The Republican governor of Utah said on Friday that residents of California should stay in the Golden State rather than flee to Republican states. Governor Spencer Cox told reporters outside the White House that his state is having trouble dealing with the influx.

“We’re having the opposite problem, this last census confirmed that Utah was the fastest-growing state in the last ten years,” he said, reports Fox News.

“So our biggest problems are more growth related. We would love for people to stay in California instead of coming as refugees to Utah, so we’re always trying to figure that out.”

“We’re not working to attract more people,” Cox said. “We’re doing just fine that way. Utah was named the best state to start a business, with Texas and Florida number two and three, so we feel really good about that balance and where we are right now.” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy remarked, “We’ll take some of your folks in New Jersey.

California has seen residents flee in record numbers. California has seen people leave in droves due to high taxes, poor housing, Covid restrictions, homelessness, and issues in public education. Gun crime has been a particularly taxing issue for the state, despite its strict gun control laws.

The Daily Caller reported:

“Despite a long history of gun laws aimed at curbing gun violence in the state, 14% of U.S. mass shooting fatalities have taken place in California, making it the state with the second most mass shooting fatalities, just behind Texas, according to data reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation.”

Since 1982, there have been 23 mass shootings and 152 fatalities in California, according to Mother Jones data on mass shootings in the U.S. over the last 40 years. The database shows 1,074 mass shooting fatalities since 1982, and California, which comprises 12% of the US’ population, accounted for 14% of the fatalities – not including the three California mass shootings in January.

“Freedom? This is the price?” I suggest you listen to what California Governor Gavin Newsom has to say in the wake of mass shootings in his state. It’s emotional, heartfelt, and profound. This man will be president one day. (Video: CNN) pic.twitter.com/VI8musebE2

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) January 25, 2023

“Contrary to the claims of Newsom and his ilk, California gun laws have not given the state dramatically less mass shooting deaths. As the data shows, we have our share and then some. Newsom will usually also claim that California has less ‘gun deaths’ thanks to its gun laws,” attorney Konstadinos Moros told the Daily Caller. “In terms of overall homicide, California is unremarkable.”

The state saw its population fall by over 343,000 in 2022, which was among the highest population declines in any US state.