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Facts Matter, But Apparently not to Cal Matters.

Cal Matters is letting the California Senate get away with tarnishing Article V! Why do they insist on being the mouthpiece for the powerful without doing their due diligence?

If you’ve paid attention to California politics, you will probably remember in 2023 when Governor Newsom pushed strongly to curtail 2nd amendment rights by using Article V of the Constitution. He was able to successfully rally support in the legislature to use their authority under Article V to call a convention that would discuss new restrictions on guns; however, two years later, Newsom is hearing crickets as California remains the only state to pass such a resolution.

In fact, the legislature is suddenly deciding to reverse course in what can only be explained as neurotic paranoia of using state power to propose amendments to the Constitution. Senator Scott Wiener, who is leading the charge to rescind all outstanding Article V applications in California, has called the process dangerous and says a convention would grant President Trump the power to trample on the rights of citizens. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Unfortunately, groups like Cal Matters are echoing this sentiment and sowing doubt and fear into its readers' minds by saying a convention would have the power to “rewrite” the Constitution. This can be seen in a recent article commenting on the progress of Sen. Wiener’s bill, which passed the Senate and is awaiting action in the Assembly. This completely belies the Framers’ intent and vision for amending our founding document.

The Founding Fathers incorporated the second mechanism in order that the people would have the opportunity, through their elected state legislatures, to take action to amend the Constitution in the event Congress declined to do so. The second mechanism provides a safety valve for the people in the event the federal government becomes too powerful, dictatorial, or tyrannical. It is not a mechanism for completely overturning our system of government.

Unfortunately, Senator Wiener and Cal Matters have missed the mark, especially with the national debt exceeding $37 trillion. It is clear that fiscal restraint on the federal government’s spending must be imposed, its power and jurisdiction must be reduced, and term limits on career politicians must be imposed.

To presume that 38 state legislatures would subsequently ratify amendments that run roughshod over the rights of this nation’s citizens has little merit.

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Created:	2025-07-02 00:20 GMT
Updated:	2025-07-02 21:00 GMT
Published:	2025-07-02 21:00 GMT
Converted:	2025-11-11 12:06 GMT
Change Author:	Scott Morgan
Credit Author:	Scott C Morgan