California Black Media
Commentary: Will U.S. Lawmakers Follow California’s Lead, or Continue to Allow Mass Murderers to Access Military-Style Weapons?
The tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia on Sept. 4, claiming four lives, is a sobering reminder of the grave threat gun violence poses in America. Even more disturbing is how some lawmakers have allowed mass murderers easy access to high-powered firearms, leaving parents fearing whether their children will return home safely each day they send them to school.
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Joe W. Bowers Jr., California Black Media
The tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia on Sept. 4, claiming four lives, is a sobering reminder of the grave threat gun violence poses in America. Even more disturbing is how some lawmakers have allowed mass murderers easy access to high-powered firearms, leaving parents fearing whether their children will return home safely each day they send them to school.
By refusing to pass commonsense gun control measures, those lawmakers have ensured that mass shooters have easy access to military-grade weapons designed for war.
The Georgia school shooter used an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle. The four killings happened within minutes and left nine other people injured.
Attorney General Rob Bonta, addressing the urgency of the situation, declared, “None of it is acceptable. We will continue to promote the blueprint of California that has led us to transform from 30 years ago, being a state with one of the highest levels of gun violence, to now one of the lowest because of our commonsense gun laws that make us safer. If others did that, we would be safer.”
Bonta, along with 19 other attorneys general, is fighting back by filing an amicus brief supporting Cook County, Illinois’s ban on assault weapons. California has proven that such measures save lives.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has also weighed in, reflecting on the immediate tragedy and the broader failure of leadership. “I’ve got four kids, one just going into high school,” Newsom said. “The trauma of these shootings is devastating, not just for the families directly affected, but for entire communities. This is the only country in the world where this happens over and over again.”
Newsom did not mince words in holding lawmakers accountable: “I mean, you had a nominee for president of the United States who almost lost his life to an assassination attempt from a member of his own party, and still, we’ve had no substantive conversations around gun safety. No real discussions on background checks, no conversations about an assault weapons ban, or limiting large-capacity magazines. It’s a serious moment in America that requires serious leadership, and you do not have that from the other party. Gun safety saves lives.”
California’s strict gun laws, which are among the toughest in the nation, were born out of tragedy — the 1989 Cleveland Elementary School shooting in Stockton. That horrific event, where five children were gunned down, led to the country’s first assault weapons ban. From mandatory background checks and red flag laws, California has created a comprehensive framework that aims to prevent mass shootings like the one in Georgia.
It’s crucial to point out that protecting Second Amendment rights is not at odds with making communities safe. Responsible gun ownership and public safety can coexist through thoughtful regulations that prioritize human lives without infringing on constitutional rights.
As we approach the 2024 election, Americans face a critical choice: continue allowing mass murderers access to military-style weapons or follow California’s lead in implementing life-saving gun laws. With gun violence rising, it’s time for the rest of the country to prioritize safety and adopt measures like California’s that protect children, families, and communities.
About the Author
Joe W. Bowers Jr. is a contributing editor to California Black Media. He is a graduate of Stanford University.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of February 19 – 25, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 19 – 25, 2025
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Activism
Two New California Bills Are Aiming to Lower Your Prescription Drug Costs
“When basic life necessities like medication become unaffordable in Blue States, working people pay the price. As Democrats, we should be leading on making people’s lives better and more affordable,” continued Weiner. It is past time California caught up with other states and put basic protections in place to contain the astronomical cost of basic medications.”
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By Edward Henderson, California Black Media
Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) has introduced two bills in the State Senate that could lower prescription drug prices for California residents.
Senate Bill (SB) 40, or the Insulin Affordability Act — and accompanying legislation, SB 41, or Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform — comprise Wiener’s Prescription Drug Affordability (PDA) Package.
Together, the bills would cap monthly co-pays for insulin at $35 (SB 40) and create regulations for pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) whose negotiation practices, critics say, have resulted in steep price increases for prescription drugs (SB 41).
“It makes no sense that people with diabetes in states like West Virginia can access affordable insulin while Californians are stuck with higher prices,” said Wiener in a statement.
“When basic life necessities like medication become unaffordable in Blue States, working people pay the price. As Democrats, we should be leading on making people’s lives better and more affordable,” continued Weiner. It is past time California caught up with other states and put basic protections in place to contain the astronomical cost of basic medications.”
SB 40’s proposed $35 monthly co-pay was written, in part, in response to the price of insulin tripling over the past decade, Wiener’s office says. As a result of the increase, one in four people using insulin has reported insulin underuse because they can’t afford the full dose.
About 4,037,000 adult Californians have diabetes, with an additional 263,000 cases of Type 1 diabetes diagnosed each year. This rate in new cases disproportionately affects the elderly, men, and low-income patients, Wiener’s office reports.
According to Wiener, SB 41 is his follow-up to similar legislation he introduced last year, SB 966, which was vetoed by Gov. Newsom.
Middlemen in the pharmaceutical industry, PBMs buy prescription drugs from manufacturers and then sell them to pharmacies and health plans. Their position as intermediaries allows them to charge high administrative fees and significantly higher prices for drugs to pharmacies than they paid originally. This practice results in higher costs for patients seeking the prescriptions they need.
“On behalf of the Californians we serve who live with chronic and rare diseases, we are grateful to Sen. Wiener for his commitment and attempt to hold pharmacy middlemen accountable for their anti-patient and anti-pharmacy practices,” stated Liz Helms, California Chronic Care Coalition President & CEO. “Health care costs continue to rise when patients cannot afford medically necessary medications.”
SB 41 proposes that all PBMs be licensed and that they disclose basic information regarding their business practices to the licensing entity. It also calls for a number of other requirements and prohibitions, including limiting how fees may be charged and requiring transparency related to all fees assessed.
“This bill addresses some of the worst abuses by pharmacy benefit managers: lack of transparency, unfair business practices, steering, and price gouging,” said Jamie Court, President of Consumer Watchdog.
In 2022, drug spending in California grew by 12%, while total health premiums rose by just 4%. Last year, more than half of Californians either skipped or postponed mental and physical healthcare due to cost, putting their safety and well-being at risk. One in three reported holding medical debt, including half of low-income Californians.
So far, there is no organized opposition to the Prescription Drug Affordability package.
Activism
Tony Thurmond Urges Educators to Stay Focused Amid Federal Funding Battle
In a statement and a letter to California’s local educational agencies (LEAs), Thurmond praised efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism and close achievement gaps, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged students. “Now is not the time to be distracted by external efforts to demean and divide,” Thurmond wrote. “Please continue to stay the course with local programs that are producing results. Our students need consistency, support, and community more than ever.”
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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has urged educators to remain focused on student achievement following a court ruling that temporarily blocks the Trump administration from freezing federal funding for schools, health care, law enforcement, and disaster relief.
A U.S. District Court judge in Rhode Island issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on Jan. 31, halting federal efforts to pause funding while a lawsuit led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 22 other state attorneys general moves forward. Thurmond, a declarant in the case, welcomed the decision and reassured educators that funding for critical school programs remains in place.
In a statement and a letter to California’s local educational agencies (LEAs), Thurmond praised efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism and close achievement gaps, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged students.
“Now is not the time to be distracted by external efforts to demean and divide,” Thurmond wrote. “Please continue to stay the course with local programs that are producing results. Our students need consistency, support, and community more than ever.”
Thurmond emphasized that state officials will continue advocating for stable funding to ensure schools can maintain and expand programs that help students succeed.
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