Laphonza Butler
Maryland resident Laphonza Butler is sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris as the junior Senator from California. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is ensuring that his gun control agenda is in safe hands with the appointment of Laphonza Butler to serve in the U.S. Senate following the passing of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Sen. Butler was sworn in this week, a Democrat who until the announcement was residing in Silver Springs, Md., and has spoken little on gun control issues. However, her progressive track record and history of working for liberal causes assures that she will pick up the gun control mantle.

Sen. Feinstein was the longest-serving female senator at the time of her death on Sept. 29. She was also the matriarch of the Senate’s gun control agenda. She helped author the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban that was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. That law lasted 10 years and was not reauthorized in 2004. Since then, Sen. Feinstein introduced legislation in every Congress to revive the ban on America’s most-popular selling centerfire rifle. In fact, if she had it her way, gun control would have gone much further.

Sen. Feinstein told 60 Minutes in a 1995 interview, “If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban picking up every one of them, Mr. and Mrs. America, turn them all in,” she said. “I would have done it. I could not do that. The votes weren’t here.”

Sen. Bulter’s selection to fill the remainder of Sen. Feinstein’s term promises that not much will change. Sen. Butler is deeply tied to gun control politicians and causes that will surely seek to expand efforts to deprive law-abiding Americans of their Second Amendment rights.

Who is Laphonza Butler?

Gov. Newsom heaped praise on Sen. Butler for shattering glass ceilings in the Senate. He noted that she is the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the Senate, first Black lesbian to openly serve in Congress and third Black woman to represent California in the Senate following Vice President Kamala Harris.

He also noted that Butler will pick up where Sen. Feinstein left off with gun control.

Gavin Newsom angry
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

“As we mourn the enormous loss of Senator Feinstein, the very freedoms she fought for — reproductive freedom, equal protection, and safety from gun violence — have never been under greater assault,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement. “Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, continue to break glass ceilings, and fight for all Californians in Washington D.C.”

Sen. Butler grew up in Magnolia, Miss., and attended Jackson State University. Her father died when she was just 16. She worked in the labor movement for 20 years and at 30, was elected president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015. She was also SEIU international vice president and president of SEIU California’s state council.

Sen. Butler also ran political campaigns and was part of Vice President Harris’ campaign for the vice presidency. She was previously a senior advisor to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. She has been president of Emily’s List, a national political action committee dedicated to electing abortion rights-supportive women candidates to office.

Political Pals

While little in her personal or professional career points to gun control, the list of supporters lining up to congratulate her is telling.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered her endorsement, saying, “A great choice for California and the Senate. Congratulations Laphonza Butler!”

That was echoed by twice-failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, as well as former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile, the Democratic National Committee, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and California Democratic U.S. Reps. Ted Lieu, Jimmy Gomez, Ami Berra, Ro Khanna, Sara Jacobs, Mark Takano, Brad Sherman, Gloria Johnson, Nanette Barragán and California Attorney General Rob Bonta. All are ardent gun control supporters.

Even Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) offered congratulations, despite the fact that he’s thrown his hat into the ring for the seat she’s filling until 2024. He’s facing a crowded Democratic field including California Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee and Katie Porter – and Sen. Butler if she decides to compete for election.

Gaga for Gun Control

It’s not just gun control politicians that are gleeful at Gov. Newsom’s appointment of Sen. Butler to fill the Senate seat. It’s also gun control groups too.

President of Everytown for Gun Safety’s (and its mouthpiece The Trace) John Feinblatt, the gun control group bankrolled by antigun billionaire Michael Bloomberg, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Laphonza Butler is an advocate’s advocate and we’re thrilled with her history-making appointment to the Senate. We look forward to working alongside her to keep communities safe from gun violence.”

The Everytown-affiliated Moms Demand Action got in on the action too. Executive Director Angela Ferrell-Zabala wrote on X, “Laphonza Butler is an incredible leader and a fierce advocate for women and girls. I’m thrilled to watch her make history as the first Black lesbian senator to openly serve in Congress. Moms Demand can’t wait to work with her to continue California’s leadership on gun safety!”

Gov. Newsom’s appointment of Sen. Butler is a calculated move to ensure his gun control agenda – including his much maligned 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – is preserved. This is his attempt to export California gun control to the rest of the country and potentially pave the way for his own White House bid.

 

Larry Keane is SVP for Government and Public Affairs, Assistant Secretary and General Counsel of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

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52 COMMENTS

  1. So, Ms Butler will be allowed to wear the shoes of a privileged white woman – if she stays on the plantation. Should we call her Aunt Tom?

