A two-to-two stalemate at the San Diego County Board of Supervisors today has once again obstructed the County’s ability to advance a gun violence reduction policy. Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond voted against a resolution introduced by Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer for the County to support Governor Gavin Newsom’s Right to Safety Amendment calling for a Constitutional Convention.  

“It is the second time in three months that Supervisors Desmond and Anderson voted against common sense actions to reduce gun violence,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer, Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors “It is ridiculous to think that two parents cannot support efforts that would help protect children, their families and make our neighborhoods safer. 

“Passing this resolution would have given our residents comfort in knowing we are supportive of the Constitution’s Second Amendment,” Supervisor Lawson-Remer continued. “It would have also given them the confidence of knowing their elected Supervisors believe in common sense gun safety regulations and that we all want to protect them from the harms of gun violence, and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. 

“It is a sad day for Democracy that two of my colleagues put party politics over what is right and just for  people’s safety.” 

In July, the same two Republican Supervisors rejected a simple report back on gun violence reduction efforts, including an education program requested by San Diegans to be a part of policies previously approved by the County Board of Supervisors.  

The deadlock means the policy will continue to come back to the Board of Supervisors for a vote at each meeting, unless the author requests it be removed from the agenda. Read the policy and resolution.  

The Right to Safety Amendment Supervisor Lawson-Remer was asking her colleagues to support preserves the 2nd Amendment and seeks to: 

• Raise the minimum age to buy a gun from 18 to 21
• Mandate universal background checks
• Institute a waiting period for all gun purchases
• Ban the sale of assault weapons and other weapons of war to civilians

California has officially requested a Constitutional Convention on gun safety after the Assembly approved Senate Joint Resolution 7 authored by Senator Aisha Wahab and Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (Sept. 15, 2023). Congress must call a convention for proposing amendments upon application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states (i.e., 34 of 50 states).

Supervisor Lawson-Remer who hosted a Gun Violence Reduction Summit in September, has previously listened to gun violence prevention advocates about their concerns and ideas; and worked with the community to take action by making ghost guns illegal in San Diego County, training County social workers to know the signs of potential gun violence in a home, requiring all firearms in unincorporated areas to be safely stored with a  trigger lock, or using a container, and authorizing the County law department to join and pursue lawsuits against gun manufacturers.