Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom of California criticized Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott's failure to acknowledge the state's high gun death rate in his recent attack on California's gun control laws.
On Fox News, Abbott claimed gun violence affects all states regardless of their laws in an attempt to shift attention from the frequent mass shootings occurring in Texas, in particular a recent mass shooting at a mall in the town of Allen resulting in the deaths of nine people including the gunman.
You can hear what Abbott said in the video below.
\u201cGreg Abbott on Fox News Sunday accidentally makes a case for stronger federal gun control: "I think that the state in which the largest number of victims occurred this year is in California, where they have very tough gun laws."\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683465843
Abbott said:
“What Texas is doing in a big-time way, we are working to address that anger and violence but going to its root cause, which is addressing the mental health problems behind it." ...
“People want a quick solution. The long-term solution here is to address the mental health issue." ...
“I think that the state in which the largest number of victims occurred this year is in California, where they have very tough gun laws."
Newsom, however, responded on Twitter by pointing out Texas has a gun death rate that is 73 percent higher than California's. He also stated Abbott's comments inadvertently highlight the need for federal gun safety laws.
You can see Newsom's tweet below.
\u201cHere is a clip in which @GregAbbott_TX:\n\n1) Conveniently leaves out the fact that Texas\u2019 gun death rate is 73% higher than CA\u2019s.\n\n2) Accidentally points to exactly why we need federal gun safety laws. \nhttps://t.co/pKOCW4UY7d\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1683487019
The state of California received an "A" grade on the Giffords Law Center's annual gun law scorecard. It ranks highest among all 50 states for gun law strength.
California ranks 43rd out of 50—only 7 states did better—in the gun death rate, with nine gun deaths per 100,000 people. In contrast, Texas received an "F" grade on the gun law scorecard and ranks 27th in the gun death rate, with 15.6 gun deaths per 100,000 people.
The recent mass shooting in Allen was among over 200 mass shootings that have occurred in the United States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Tragically, gun violence has claimed the lives of 14,780 people this year.
Abbott was swiftly called out for his remarks.
\u201c@atrupar How is he going to address mental health if ANYONE can buy a gun at a gun show without background check? He\u2019s fooling himself. Not us.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683465843
\u201c@atrupar \u201cPer capita,\u201d Greg. Learn the words.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683465843
\u201c@atrupar How do podcasters have up-to-the-minute fact-checking on their shows but the news can\u2019t seem to do that?\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683465843
\u201c@atrupar FACT: As of July 2022, California had an average of 8.5 gun deaths per 100K people, while Texas had 14.2 per 100K. Texas's gun death rate is around 67 percent higher than that of California's, per 100K people.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683465843
\u201c@atrupar His "Not My Problem" force field is activated.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683465843
\u201c@atrupar The intellectual dishonesty involved in saying those particular words, in that particular order, into a microphone, is staggering. I trust he knows that. Texas has 10 MILLION fewer people than California, and a thousand more annual firearm deaths.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683465843
\u201c@atrupar Ah. A deliberate misunderstanding of \u201cper capita\u201d. How very Republican.\u201d— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1683465843
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Texas had 4,164 gun deaths in 2020, compared to California's 3,449. However, when taking into account California has around 9 million more residents than Texas, California's average gun death rate was 8.5 per 100,000 people, compared to Texas' 14.2 per 100,000 people.
An analysis of census data by the Public Policy Institute of California revealed mass shootings account for just 3 percent of all homicides in the state. Furthermore, compared to other U.S. states, Californians are around 25 percent less likely to die in a mass shooting.
Despite Abbott's attempts to downplay the impact of gun laws on gun violence, it is clear California's strict gun laws have contributed to its comparatively low gun death rate. The tragic frequency of mass shootings in Texas highlights the urgent need for stronger gun safety measures nationwide.
