Standing up to high-level politicians that have the benefit of the Bully Pulpit isn’t always a popular move, but kudos to the California State Sheriffs Association, because that’s exactly what they have done in coming out in opposition to Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 63.
Not only has their statewide organization taken an official position of “oppose”, but many individual sherif
Sniff stated “…many proposed firearms control bills are very poorly thought out, hastily drafted without appropriate expert input, and incorrectly proffered to the public as ‘making things safer’ in our communities.
“In some cases, these proposed bills actually make our communities less safe, and remove inherent rights of our citizens to self-defense, or worse, allow only the wealthy, elite or the well-off to protect themselves,” said Sniff, who was elected sheriff in 2007.
He a
Sheriff McMahon then made it abundantly clear that additional gun control is not the most effective means to prevent gun violence.
“I generally oppose any legislation that puts any more restrictions or control on citizens having an ability to possess firearms,” said McMahon, who has been sheriff since 2012. “We still have people running around with guns that aren’t supposed to have them.”
Indeed. Those of us who are able to use both sides of our brain know that going after one, larger subsection of society (law abiding) to cure the wrongs of another (law breakers) will never work. That said, Newsom has treated law enforcement as if they were an annoying fly – dismissing their concerns with a glib wave of his hand.
GOC, however, believes having law enforcement reiterate our fact-driven, Constitutional narrative is critical to defeating the regressive nature of gun control. We are grateful for their efforts in opposition to Proposition 63.