Gavin Newsom’s gun control initiative would require background checks for ammunition purchases. Itg is being opposed by several law enforcement organizations. (Dave Workman photo)
The California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA), the state’s largest law enforcement union, has announced its opposition to Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ammunition proposal.
The organization joins eight other law enforcement groups opposing Newsom’s latest gun control effort. Newsom, who hopes to be the next Golden State governor, has a history of support for gun control.
In an open letter to the citizens of California, CCPOA President Chuck Alexander says that the organization “vehemently opposes” Newsom’s proposal, which “lessens our ability to protect ourselves and the public.”
The announcement came as the first public hearing on Newsom’s proposal was held in Sacramento. Representatives from several law enforcement organizations were on hand to voice their opposition, while Newsom apparently chose not to attend and has not won the support of any law enforcement organizations.
[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “It’s telling that California’s law enforcement experts are overwhelmingly critical of Newsom’s proposal”–Chuck Michel, Coalition for Civil Liberties[/pullquote]
According to CCPOA, other organizations opposing Newsom’s effort are the California State Sheriffs’ Association, San Francisco Veteran Police Officer Association, California Fish and Game Wardens’ Association, California Reserve Peace Officers Association, Association of Deputy District Attorneys of Los Angeles, Law Enforcement Alliance of America, Western States Sheriffs Association and the Law Enforcement Action Network. These organizations represent thousands of law enforcement professionals.
“It’s telling that California’s law enforcement experts are overwhelmingly critical of Newsom’s proposal,” said Chuck Michel, a co-chair of the Coalition for Civil Liberties, a diverse group of Californians opposed to Newsom’s ballot initiative. “They’re the ones risking their lives every day and have a unique vantage point on what it takes to keep our streets safe. We should be listening to them, not politicians out to promote their own personal interest.”
Newsom’s measure would require background checks for all ammunition purchases and ban magazines capable of holding more than ten cartridges. The National Rifle Association has warned that it would “Turn law-abiding citizens into criminals should they fail to report lost or stolen firearms to police within a limited amount of time after they ‘should have known’ a firearm was missing.”
Several weeks ago, when the Sheriffs’ Association announced its opposition, the group’s President Martin Ryan, Amador County sheriff and PAC Chair Gregory J. Ahern, Alameda County sheriff issued a statement that was quoted by the Sacramento Bee.
“Effectively, this measure will create a new class of criminals out of those that already comply with common sense practices that now exist,” they warned. “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.”
