help law enforcement solve crimes. We've seen politicians in the pocket of the gun lobby here; Trump is putting our communities in danger and seems to be squarely in the pocket of criminals.

Governor Gavin Newsom

The Trump administration has proposed changes that would make buying a gun online easier than buying alcohol-letting a dealer ship a firearm straight to the buyer's door, with only remote identity verification and no trip to the counter. Another proposal would let dealers destroy old records that law enforcement use to trace firearms and solve crimes. At a time when California is driving crime down, weakening the very tools that help law enforcement trace firearms, investigate violent crimes, and prevent guns from reaching people in crisis is the opposite of a serious public safety strategy. While many of California's protections that go further than federal law will continue to protect Californians opening the door to straw purchasers and gun traffickers creates unnecessary vulnerabilities even in our state.

California is fighting back against the Trump administration's efforts to weaken these longstanding federal safeguards - the mail restriction itself is nearly 100 years old - through a multi-agency response to oppose the Trump administration. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), and California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) each filed formal comments detailing the real-world consequences these proposals would have for public safety, veterans, crime survivors, and communities across California.

Protecting veterans, survivors, and public health

These agencies see the consequences of gun violence every day.

CDPH warned that removing in-person firearm transfers strips away the opportunity for a dealer to spot signs of crisis, coercion, intoxication, or unsafe circumstances before handing over a firearm While not a panacea, in-person background checks are one of many overlapping safeguards that reduce gun violence and suicide. This baseless rejection of important public health measures will not affect California's more extensive law requiring firearm transfers to occur in person through licensed firearm dealers. Read CDPH's letter here.

"As a mom, pediatrician and public health leader, I am committed to ensuring every child and young person has the opportunity to grow up in a safe and healthy environment," said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan. "Firearm injuries remain a leading cause of death among young people, disproportionately impacting young males and youth of color. Public health practitioners recognize the importance of balancing lawful firearm ownership with strategies that reduce preventable injury and death."

CalVet emphasized that changing how mental health records affect one's ability to obtain firearm do not affect all populations equally, as military veterans make up a disproportionate number of suicides. California's veteran suicide prevention efforts depend on evidence-based strategies that recognize firearms are involved in a disproportionate share of veteran suicides. The department urged ATF to fully evaluate available evidence before weakening existing safeguards affecting an at-risk population. Read their letter here.

CalVCB warned that weakening firearm tracing requirements is a direct blow to victims. Allowing dealers to throw out old records makes it harder for law enforcement to solve violent crimes and leaves victims and their families waiting longer for answers, accountability, and justice. Read their letter here.

"A failed trace can have a financial and emotional impact on victims and their families," said CalVCB Executive Director Lynda Gledhill. "It can also impede their ability to collect restitution for the losses they suffered because of the crime."

California's opposition reflects the experience of the agencies responsible for preventing violence, supporting survivors, protecting veterans, safeguarding public health, and enforcing the law. The individuals in these departments have worked tirelessly for years to develop and implement effective measures to protect Californians. Together, they know the Trump administration's new proposals would weaken proven safeguards that save lives.

Public safety progress in California

California is proving that public safety and strong gun safety laws go hand in hand. According to California Department of Justice data, every major statewide crime rate declined from 2024 to 2025. The homicide rate fell 18.6%, robbery fell 19.9%, property crime fell 14.3%, motor vehicle theft fell 25.8%, and violent crime fell 10.2%. California's homicide rate is now 3.5 per 100,000 residents - the lowest rate recorded since statewide reporting began nearly six decades ago.

That progress matters. Californians deserve leaders who will build on what is working - not weaken safeguards that protect families, help law enforcement solve crimes, and keep dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands. Trump says he is the "law and order" President, but his actions tell a different story. You cannot claim to put public safety first while making it harder for law enforcement to trace crime guns, investigate violent crimes, and prevent firearms from reaching people in crisis.

Why this matters

One year ago, Governor Newsom issued an executive order to address a growing issue - the alarming rise in suicides and disconnection among California's young men and boys. These proposed federal regulations would increase risks across the board by weakening safeguards that help prevent firearms from reaching individuals in crisis. Although California consistently has one of the lowest gun death rates in the nation, the toll remains too high - about 3,200 Californians lose their lives to gun violence each year, with suicides making up a significant share, especially among men. In California, men aged 15-44 die by suicide at 3 to 4 times the rate of women, often by firearms.

This crisis also impacts everyone. Violence is focused both internally and externally, affecting all people in the community. Men are responsible for almost 80% of violent crime, and almost half of female homicide victims are killed by a current or former male intimate partner.

California's gun safety efforts

While the federal government considers rolling back firearm safeguards, California continues to lead the nation in gun safety. The state is ranked #1 for gun law strength by both Giffords Law Center and Everytown for Gun Safety and consistently maintains one of the nation's lowest firearm death rates.

California has enacted the nation's strongest gun safety framework-including universal background checks, waiting periods, red flag laws, strengthened protections against ghost guns, expanded accountability for the firearm industry, and measures to keep weapons out of the hands of individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others.

California's gun safety by the numbers

• #1 state in the nation for gun law strength and effectiveness
• 1,727 individuals were subject to Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs) in 2024 after courts found they posed a significant risk of firearm violence
• 58 threatened mass shootings prevented through California's protection order system during its first three years
• Nearly 140,000 lives could have been saved nationwide over the past decade if every state matched California's gun death rate
• California's youth firearm homicide rate is approximately 50% lower than the national average
• More than 50% of crime guns recovered and traced in California originated from out-of-state dealers

These policies have helped make California one of the national leaders in gun violence prevention and demonstrate that strong public safety laws and constitutional rights can coexist. Learn more about California's nation-leading gun safety laws at the 2026 fact sheet and available resources at gunsafety.ca.gov.