SD Gun Owners: Vote `Yes’ in Recall, Don’t Focus On Candidates

By Michael Schwartz

San Diego County Gun Owners (SDCGO), a political action committee (PAC) promoting Second Amendment rights, is not endorsing a candidate in the recall election, but we are recommending a “yes” vote for removing Gov. Newsom. We are encouraging everyone to commit to show up to vote and make sure everyone you know does the same.

Don’t focus on your favorite replacement candidate. Arguing over your preferred replacement candidate won’t get Newsom out of office. Instead, the best way to support your candidate is to encourage more people to vote in the recall election. More than 2.1 million signatures from registered California voters representing all political viewpoints, both Democrats and Republicans, were collected on recall petitions. The absolute best way to support your candidate is to get more people to vote to recall Newsom.

Recall elections historically draw lower voter turnout. Because of low voter turnout, every vote will matter, so get everybody you know to cast a ballot in favor of the recall. I mean everybody, including your favorite shooting buddy, veterinarian, bartender, plumber, Uber driver, neighbor, friend, coworker, and family member. Getting people who hadn’t planned to vote to cast a ballot can actually change the calculus of the race.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is the most anti-Second Amendment governor the state has ever endured. Newsom is responsible for the success of Prop 63, which created a poorly run ammunition registration program. Newsom also signed into law SB 61, which bans adults under 21 from purchasing firearms, along with AB 879, which requires going through a firearms dealer to buy gun components, and AB 1297, which increased fees on carry permits, and AB 893, which bans gun show gatherings at the San Diego-based fairgrounds.

Not only has Newsom supported horribly restrictive gun laws, but he has been outwardly hostile towards gun owners with his rhetoric. We need someone who is inclusive when it comes to civil rights, not divisive.

We encourage everyone to vote in the recall election. The election is scheduled for Sept. 14, although ballots have already arrived in mailboxes to every registered voter. Names of more than 40 candidates, both Republicans and Democrats, will appear on a ballot that will ask voters to answer only two questions: First, should Gov. Newsom be removed? And, second, who should replace him? The second vote will count only if a majority votes “yes” on the first question.

Based on our membership size of more than 2,800 individuals, San Diego County Gun Owners is considered San Diego’s largest registered PAC as well as civil rights organization. Our diverse and inclusive membership includes representatives from the LGBTQ, Latino, African American, Asian and Pacific Islander communities. We are a registered political action committee (FPPC ID #1379388) and advocacy organization focused on organizing the gun industry and community and protecting the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms.

While every U.S. state has a Second Amendment PAC, along with several nationwide gun rights PACs, SDCGO is believed to be the America’s first, strictly local, countywide Second Amendment advocacy organization providing news and information on new gun laws and expanding, along with expanding and restoring Second Amendment rights. Our sponsored events include gun safety classes, small gun shows, sporting clay shoots, social gatherings and pistol, rifle and shotgun experiences taught by professional instructors.

Michael Schwartz is the executive director of San Diego County Gun Owners, a Second-Amendment political action committee, www.sandiegocountygunowners.com.