La mañana de este jueves 8 de junio, el gobernador Gavin Newsom propuso enmienda 28 a Constitución de Estados Unidos para consagrar en la ley medidas de seguridad de armas fundamentales y ampliamente respaldadas, y con ello poner fin a la crisis de la violencia armada en el país.

Si bien deja la 2da Enmienda sin cambios y respeta la tradición de posesión de armas, la propuesta busca garantizar protecciones constitucionales de sentido común y medidas de seguridad de armas que los demócratas, republicanos, votantes independientes y propietarios de armas apoyan.

Dichas medidas incluyen las verificaciones universales de antecedentes y el aumento de la edad de compra de armas de fuego a 21 años, instituyendo un período de espera para la compra de armas de fuego y prohibiendo la compra civil de armas de asalto.

«La Enmienda 28 consagrará en la Constitución medidas de seguridad de armas de sentido común que los demócratas, los republicanos, los independientes y los propietarios de armas apoyan abrumadoramente, mientras que la Enmienda 2 permanece sin cambios y respeta la tradición de posesión de armas de Estados Unidos», señaló Newsom.

Cabe destacar que la Enmienda 28 consagrará de forma permanente cuatro principios de seguridad de armas de fuego ampliamente apoyados en la Constitución de EE. UU.:

• Elevar la edad mínima federal para comprar un arma de fuego de 18 a 21 años;
• Exigir verificaciones universales de antecedentes para evitar que personas verdaderamente peligrosas compren un arma que podría usarse en un delito;
• Instituir un período de espera razonable para todas las compras de armas; y
• Prohibir la compra civil de armas de asalto, que no tienen otro propósito que matar a tantas personas como sea posible en un corto período de tiempo.

Además, la Enmienda 28 afirmará que el Congreso, los estados y los gobiernos locales pueden promulgar regulaciones adicionales de seguridad de armas de fuego que salven vidas.

La aprobación de la Enmienda 28 requerirá una convención para proponer enmiendas a la Constitución de Estados Unidos, también conocida como Convención del Artículo V o convención de enmienda. 

Trabajando en asociación con miembros del Senado y la Asamblea del Estado de California, este será el primer estado de la nación en convocar una convención de este tipo con una resolución conjunta presentada por la senadora californiana Aisha Wahab y el asambleísta Reggie Jones-Sawyer. 

El gobernador Newsom precisó que trabajará con partidarios de base, líderes electos y cívicos, y coaliciones amplias y diversas en todo el país para luchar por la aprobación de resoluciones similares en otras legislaturas estatales para garantizar la convocatoria de una convención constitucional limitada a este tema. 

Otros 33 estados, además de California, tendrían que tomar medidas para convocar dicha convención.

«Un hombre de acción, el gobernador Gavin Newsom tiene la columna vertebral para hacer algo con respecto a la cultura fetichista de las armas en torno a las armas de guerra y abordar el implacable problema de la violencia armada y los tiroteos masivos», dijo la senadora Aisha Wahab. «Como alguien afectado por la violencia armada, tengo la obligación de elevar las voces de las víctimas y de aquellos de nosotros que quedamos atrás tras la tragedia».

Por su parte, el asambleísta Reggie Jones-Sawyer dijo que «no podemos quedarnos de brazos cruzados mientras los tribunales retroceden en nuestro trabajo y disminuyen la capacidad de nuestra Legislatura para mantener seguros a los californianos. Esta resolución audaz pero justa llama a otros estados a unirse a nosotros para proteger algunas de las formas más efectivas de reducir la violencia armada».

California se clasificó como el estado número uno en seguridad con armas de fuego según el Centro de Leyes de Giffords y, según los datos más recientes, el estado registró una tasa de muertes por armas de fuego un 37 por ciento más baja que el promedio nacional. 

Según los CDC, la tasa de muertes por armas de fuego de California fue la 44.ª más baja del país, con 8.5 muertes por armas de fuego por cada 100 mil personas, en comparación con 13.7 muertes por cada 100 mil a nivel nacional, 28.6 en Mississippi, 20.7 en Oklahoma y 14.2 en Texas.

You may be interested in: Anti-gun violence protesters gather on the Golden Gate Bridge

“No more silence, let's end gun violence!”

With one of the most iconic places in the world as a backdrop, the campaign "Dress in orange» gathered and cheered on the Golden Gate Bridge to draw attention to one of the country's most pressing problems: gun violence.

