Global Courant
In his extensive exclusive interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom cited one of his better-known predecessors in Sacramento as saying that he “aspires” to be like Republican Ronald Reagan in a way.
During a debate about California’s high-tax, high-regulation climate, Newsom said Reagan — who served as governor from 1967 to 1975 — oversaw very high tax rates, while later criticizing the 41st president’s embrace of the “trickle down economy’.
Hannity asked if Newsom blamed Reagan in part for California’s high taxes, and the governor disagreed.
“No, I’m not blaming Reagan for everything. A lot of Democrats do,” he said.
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Gavin Newsom and Ronald Reagan (REUTERS/Mal Langsdon)
“In fact – on gun policy – I aspire to be Ronald Reagan, who said AK-47s should not be used for defense. And he believed in background checks.”
In 1967, then-Gov. Reagan supported a State Assembly bill. Don Mulford, R-Alameda, who banned the public carrying of loaded guns without a license.
Reagan, a bipartisan group of state legislators, and the National Rifle Association (NRA) all agreed on the groundbreaking bill that the future president eventually signed into law.
Armed members of the Black Panthers protested the law in particular at the California State Capitol, with some reaching the legislative chamber to voice their opposition before being removed by police.
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Then-California Governor Ronald Reagan wears a cowboy hat on a trail ride on December 5, 1968 during the GOP Governor’s Conference. (Getty Images)
A local newspaper headlined “Capitol Is Invaded,” as the Black Panthers were outraged by the bill that essentially shut down their “police patrol” operations in the Bay Area, aimed at preventing alleged law enforcement misconduct during arrests.
However, in a 1975 column for Guns & Ammo magazine, Reagan wrote that proposals to “ban or confiscate guns are simply an unrealistic panacea,” and he was a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment in the 1980 election.
He later supported the 1993 Brady Bill – named after his former press secretary who was paralyzed during the assassination attempt on John Hinckley Jr. in 1981 – which mandated background checks for gun purchases.
On “Hannity”, Newsom said he is no stranger to firearms, telling Hannity that he shot a Gatling pistol, an AK-47, and a musket, among other things.
“These weapons of war don’t need a deer in their sights. They are weapons of war,” he said.
“Ronald Reagan was against open carry laws — he was the first,” Newsom said, seemingly referring to the Republican’s signing of the Mulford Act.
Hannity said the AR-15 and other purported “weapons of war” have few non-cosmetic differences from smaller weapons of similar caliber, adding that he is also a staunch advocate of gun safety.
Newsom said he is not alone in supporting a number of restrictive measures, pointing to widespread adoption of stricter background check legislation.
“We don’t have it in terms of the loophole closures. We don’t have it to the extent that you can’t have it,” he said.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Born in Pennsylvania, Charles graduated from Temple University with a BA in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
