Guest Commentary
by Michael Schwartz
After weeks of waiting to see if Governor Jerry Brown is indeed the friend of gun owners he proclaimed to be while on the campaign trail, we now have our answer … he’s not. Gov. Brown signed into law AB144 which bans carrying loaded or unloaded pistols throughout our state. Regardless if you’re hiking in the back woods or going to Starbucks, the state of California does not recognize your right to bear arms unless you possess a concealed weapon permit.
Unfortunately for San Diego County residents, Sheriff William Gore is extremely anti-gun and is still locked in a legal battle with pro-gun groups over his refusal to issue concealed weapon permits. Sheriff Gore does not believe the right to defend oneself satisfies the “good cause” requirement that is necessary to obtain a permit. There is no “cause” of higher importance than one’s own protection, so the Sheriff’s refusal to issue a permit on these grounds is puzzling at best.
Gore is one of the very few sheriffs in California who refuses to issue a concealed weapon permit even after a citizen has gone through the proper training, passed a background check, paid the fee, and been interviewed. The new, open-carry ban coupled with the Sheriff’s position on concealed weapons makes San Diego County one of the very few places in the United States to effectively deny citizens their Second Amendment right without actually banning handguns completely.
This is yet one more reminder of California’s absolute disregard for our individual rights, liberty, safety, and freedom guaranteed in the Constitution.
The recent decision in Peruta v. Sheriff Gore did not require Gore to issue concealed weapon permits on the grounds that citizens have the option of “open carry,” which fulfills the “bear arms” portion of “the right to keep and bear arms.” The thinking of many involved in the fight for gun rights is that now that the legislature has banned “open carry” there will be an appeal based on the fact that a citizen’s only option left is to obtain a concealed weapon permit. My guess is that Sheriff Gore will fight this appeal tooth and nail, preferring to only issue concealed weapon permits to supporters and people who fit his narrow definition of “good cause.”
Gov. Brown also signed into law a bill that requires the registration of long guns, but vetoed a bill that would put onerous requirements on people buying ammunition in California and banning the sale of ammunition via the Internet.
As much damage as the Democrat Party inflicts on our liberties and freedoms when it comes to the Second Amendment, I would be remiss if I did not point out that two of the biggest infringements on our right to keep and bear arms come at the hands of Republicans; Gov. Schwarzenegger signing the semi-automatic gun ban and Sheriff Gore refusing to issue concealed weapon permits to San Diegans.
The buzz phrase years ago was “big tent,” in reference to bringing in new people and ideas to the Republican party. My hope is that our tent is never big enough to house those that would ignore such a clearly stated, important individual right.
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Mr. Schwartz is a local San Diego Second Amendment activist.
Comments 1
I watched Bill Gore claim that the other sheriffs in California were breaking the law by issuing CCW permits. You should have heard lawyers in the room laugh at that one. What amazes me is that we have CCW permit holders in San Diego county all the time. They are simply residents of other counties and other states who pass through SD county. My point being that Gore has not disarmed the county but simply disarmed the law abiding residents he swore to protect.
Beyond the previous sheriff, I want to know who supported Bill Gore so I can give them proper credit.