California Gov. Calls Semi-Auto Rifles ‘Goddamn Weapons Of Mass Destruction’

California Governor Gavin Newsom called the semi-automatic rifle used by the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooter a “goddamn weapon of mass destruction,” in a statement Monday.

Newsom’s profanity-laden rant at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center was spurred by the events of the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting, which left three dead and 11 injured. The weapon the shooter used was allegedly outlawed by California’s assault weapons prohibition, but the shooter was easily able to get one in neighboring state Nevada, a report from the LA Times details.

“You can’t put borders up, speaking of borders, to a neighboring state where you can buy this damn stuff legally,” he said Monday, “How in the hell is that possible? I have no problem with the 2nd Amendment, you have a right to bear arms but not weapons of goddamned mass destruction.”

Weapons of mass destruction fall into three categories: biological, chemical and nuclear. It doesn’t appear that semi-automatic rifles are slated for their own category of WMD.

Newsom also aimed attacks at the National Rifle Association.

“And we could only do it for our state. We have to fight in the courts and fight these organized National Rifle Association, but then you have an entire party it seems, completely bankrupt, no capacity,” Newsom said, “And don’t claim to be compassionate if you’re participating complicitly in the world you’re living in. Society becomes how we behave. The lack of resolve, it’s just an outrage.”

Newsom also adds that “California is doing its part,” but the Whitehouse stands as a supposed obstacle, according to an LA Times report.

“California’s doing its part, but Jesus, these guys, the folks in the White House have been supporting the kinds of policies that roll back the work that we’re doing in states like ours to get rid of large-capacity magazines, to address the issues that we’re trying to advance on background checks,” he said.

However, California is home to two of the most violent cities in the U.S. — Stockton (no. 10) and San Bernardino (no. 15), according to 2019 USA Today rankings.