Gov.
Jerry Brown vetoed a bill Friday that would have imposed the nation's
toughest restrictions on gun ownership, saying it was too far-reaching.
The
legislation would have banned future sales of most semi-automatic
rifles that accept detachable magazines, part of a firearms package
approved by state lawmakers in response to mass shootings in other
states.
It was lawmakers' latest attempt to close loopholes that
have allowed manufacturers to work around previous assault weapon bans.
Gun rights groups had threatened to sue if the semi-automatic weapons
ban became law.
"I don't believe that this bill's blanket ban on
semi-automatic rifles would reduce criminal activity or enhance public
safety enough to warrant this infringement on gun owners' rights," the
Democratic governor wrote in his veto message.
