Gun rights advocates demand to be heard at San Diego Sheriff Debate

It should be no surprise that a sheriff's candidate debate hosted by a gun store and preceded by a TEA Party event in the “friendly territory” of the East County of San Diego might draw a few gun rights advocates. It did. What was a bit of surprise was what happened when those advocates felt as though they had been skipped over in the queue for public questions. They got angry, and they let everyone know about it very quickly.

I had lined up early in the public "question line” to insure I could ask the candidates their positions on concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit issuance, which I knew was a hot button issue for my readers. It turns out that numerous individuals had secured pre-arranged cuing for asking questions, none of whom were standing in the public question line. This resulted in only two of the eight people standing in the question line for the first 1.5 hours of the two-hour debate to get their questions asked.

I was "on deck" for submitting my question to the four candidates when it became apparent, due to the announcement that there was only time for two remaining questions, that the five people behind me in line would not be getting to the microphone. I was shortly thereafter surrounded in mass by the remaining question holders and asked respectfully what my question was. I told them "CCW Permits". There was a visible collective sigh of relief and a newly shared excitement among them. They shared with me that they all had that very same question, and were happy that I was going to be able to ask it.

I waited my turn, and it appeared to be about time for me to ask the question, when the debate moderator, Rick Amato, unexpectedly called upon the Disk Jockey, a retired cop, who had been sitting behind his DJ booth, to ask “his” question. A few citizens behind me groaned in protest. I was then shortly thereafter told by Mr. Amato's assistant in a consolatory tone that I was not going to get a chance to ask my question, since the final question was reserved for the co-moderator of the event. The CCW crowd behind me, which had grown by a few additional individuals by now, overhead this. Thus begun the low murmur of discontent that, in retrospect, is a sound that can only be generated by seriously angry men.

The moderator's assistant, noting the crowd's increasing agitation behind him, whispered something to Mr. Amato, who shook his head in approval. The assistant shared with me quietly that Mr. Amato promised to forward the unanswered questions to the candidates. Fair enough I thought. When this was announced on the loud speaker by Mr. Amato, the CCW Crowd went instantly ballistic. One man shouted at the top of his lungs for all within the amphitheater to hear: "That’s not fair! We need to hear it from their mouths right now. There’s a bunch of us here who have the same question!" Another protested, "So the public doesn’t matter?”  Another young person, with an empty pistol holster on his belt, added loudly, "It's just a yes or no question, answer our question!" By this time, a shocked silence had spread throughout the entire amphitheater.  

Mr. Amato, obviously sensitive to the concerns of his fellow citizens, decided on the spot to allow me to ask my question, limiting the response time to one minute per candidate. The still uncomfortably silent crowd now waited to hear this question with baited breath, which had transformed before my eyes as the question of the “angry dissenters”.  In shock, realizing that all eyes were now upon me, I clawed through my pockets, looking for my notepad that had that critical question scribbled upon its pages. For a second, I could not find it, and a wave of embarrassment began welling up in my chest. Thankfully, I soon found it, stepped up to the microphone and asked the question: "If elected Sheriff in 2010, would you consider individual self protection as a sufficient justification for the issue of concealed weapon permits for the citizens of San Diego, including these law abiding citizens sitting in front of you today?” The entire amphitheater erupted in applause and cheers at the question, thankfully breaking the tension that had shockingly appeared like an earthquake and now thankfully subsided just as quickly. It appears this issue was on the minds of more people than I had anticipated.

           ( From left to right: James Duffy, Bill Gore, Jay LaSuer, Bruce Ruff )

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Bruce Ruff: "Yes". The Crowd was a bit shocked with this simple answer, so the applause was delayed for a few seconds.

James Duffy: “The answer is yes. There is no other reason to get a CCW permit than to protect yourself. Right now we make you make up excuses about gold bullion or something like that to protect. The really serious answer is you’re getting that permit to protect yourself, your family, your property.” A hearty round of applause followed, with a loud “Yes!” coming from one of the CCW individuals behind me.

Bill Gore: “First of all, I’m a strong believer in the 2nd Amendment myself; I learned to shoot a pistol when I was 14 years old…”at this point he is interrupted by an angry yell from the man with the empty pistol holster:”Yes or No!” Mr. Amato came to Mr. Gore’s defense: “Let him answer, let him answer”. Gore continues: “…and what everybody ignores here is the State law that sheriffs are compelled to comply with. This is a Shall Not Issue State, as opposed to a Shall Issue state. That means that you shall not issue a CCW permit unless there is cause.” Yells from the crowd interrupts him once again: “Self Defense!” Gore continues unfazed, “Other states say that you will issue unless there is cause not to. I’ve talked to the NRA about this; I said we have a business requirement now, or a professional requirement or a personal safety standard that qualifies you for a CCW. I said give me another standard beside “I want one” and I’ll be willing to examine it. I’m compelled to follow State law…” At this point, Sheriff Ruff’s last words are drowned out by angry yells from the crowd, including a reference to Ruby Ridge.

Jay LaSuer: "Short answer, Yes. Follow-up to that answer is this: the Sheriff determines what good cause is, and self-protection is good cause”. The crowd cheered and clapped heartily.

Mr. Amato then stated: "Let me ask Jay LaSuer and Bill Gore is welcome to jump in; you heard Bill Gore say that this is a Shall Not Issue State…” LaSuer replies, “No, this is a May Issue State. It’s not a Shall Issue; it is not a Shall Not Issue.” Bill Gore chimes in “I have (???) my lawyers definitely and I’m surprised that Jay spent six years in the State legislature and didn’t try and change the law.” Smiling, James Duffy interjects by invitation from Mr. Amato: “Three lawyers can’t get it right. Read the penal code section, 12025, “May Issue, the sheriff may issue a permit””. A round of applause follows. Mr. Ruff then chimes in during the applause to re-iterate that the Sheriff is the one who makes the decision, which results in additional cheers from the crowd.

  
While the co-moderator was reading the final question of the debate, I was overtaken with the realization that all challenger candidates for the position of Sheriff of San Diego County had just committed in unison to a near “Shall Issue” policy of CCW permits if they are elected.

 If seen to fruition, this would be the first time in nearly four generations of San Diegans that law-abiding citizens, free from a history of moral turpitude, would once again be trusted by their chief law enforcement officer to maintain the means to protect themselves from deadly criminals in public. Our society’s women, the disabled, and the elderly would no longer be identified by predatory criminals as “easy” targets. Wow, it’s about time.

I will be covering the remained issues discussed at the Sheriff’s debate early next week. I just wanted to share this rather exciting news with the thousands of County residents who would likely take advantage of a re-establishment of this key aspect of their 2nd Amendment rights, as well as enjoy the likely resulting reduction in violent crime in our County.