Early on Sunday, June 4, Bay Area residents, state and local leaders, along with gun violence survivors and student leaders, rallied and peacefully marched across the Golden Gate Bridge to advocate for gun safety and an end to gun violence. 

A crowd of 600 people first gathered at Vista Point on the Marin side of the bridge and were greeted by speakers who spoke about the urgency of the gun violence crisis. According to the organization Gun Violence Archive, 18,192 people have died from gun violence as of June 4, 2023, and there have been 276 mass shooting incidents recorded nationwide in just 155 days in 2023.

Christopher Colwell, chief of emergency medicine at Zuckerberg General Hospital in San Francisco, spoke to the crowd with a doctor's urgency about what many consider a national epidemic.

“Gun violence affects us all, and we need to demand action. My colleagues and I see the horrific effects of gun violence all too often every week, even every day,” Colwell said.

Keynote speaker Mattie Scott works tirelessly against gun violence as the founder and executive Director of Healing 4 Our Families & Our Nation, leader of the San Francisco section of Mothers-in-Charge and president for California Brady UnitedScott spoke passionately from the perspective of having lost his son, George, to gun violence.  

"This epidemic is out of control. I am ashamed of our nation because we are failing to protect our children. I am doing this work for you, for all of us," Scott said.   

"I want young people to know that they have the power to stop violence. At the ballot box. Through their voices. And in unity," Scott said.

Scott's messages resonated with the crowd, which was filled with a sea of signs and banners. "Common Sense Gun Laws Now," "We Can End Gun Violence!" and "We Don't Have to Live Like This."

Following the speeches, protesters carried their anti-gun violence signs across the bridge. On a cool, clear day with beautiful views of the Marin Headlands and San Francisco, it was hard not to notice the hundreds of orange-clad protesters, receiving supportive honks from passing traffic. 

The Golden Gate Bridge event was hosted by volunteers from the California Chapter of Students Demand Action, in collaboration with the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, part of Wear Orange Weekend and National Gun Violence Awareness Day. 

Every year between June 2-4, communities across the United States dress in orange and participate in events during Wear Orange Weekend. 

Wear Orange was born in June 2015, after fifteen-year-old Hadiya Pendelton was tragically shot and killed at a Chicago playground. Since then, Wear Orange has continued to work to remember Hadiya and the people across the country who are affected daily by gun violence. 

In the wake of school shootings like the one in Uvalde, students across the country are leading efforts to draw attention to what they see as a national crisis.

Students like Alexander Ibarra helped organize the demonstration against gun violence and has already taken the floor

Student speaker Alexander Ibarra was involved in Student Demand Action after the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, a year ago. She found a local chapter to get involved and now leads awareness-raising initiatives such as the “Wear Orange” event. 

"It's important to be here today because too many children have died because of this. There is too much blood on the hands of our politicians. It's important that we speak out because we are the future," Ibarra said.

Elected officials and representatives from numerous groups joined to speak, including: Betty Yee, former California State Comptroller and Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party; Catherine Stefani, SF County Supervisor D2; Arthur Renowitzky, gun violence survivor and CEO of Life Goes On Foundation; Rudy Corpuz, United Playaz; and Rudy Espinoza, Mothers Demand Action.

In attendance were members of the Soul Box Project, which encourages activism through art. Lisa Dell'Anno, a member of the project, explained: "This project started three years ago as an art and activism project that encourages people to fold boxes in memory of people killed and injured by gun violence."

“The initial idea was to display on the National Mall the lives lost to gun violence over three years. That goal was achieved, but the project continues to personalize the lives lost, remembering that each person killed by firearms is more than just a statistic. The 120 boxes in our backpacks today represent the number of gun deaths that occur every day in this country,” Dell'Anno added.

High school teacher Matt Mattoon came from Pittsburgh with his family. Mattoon, a high school teacher, said his students are disheartened and need a way to act.

Liz Russell, who is a volunteer with Napa Valley Moms Lawsuit Action, spoke about what he believes we can all do. 

“Too many people are dying from gun violence, and it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s a national epidemic. A public health crisis. There are steps we can all take. Cross this bridge, volunteer at a local violence intervention program, vote. All of these actions can really help make a difference,” Russell said.

At the rally on the Golden Gate Bridge on June 4, 2023, hundreds of Bay Area community members made clear their passion for taking action.

