California Sheriffs Unite in Opposition to Gavin Newsom’s Gun Control

This week, California sheriffs united and announced their opposition to the gun controls Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to place on the November ballot.

Newsom’s proposals include limiting every gun owner to owning ammunition magazines with a maximum capacity of ten rounds–the same capacity Elliot Rodger used for his May 2014 Santa Barbara attacks–and to forcing ammunition purchasers to undergo background checks similar to those required when purchasing a gun.

According to The Sacramento Bee, California sheriffs argue that these proposals will do nothing to “prevent criminals from obtaining guns and ammunition via the black market or theft,” but they will make it harder for law-abiding citizens to own the guns and ammunition they need for self-defense.

Alameda County Sheriff Gregory J. Ahern said, “The focus of efforts to reduce gun violence in this state should be on those responsible for that violence, not those that have no intent to do harm.” And Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan observed, “Effectively, this measure will create a new class of criminals out of those that already comply with common sense practices that now exist.”

The sheriffs’ opposition to Newsom’s gun control proposals bolsters the California Rifle & Pistol Association’s (CRPA) Coalition for Civil Liberties Campaign, which was launched in February to oppose Newsom’s push. The Los Angeles Times reported that the CRPA’s coalition includes other gun rights groups, as well as “diverse” supporters like Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Michele Hanisee and technology executive Chris Cheng. All believe Newsom is exploiting the December 2 San Bernardino terror attacks to push more gun control onto the backs of law-abiding citizens.

Such concerns have merit. Although Newsom originally launched his ballot initiative in October, two months before the San Bernardino terror attack occurred, he sent an email days after the attack, effectively co-opting it as justification for the gun control push. In that email, Newsom said, “Because the devastating violence, the mass shootings–none of it will end until we stand up to the NRA and pass gun safety reform for our communities.”

AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.