Sacramento, CA — In response to a federal judge striking down California’s assault rifle ban on Thursday, CFT released the following statement from President Jeff Freitas: 

“In striking down California’s 34-year-old ban on semiautomatic guns, a federal judge has put California students, teachers, and school workers in harm’s way. Thirty-four years ago Columbine had not yet happened, and the horrific assault rifle-fueled mass shootings in schools, including Sandy Hook, Parkland, and Uvalde, were more than a decade away. 

“Our students, teachers, and school staff are safer when weapons of war are not easily accessible to those who intend to commit these horrific crimes and our communities are safer with weapons of war out of reach for those who wish to act on hate. 

“This extremist judge has made our communities and schools less safe and has put students’ and workers’ lives in harm’s way with his decision to overrule what is widely considered an important and effective law.

“California’s educators and classified professionals stand with Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Bonta as they fight to appeal this out-of-touch ruling that only stands to make every Californian less safe.”

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CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals represents 120,000 teachers, faculty, and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education. It is the statewide affiliate of the AFT.