You may be interested in: California Launches GunSafety.ca.gov Website for Anti-Gun Violence Resources

Governor Gavin Newsom launched this Monday gunsafety.ca.gov, a website that provides critical information on how Californians can use gun violence restraining orders to help protect their loved ones, as well as the new state law that allows victims of gun violence to sue those who distribute illegal guns. 

The new website, one of the most comprehensive on gun safety in the nation, also features multilingual resources to help Californians prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from gun violence.

The website launch coincides with National Gun Violence Awareness Month and comes on the heels of Wear Orange Weekend, which honors the 40,000 people who lose their lives to gun violence and the thousands more who are shot and injured each year.

“California is taking aggressive and relentless action to end the unbearable tragedy of gun violence. While other states remain complacent in the face of recurring and heartbreaking tragedies, California is making it easier than ever to access common-sense tools like Gun Violence Restraining Orders to protect our communities,” said Gavin Newsom.

It is worth noting that all resources on the website have been translated into the eight most commonly spoken languages in California: English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog/Filipino, Korean, and Armenian.

The new website is part of an $11 million statewide campaign announced last year, administered by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, to raise awareness, educate the public and explain the steps required to obtain a Gun Violence Restraining Order. 

In California, Gun Violence Restraining Orders were used to prevent 58 threatened mass shootings between 2016 and 2019 and have shown immense promise in reducing suicides.

A gun violence restraining order, or GVRO, is a temporary action taken by a local court when someone is at risk of or causing harm to themselves or others. 

The person in crisis subject to the order cannot purchase or possess firearms or ammunition while the order is in effect. These temporary orders empower Californians to intervene, while protecting the rights of people in crisis, and are not considered punishments under the law. 

Californians can learn more about who can file for a gun violence restraining order, how to file, and access other available resources at GunSafety.ca.gov.

In 2022, the governor signed legislation allowing Californians to sue those who manufacture, sell, transport or distribute illegal assault weapons and ghost guns — weapons made at home to avoid tracing — for damages of at least $10,000 per weapon involved.

Similarly, legislation was enacted that allows state, local governments and Californians to sue irresponsible gun manufacturers.

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By Jana Kadah. San José Spotlight.

Rainbow flags stolen in San Jose More than 75 rainbow flags have been stolen in Willow Glen as National Pride Month kicks off. This has become a recurring problem.

Local real estate agent Holly Barr buys and places the flags on Willow Glen’s main street, Lincoln Avenue, annually starting in June. Every year she says they get stolen, but she doesn’t let that stop her efforts to celebrate and support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, or LGBTQ+, communities.

“Every year it’s a controversy and I just don’t understand it,” Barr told San José Spotlight. “But I’m going to keep doing it because it’s about inclusion, acceptance, love and positivity.”

On Lincoln Avenue, there are buckets at 12 different crosswalks with bright orange flags for residents to use to safely cross the street, with the expectation that people will return them once they’re done. Barr started that initiative on her own 13 years ago, and in June she’s adding rainbow flags to each bucket to mark Pride, a month-long celebration and commemoration of LGBTQ+ communities that began after the Stonewall riots in 1969.

Barr said she buys hundreds of rainbow flags each year to prepare for them being stolen. On each flag, Barr writes a different positive word like “love” or “acceptance” to remind people what she believes Pride stands for. She typically has to add new flags to the buckets every couple of days to replace the ones that are taken.

"I've seen them vandalized or dumped (around) random parts of the city," Barr said. "But when people steal this, it's not without reason. It sends a clear message."

She said some businesses have offered to place the flags on their front doors or directly outside. Barr declined the offers because she wants the flags to be available for people to use at night when the streets are more dangerous. Barr said some residents have donated money and flags to help with the costs of replacing ones that were stolen or destroyed.

But there are others who say having rainbow flags in public is an attack on children, in addition to other anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments. Some of those comments can be seen on Barr’s Facebook page, Willow Glen Charm, where she updates neighbors on hyper-local news like a car accident or success stories from Willow Glen High School.

She said some businesses have offered to place the flags on their front doors or directly outside. Barr declined the offers because she wants the flags to be available for people to use at night when the streets are more dangerous. Barr said some residents have donated money and flags to help with the costs of replacing ones that were stolen or destroyed.

"I don't want to waste police time with this or any other resource to catch who's doing this," Barr said. "It's sad, but I'll continue to replace them."

Gabrielle Antolovich, board president of the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center, called Barr a “heroic realtor” and is inspired by her activism. Antolovich said she laughed with joy when she heard Barr was going to keep adding new flags despite them being repeatedly stolen.