  4. “California’s New Senator Laphonza Butler Will Carry On Dianne Feinstein’s Anti-Gun Legacy”

    No shit…

  6. Here is an excerpt from John Fetterman’s congratulatory note:
    Deer Msz. Flabibbery, coongrapulatetteds om yoerresent supoint. ense to contisuate the leggings of mZ. finewine to end .

    • Stooping to the lib’s level ?
      I myself feel sorry for Senator Shortbus Fetterman, as it can’t be easy for a five year old’s brain trapped in an adult man’s body.

      • And here’s an excerpt from Ms. Butler’s thank you to Gov. Nuisance:
        Dear Gav(e)in,
        Thank you for my recent appoint to replace the great Senator Feinstien, and even though I am not a resident of your state, I will do my best to finish destroying it with your assistance. I will not forget the favor granted me, and you will be among my top choices for V. P. or a cabinet post when I get ” elected ” to the Presidency.
        Your forever nightmare,
        Phonz

  9. I she had not been anti-gun, she would not have even gotten an interview. That she ticked all the other “right” boxes, she was a shoe-in. Howver, the shortness of her term suggests she will have little impact other than her vote and the fact that she maintains a Democratic Party majority.

  11. She’s an “advocate’s advocate” so says mr gun grabbers tweet. What in the bejeezys does that even mean?

  12. With your cloven feet spread wide…..

    Laphonza, Laphonza, let down your hair, I want to see the horns growing there…

  14. I haz TWO questions:
    First, in WHAT STATE is she registered to vote?
    Second, in what state is her driving license issued?

    Not certain but I believe there is a requirement that any person taking a seat in the Congress must be a resident of the state to be represented by their position.

    This enquiring mind wants to know…….

    • Those cali voters are something else, this temp hire most likely has a permanent sen. seat,,, (for life),,, repeal the 17th amendment.

      • Who says our votes count anymore? Sure, San Francisco and LA may vote for this person but the rest of the state……..

  16. Article I, Section 3, Clause 3:

    No Person shall be a Senator ….. and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

    Gov Nitwit couldn’t understand the Constitution. Again.

    • “. . . when elected. . . .” She’s been appointed, not elected. She doesn’t need to be an inhabitant until she runs for election in 2024.

      Besides, in today’s world, perhaps it’s enough for to “identify” as a Californian!

  17. This anti-civil rights, man hating, racist black lesbi@n, will not get any special consideration from me.

  18. A democrat black lesbian, social-justice-racist, extreamist pro-abotion-up-to-minute-of-birth type, anti-constitutionalist ….. gee whiz, its almost like shes a token member of the democrat party.

    • “pro-abotion-up-to-minute-of-birth type”

      *pro-abortion after birth

      Northam on Abortion Bill: Infant Could Be Delivered and Then ‘Physicians and the Mother’ Could Decide If It Lives

  19. Per Wikipedia:
    “Butler was selected despite not being a resident of California, as she had moved to Maryland in 2021. The United States Constitution only requires that senators be “inhabitants” of the state that they represent. Newsom’s office said that Butler would re-register to vote in California before taking office as a senator.”

    Um, call me crazy, but I believe living in Maryland makes her an “inhabitant” of Maryland, not California, so her appointment to the Senate is in violation of the Constitution.

    • They themselves say they “think beyond the Constitution”. They themselves say they “think beyond the bill of rights.”
      It’s how the libertarians liberals and leftists think. They’re very comfortable violating the rules. They’re very comfortable, violating the law.

  21. Just what we needed another guberment employee as Clinton and Harris who eat at the Y . Spitting out pubic hairs . Nasty

  22. Another sop to the DemoSocialist LGBT community, to carry on Feinstein’s evil policies. Of course Newsom the Nerd appointed her instead of a competent White male who was born and raised in CA. Expect another round of high taxes, criminal-favoring laws, pardons for Black criminals, and anti-White legislation.
    Maryland is one of the most DemoSocialist, anti-gun states, and Black Baltimore has some of the highest rates of Black-on-Black murders. Why is that Newsom nerd bringing her out to CA when she can’t even manage her own state?

  24. Just monitor and keep control of black males between the ages of 15 and 25 and there will be more than enough gun control and saved lives than anything else you could. Being blacks I’m sure you know that.
    You can forget about controlling the guns of white males unless you find some demographic that’s as out of control as the aforementioned black group. Don’t hold your breath in thinking you’re going to start confiscating guns from any other group.

  25. Gov Nuisance didn’t waste any time! DiFi wasn’t even planted before he announced her successor.

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