Assemblymember Mike Gipson: Tragic Compton Shootings Drive Home Need for Stronger Gun Control Legislation

July 14, 2026

California Assemblymember Mike Gipson is intensifying his call for enhanced gun safety legislation following a Fourth of July shooting in Compton that killed his former staff member Eric Washington and teenager Meah Bordenave-Jenkins. The tragedy occurred amid ongoing legal challenges to state gun control authority, including a recent Supreme Court decision that struck down portions of Hawaii's firearms restrictions and potentially weakened states' regulatory power. Gipson, who has personally experienced gun violence when his son was injured in 2020, is currently advancing multiple pieces of legislation focused on mental health reporting and firearm storage education.

Who is affected

Eric Washington (former California Assembly aide, killed in the shooting)
Meah Bordenave-Jenkins, 19 (University of Nevada nursing student, killed in the shooting)
Three unnamed individuals (injured in the shooting)
Assemblymember Mike Gipson (former employer of Washington)
Tina Johnson (Washington's mother)
Ebone Jenkins (Bordenave-Jenkins's mother)
Gipson's son (previously injured in a 2020 shooting)
Communities in Compton, Watts, and other California neighborhoods experiencing gun violence
California residents affected by evolving gun regulations

What action is being taken

Assemblymember Gipson is working to pass AB 2339 (Accuracy in Mental Health Reporting Act) to ensure prohibited persons are identified and reported to the California Department of Justice
Gipson is advancing AB 1943, which is designed to educate families about safe firearm storage in homes
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has established the Eric Washington Community Impact Awards in his memory

Why it matters

This shooting highlights the ongoing tension between state efforts to implement gun safety measures and federal limitations that restrict their effectiveness. The recent Supreme Court decision in Wolford v. Lopez demonstrates how legal challenges can weaken states' authority to regulate firearms, even when implementing what advocates consider common-sense protections. The personal connection to Gipson—who lost a former colleague and whose own son was previously a shooting victim—underscores how gun violence impacts families and communities across California, particularly in areas like Compton and Watts. The case illustrates the gap between state-level legislative initiatives and the lack of basic federal protections like universal background checks and age restrictions that remain stalled due to lobbying influence.

What's next

AB 2339 (Accuracy in Mental Health Reporting Act) is pending passage
AB 1943 (firearm storage education legislation) is advancing through the legislative process
Gipson continues advocating for stronger federal legislation including background checks, age limits, and red flag warnings

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint