“California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday signed a bill into law that allows private citizens to bring civil action against anyone who manufactures, distributes, transports or imports assault weapons or ghost guns, which are banned in the state,” CNN reports.

In the latest addition to videos of GOP lawmakers grandstanding with guns, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) dared the Biden administration to take away his two assault rifles — one of which was aimed at his own foot.

Daily Beast: “Social media users reacted to Jackson’s show of force with both dismay and amusement, with some pointing out the dangerous way he was holding his rifles, at least one of which appeared to be loaded.”

“The most exhaustive report yet on the May 24 mass shooting inside a Uvalde, Tex., elementary school spread blame across every law enforcement agency responding to the attack, faulting local police for mistakes and more experienced agencies for failing to take charge,” the Washington Post reports.

“Nearly 400 local, state and federal law enforcement officers were at the scene that day, including 91 state troopers — none of whom took the initiative to lead the response.”

Texas Tribune: “The 77-page report provides a damning portrayal of a family unable to recognize warning signs, a school district that had strayed from strict adherence to its safety plan and a police response that disregarded its own active-shooter training.”

The Austin American Statesman has disturbing video of the police response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

“The video tells in real time the brutal story of how heavily armed officers failed to immediately launch a cohesive and aggressive response to stop the shooter and save more children if possible.”

An example: “At 12:30, an officer inside the school wearing a helmet and ballistic vest pauses to squirt hand sanitizer from a wall-mounted dispenser and rubs his hands together.”

A new Pew Research poll finds 64% of U.S. adults approve of the new gun law, including 32% who strongly approve. Just 21% say they disapprove of the law, including 11% who strongly disapprove; 15% are not sure.

“Despite broad support for the new law, however, most Americans are not optimistic it will do much to reduce gun violence in the country: 78% think the new gun law will do a little (42%) or nothing at all (36%) to reduce gun violence. Only 7% say the bill will do a lot, while 14% say they are not sure.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) questioned whether the July 4th shooting in Highland Park, Illinois was “designed” to get Republicans to support gun restrictions, NBC News reports.

Said Greene: “Here’s what I have to say. I mean. Two shootings on July 4: one in a rich white neighborhood and the other at a fireworks display. It almost sounds like it’s designed to persuade Republicans to go along with more gun control. I mean, after all, we didn’t see that happen at all the pride parades in the month of June.”

“There were over 1 million opportunities for someone to buy a gun from a licensed dealer without a completed background check in 2020 and 2021,“ NBC News reports.

“In all, 1,002,274 background checks — or 4.2 percent — took longer than three business days in 2020 and 2021, a higher share than any other period since at least 2014… After the third business day, federal law allows dealers to sell weapons while the background check is still pending, which potentially puts weapons in the hands of people who can’t legally own a gun because of mental illness or their criminal history.”

Mona Charen: “Massacres at supermarkets, churches, classrooms, shopping malls, and good God, July Fourth parades are not like other violence. They shatter our sense of safety. They destroy our sense of normal life. Who among us has not wondered whether we might fall victim to this madness at a ball game or a concert? This epidemic of mass random shootings is not like gang killings in cities. It’s like terrorism. It invades the normal, peaceful world—the places in which we must feel secure.”

“You need police. You need parents for sure…. But you know, you may need an exorcist, too. Before your audience shakes its head on that, if you look at these boys, these men, these young men, they have deeply spiritual problems.”

— Former Education Secretary Bill Bennett, explaining to Fox News about how to stop mass shootings.

“Gun violence spiked over Fourth of July weekend, with shootings reported in nearly every U.S. state that killed a total of at least 220 people and wounded close to 570 others,” CBS News reports.

“There were only five states where one or more shootings were not reported.”

Stephen Collinson: Why the horror from weapons used in mass killings won’t lead to them being banned.

“I’m confident that the bill we passed a week and a half ago is going to save lives. It will make a difference. But it is only the beginning. Today is a reminder of how much more work that we have to do. We have now broken the back of the gun lobby. We now have made possible changes in our gun laws that can keep our communities safer. Today is a reminder that we still have a long road to travel.”

— Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), quoted by Politico, in response to the July 4th mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois that left six dead and dozens injured.

Hours after a gunman opened fire during an Independence Day parade in a Chicago suburb, Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey (R) called for people to “move on and… celebrate,” Vice News reports.

Bailey has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

“At least six people were dead, 31 were hospitalized and a gunman was at large Monday afternoon after shooting Fourth of July paradegoers from a roof in this Chicago suburb,” the Washington Post reports.

“Video from the scene appeared to show blood pooled on the sidewalk and police talking to people in downtown Highland Park. Others showed the chaos while loud bangs could be heard on the downtown street where chairs, toys and blankets were strewn.”

“The repeal of Indiana’s requirement for a permit to carry a handgun in public has forced police agencies to change how they handle encounters with armed people,” the AP reports.

“Without the permit requirement, police officers can no longer ask whether someone is legally carrying a handgun or seize a person’s weapon unless they have adequate suspicion that person was involved in a crime.”