Santee man leads coalition advocating gun rights, opposing Prop. 63

Santee resident Michael Schwartz feels strongly about protecting Second Amendment rights for gun owners. So strongly that he recently quit his job in financial services and is now serving as executive director of San Diego County Gun Owners, a political action committee.

Santee resident Michael Schwartz feels strongly about protecting Second Amendment rights for gun owners. So strongly that he recently quit his job in financial services and is now serving as executive director of San Diego County Gun Owners, a political action committee.

Schwartz recently hosted a press conference at the San Diego County Administration Building to announce that SDCGO has formed a coalition to oppose Proposition 63, backed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democratic candidate for governor in 2018. If passed, the November ballot measure, billed as the Safety for All Initiative by supporters, would tighten California’s gun control laws by requiring background checks to buy ammunition, outlaw possession of normal capacity ammunition magazines and require people to report their gun stolen in a timely manner.

“Turning law-abiding citizens into criminals over overreaching laws is exactly the goal of Gavin Newsom’s proposition,” said Schwartz. “Laws were intended to preserve and protect our rights and punish criminals. Laws were never intended to turn the law-abiding into criminals. Making mothers and fathers, friends, neighbors and coworkers, loved ones and leaders into criminals because of their sport, their hobby, their means to protect their self and their family will not lower crime. It never has and never will.”

Other speakers at the press conference included 75th District State Assemblywoman Marie Waldron (R-Escondido), 76th District State Assemblyman Rocky Chavez and KOGO News Radio 600-AM talk show host and former San Diego City Council Member Carl DeMaio.

Local city council members who attended the press conference included Kristine Alessio of La Mesa and Rob McNelis of Santee. Also attending were member of several community groups, including San Diego County Republican Party, Log Cabin Republicans, Republican Liberty Caucus and Freedom Fighters Foundation.

“The Second Amendment is not only about the right to bear arms, but our basic and fundamental right to self defense,” said DeMaio. “The extremists backing Prop. 63 have no right to limit our basic right to self defense, to protect ourselves, our families and our property. No matter how many times politicians pass laws to take away the right of law abiding individuals to self defense, we know that criminals will still break those same laws and commit crimes.”

Schwartz said SDCGO also is opposing recent legislation signed into law by Gov. Brown. These new laws include: Senate Bill 1446 that will prohibit the possession of normal capacity gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds beginning July 2017; Assembly Bill 1511 makes it a crime to loan a firearm to a non-family member unless you are doing so in person; Assembly Bill 1135 and Senate Bill 880, both identical bills, expands the definition of an assault weapon to include bullet buttons; Senate Bill 1235 that bans online ammunition purchases in the state.

Founded in 2015, San Diego County Gun Owners is a registered political action committee (FPPC #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. 

For more information, visit www.sandiegocountygunowers.com.