“I’m not surprised that this is happening because homophobic people are so mean-spirited,” Antolovich told San José Spotlight. “That’s what homophobia does, it dampens enthusiasm.”

Councilman Dev Davis, who represents Willow Glen, said the flags could be stolen out of homophobia or because people want to keep a rainbow flag. However, she condemns the behavior.

“I co-sponsor the raising of the Pride flag at City Hall every year,” Davis told San José Spotlight. “I hope and believe that the vast majority of our community supports Pride Month and our LGBTQ+ neighbors.”

Antolovich said he will organize more people to donate flags because “we need more people to fight.”

“Homophobia is everywhere, even in San Jose,” Antolovich said. “It’s a very sad situation because the people who are against us are also against people of color, immigrants and all kinds of people.”

Read the original story giving click here.

This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.

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By Bay City News.

Cada vez más equipos de PG&E estarán en el condado de San Mateo este lunes y mañana martes para prepararse ante posibles cortes de energía por seguridad pública, dijeron funcionarios de la compañía.

Las cuadrillas durante los dos días realizarán un simulacro en el condado de San Mateo de corte de energía que se centrará en las secciones sur-suroeste del condado a medida que comience el verano.  

Es probable que los residentes vean helicópteros sobrevolando, así como cuadrillas de PG&E, contratistas y equipos de la misma empresa.

La atención se centra en los circuitos de Half Moon Bay y Menlo Park, que afectan propiedades en Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Pescadero, La Honda, Woodside, Portola Valley y partes de Redwood City.

Cabe destacar que la electricidad permanecerá encendida durante todo el simulacro.

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San Mateo County community leaders have called on residents to join in raising the Juneteenth flag in Redwood City, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States and offering a moment to reflect on the ongoing obstacles facing the African-American community.

“Juneteenth serves as a milestone and a moment of reflection in the fight for racial justice both past and present,” said Noelia Corzo, San Mateo County Supervisor for District Two and a member of the County’s Juneteenth Advisory Committee. 

“As we commemorate Juneteenth, our County renews its commitment to addressing the challenges our African American residents and leaders continue to face as they live and work in our community. Juneteenth specifically exemplifies how critical it is that we hold ourselves accountable when intent and impact differ,” she stressed.

The Board of Supervisors at its May 23 meeting recognized June 19, 2023 as Juneteenth in San Mateo County. 

On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Lincoln declared all enslaved people free, Union Army troops marched into Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and free the last enslaved African Americans in Texas. 

Juneteenth is now a federally recognized national holiday.

The flag raising will take place this Tuesday, June 6th at 9:00 a.m. sharp, at 400 County Center in Redwood City.

Presenters will include Kalimah Salahuddin, trustee of the Jefferson Union High School Board and co-founder of the REACH Coalition; Noelia Corzo, supervisor of San Mateo County District Two; the Rev. Lorrie Carter Owens, president of the NAACP San Mateo branch; Jennifer Taylor Mendoza, president of the College of San Mateo; Dana Johnson, community activist, author, and documentary filmmaker; Q. Smith, vocalist; and Jacob Virges, spoken word performer.

The flag raising will be live-streamed on the county's Facebook page and the recording will be posted on the Juneteeth website. The site also includes resources such as the history of Juneteenth, a curated reading list from local libraries, and an archive of the county's past Juneteenth celebrations and panel discussions.

As a special event, the County Juneteenth Advisory Committee is screening a short film about the date and the African American experience, followed by a moderated discussion and refreshments. 

The event will be next Wednesday, June 21 at 5:00 p.m. at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Community Space, located at 801 Jefferson Avenue in Redwood City. Space is limited, so please RSVP by giving your consent. click here.

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Agents of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Man arrested in San Carlos after being found under the influence of alcohol and in possession of firearms and usable cartridges.

Officers responded to the 200 block of Industrial Road in San Carlos City on a report of a vehicle blocking the exit of a business, police said. 

Upon arrival, officers found a white Chevrolet Express van blocking a commercial exit, so officers contacted Andrew Cuestas, who was sitting in the driver's seat with the vehicle running.

Upon contact with him, Cuestas showed objective symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol, and admitted to being in possession of a rifle inside his vehicle. 

A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed an unloaded .22 caliber rifle, a loaded pistol, and several usable high-capacity magazines.

Cuestas failed a series of alcohol tests and was arrested on eight criminal charges. 

Cuestas was transported and booked into the San Mateo County Jail without incident.

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