California gun bill fails on tactical error in Legislature

By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gun-control advocates could have had one more victory in their very successful California legislative session. But a risky move supported by Gov. Gavin Newsom backfired on a bill to impose new limits on carrying concealed weapons after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down old rules. The bill failed Thursday after Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and other Democratic backers pushed for a two-thirds supermajority required so the new rules could take effect this month. The measure fell just one vote short of the 54 it needed in the 80-member Assembly. By then it was too late to pass the bill with the 41 votes that were easily in hand.