California Governor Gavin Newsom fights back against abusive new Texas law
We’re only beginning to realize many of the truly abhorrent effects that Texas’ notorious SB 8 law will have on the general public – particularly now that the Republican-dominated Supreme Court has largely decided to keep the law in place- dealing a severe blow to the legality of Roe v. Wade in the United States. There are, however, those that rightfully fear the ramifications that SB 8 might have on life in the US even beyond its impact on a woman’s right to choose – and not all of those with concern are necessarily left-leaning either.
Shortly after SCOTUS made its decision, California Governor Gavin Newsom came out swinging against their decision – and decided to turn the tables against conservatives using their own tactics. In a scathing indictment of the decision, Newsom announced: “If states can now shield their laws from review by the federal courts that compare assault weapons to Swiss Army knives, then California will use that authority to protect people’s lives, where Texas used it to put women in harm’s way.”
If it wasn’t clear enough, Newsom is intending to go after manufacturers of assault weapons and people who make, distribute and sell kits for producing 3-D ghost guns in the same way that SB 8 targets health workers who provide abortion. This is the right way to fight against Republican power grabs, as they need to be seen as more than threats. Everything the current GOP does is a ploy to not only keep power but to also reverse much of the progress made between now and the past century – and we need to fight it with at least as much fervor as their side has when it comes to overturning Roe v. Wade and appointing right-wing federal judges.
James Sullivan is the assistant editor of Brain World Magazine and an advocate of science-based policy making