San Diego County Gun Owners, a political action committee, and #NotMeSD, a firearms program for women, comments on recent anti-Second Amendment efforts that will result in more women becoming victims of violent crimes.

Background:

  • The San Diego County Board of Supervisors’ Regional Gun Violence Community Needs Assessment, an effort that began in 2022, is concluding its request for county residents’ thoughts, experiences and perceptions related to reducing gun violence. An online public input survey closes Friday, Feb. 17th.
  • Previously, seven different in-person Listening Sessions were held in 2022 and 2023 to gain input from residents on how to reduce gun violence. According to SDCGO, the Listening Sessions focused mainly on “ghost guns” (un-serialized guns) and how to restrict firearms storage inside private homes.
  • In addition, on Feb. 1, Democrat lawmakers in Sacramento announced plans to introduce SB2, proposed legislation that would ban legal gun owners from carrying concealed guns in nearly every public space in the state.
  • SB2 would also ban anyone under age 21 from obtaining a CCW (concealed-carry weapon) permit, and would require all CCW holders to undergo more training.

Additional Background:

  • SDCGO, a local political action committee, focuses on protecting the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms and promoting Second Amendment rights at the county and city levels. Its members want the freedom to exercise and enjoy their Second Amendment rights.
  • #NotMeSD, a program offered by SDCGO, is a first-of-its-kind, non-partisan firearms movement for women that promotes self protection and prevents sexual assault and domestic violence by educating women about firearms and helping all women everywhere purchase a firearm, receive firearms training and obtain a CCW permit.
  • Since its launch in 2020, the #NotMeSD program has helped more than 700 San Diego women either purchase a firearm for the first time or receive firearms training or obtain their CCW.

Responses from Desiree Bergman, project manager for #NotMeSD:

  • “We join sane, trained, law-abiding gun owners everywhere in strong opposition to SB2 in Sacramento as well as San Diego County’s Community Needs Assessment. The politicians’ anti-Second Amendment propaganda must stop. Their efforts at excessive gun restrictions will result in increased illegal activity and make it easier for violent criminals to commit crime and make Californians less safe.”
  • “Our #NotMeSD program has a solution to stop sexual assault and end domestic violence against women. We can reduce those crimes, plus reduce gun violence, by educating women about firearms.”
  • ‘If more women knew how to use a firearm, then we believe there would be less domestic violence and fewer incidents of sexual assault because women would have another tool to protect themselves.”
  • “We are here to empower women everywhere to be their first line of defense and to promote the safety of women through concrete action. We will oppose anyone who tries to belittle, criticize and silence women who want to protect themselves.”
  • #NotMeSD is here to help mitigate the fear of firearms and empower women to take control of their own safety. Firearms are dangerous and can be scary. But, with the help of #NotMeSD, we can empower women with the knowledge, comfort and confidence to handle firearms.”
  • “Our goal is to empower women everywhere and enable them to become their own first line of defense. Becoming a gun owner can feel like a complicated and intimidating process, and we want to provide a safe space for women to ask questions of other women gun owners. That’s why we created this program for women, by women. We have open slots available and mentors are ready to help interested women become their own, best personal protector.”
  • A San Diego Police Department audit in fiscal year 2022 revealed response times were the longest they’ve been in more than a decade. While officers arrive at deadly shootings emergencies in a few minutes, response times to Priority 1 calls, a grouping that includes domestic violence and child abuse, averaged about 40 minutes.”
  • “A lot can happen in 40 minutes. #NotMeSD is doing our part to arm women with the tools they need to protect themselves. By empowering more women with firearms, fewer women are likely to fall victim to gun violence.”
  • “According to multiple government-based and academic-and-scientific studies, a gun owner will uses a firearm to either stop or prevent a violent crime between one million and three million times a year. It’s called Defensive Gun Use (DGU). #NotMeSD can replace gun violence with DGUs.”
  • “We helped a woman get the training and her CCW permit she needed to defend herself against her former husband, who was a domestic abuser and recently released from jail. This woman said that no one would help her until she found #NotMeSD. I was really happy to help her take her safety back into her own hands.”
  • “There are many ways to prevent rape and domestic violence and there are many experts from other fields, such as legal, legislative and mental health. But #NotMeSD is our area of expertise and our way to help. SDCGO is proud to do our part to champion women everywhere.”

News Media Contact:

— Desiree Bergman, #NotMeSD, (619) 888-8362

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Founded in 2015, San Diego County Gun Owners is a registered political action committee (FPPC ID #1379388) and advocacy organization focused on organizing the gun industry and protecting the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms. Based on its membership size of more than 3,500 individuals, SDCGO is considered San Diego’s largest registered PAC as well as largest local civil rights organization. SDCGO features a diverse and inclusive membership with representatives from the LGBTQ, Latino, African American, Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

While every U.S. state has a Second Amendment PAC, along with several nationwide gun rights PACs, SDCGO is believed to be the America’s first, strictly local, countywide Second Amendment advocacy organization providing news and information on new gun laws, along with expanding and restoring Second Amendment rights. SDCGO sponsored events include gun safety classes, sporting clay shoots, social gatherings, a weekly live Sunday afternoon radio show, the #NotMeSD program to help women become gun owners and pistol, rifle and shotgun experiences taught by professional instructors. For more information, visit www.sandiegocountygunowners.com.

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