Nine months after being gifted a Sig Sauer P365-Xmacro pistol during an appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show in Tennessee, California Governor Gavin Newsom has yet to take possession of the firearm. The delay stems from a series of strict firearm regulations enacted within his own state—laws that the Governor himself has long championed and signed into effect.
According to reports, including recent coverage by the New York Post, several legal hurdles stand between Newsom and the handgun. Because the gift originated in Tennessee, it must first be shipped from a federally licensed firearms dealer in that state to a licensed dealer within California.
From there, the Governor must navigate the same protocols required of any other California resident. This includes obtaining a Firearm Safety Certificate by attending a mandatory class and passing a written test with a score of at least 75%.
Additionally, he must provide proof of an state-approved lock box or locking device, complete the Federal Form 4473 for a background check, and wait out California’s mandatory 10-day cooling-off period.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) has publicly commented on the situation, characterizing the irony of the delay as “only justice.”
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb suggested that the experience could serve as a practical look at the bureaucracy California gun owners face daily.
“Gov. Newsom might use this as a learning experience,” Gottlieb stated. “That is, if he actually wants the pistol. Last year, he told Ryan that he is not really ‘anti-gun,’ even though everything he has said and done in office has certainly pointed in that direction.”
Gottlieb also questioned the specific cause of the nearly year-long holdup, noting that the Governor’s future political aspirations might be tied to his status as a firearm owner.
“We’re beginning to wonder if Gavin is worried he might not pass the firearms safety test, or get through the background check,” Gottlieb said. “What’s the holdup, Governor Newsom? Just think about the future. You can campaign for the White House like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, telling everyone you’re a gun owner, and then you could say you were treated like a criminal, the way every other California citizen is treated when they want to purchase a gun.”
The advocacy group ended its statement with a direct challenge to the Governor to complete the process, with Gottlieb concluding, “C’mon, Gavin. It’s time to get your gat.”
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