Email response Sac County Sheriff

I recently sent an email to the two leading candidates for Sacramento County Sheriff.  The same letter (see other post for a copy) was sent to Scott Jones and to Jim Cooper.  Within 24 hours I had received a response back from Scott Jones that, if not personally written, was a direct response to my questions.  As of today I have not received any response at all from Jim Cooper.

 

Here is a copy/paste of the response sent by Scott Jones (italics added).

 

dennis,

 

i have always been a big believer in the second amendment/right to carry.  i do believe that 'personal safety' is a sufficient justification for issuance of a CCW, absent any compelling reasons to the contrary.  Such reasons would have to be compelling, but would include a history of violence, or a history of alcohol or drug abuse (for which they may not otherwise be legally prohibited from a CCW).

 

As Sheriff McGinness' chief of staff, i have overseen the CCW committee carry out the will of this sheriff's criteria, so i can say with certainty that i will increase the percentage of permits that will be issued.

 

I hope this satisfies your concerns.  Thank you for your interest in this race.

 

Scott Jones

I don't know if the response from one candidate and the apparent lack of response from the other is meaningful in the long run.  However, since I do not know either one personally, and can only glean information from whatever sources I can find it does make me wonder.  The very idea of a Sheriff should be response to the public.

It also makes me wonder if perhaps the answers to my questions may not have been to my liking, and therefore better not answered?  Unfortunately I won't know Mr. Cooper's belief in the right to self protection until/if he gets elected.  At this point I am not willing to take that chance and will be voting for Mr. Jones.

questions to Candidates for Sac County Sheriff

Dear Mr. Jones;

As a citizen living in Sacramento County the choice for Sacramento County Sheriff is very important to me and my family.  Having spent over 10 years working
in an Emergency Department as a Registered Nurse I have seen the effects violence has on a community. 

Since it is a fact that the Sheriff's Deputies cannot truly protect us (that is not meant as a reflection on the Officers, but simple reality in our world at this time) the
overriding concern I have is how I can keep my family and myself, safe.  Certainly it is obvious that my main question has to do with the 2nd Amendment, and
more specifically how it is interpreted by our Sheriff.  That being said what is your feelings on law abiding citizens being allowed to carry a concealed weapon?

Since Florida first opened the floodgates on concealed carry the anti-gun folks have not seen any of their dire predicitions come to pass.  There is a large and
growing pile of statistics and evidence that not only does concealed carry not increase crime but does just the opposite.  While the number of Deputies and
services are hamstrung by the economy we are each charged with our own self protection and protection of our families.

This brings me to the questions I hope you will answer.

1.  What are your feelings on citizens right to carry?

2.  Will you make Sacramento County a "shall issue" county, as several surrounding counties already are?

Thank you for your responses. 

Dennis Peek RN 

HOME INVASION

HOME INVASION

Not many crimes are as frightening, as dangerous, as violent or as devastating as a home invasion can be.  Throughout the ages there has always been the "home is my castle" doctrine.  We have the right to feel safe and secure in our home.  Most states provide castle doctrine wording in their laws.
When someone breaks into our home we have no way of knowing what they are there for.  It may be a drunk man who was so drunk he thought he was in his own home.  It could be a hungry, homeless man just looking for food to feed his family and himself.  On the other hand it could be a hard core drug addict who is in desperate need of a fix and will do anything to get the money to buy the drugs.  It could just as easily be a gang looking to steal anything they can find, and in the process are looking for a little fun and excitement which they get from beating or killing the father/husband while the wife or daughter is being  raped, beaten and maybe killed by these sick and dangerous people.  
Now there are people, elected officials, even some law enforcement officers who are wanting to tell us that these home invasions are ok.  Most, they say, are really just people trying to survive, trying to feed their family, with no desire to cause the homeowners any harm.  Surely, they say,  we can share some bread, some food with them.  They are basically good, hardworking people who are trying to get ahead and make a better life.  
Not only do they want to let these folks continue with their ways they want to give all those who committed these home invasions previously, amnesty.  Of course they are not able to tell which of these people were only looking for food and which of them were looking to rob, steal, rape and murder.  But, heck they have been doing it and those that have gotten caught were usually sent back to their own homes as a punishment, but there is nothing to keep them from returning to your house, or my house or the houses of friends or family.
I hope this sounds as stupid as to you as it does to me.  But this is exactly what is happening at our borders.  This is what states like Arizona are trying to prevent.  This is our home.  Those that come into our home aka country are doing a home invasion.  When you consider that there is something between 15 million and 20 million illegal aliens in our home it becomes a huge problem.  
I do not care why they are here.  I don't care that they are just looking for a better life than they can find on their own country.  Harsh, yes.  But reasonable, sensible, and defensable.  Illegally entering our country, receiving money and services paid for by those who are here legally, does not raise their lives up, it lowers the standards in ours.  
Face the facts.  These millions and millions of people here illegaly are criminals.  They have broken into our home.  They are stealing our food, taking our money, and yes there are a great many that are also taking lives, raping and killing us in our home.  
We MUST forget the stupidity of amnesty.  Those that are caught here illegally need to be identified and identifiable later.  Fingerprints, photographs, DNA samples on EVERY illegal alien arrested.  They should then be bussed to the border and sent on their way home.  Those caught here illegally again should be incarcerated for 6 months and put to work to pay for the costs the American people incur because of their illegal entrance into the United States.  Males can do physical labor or possibly work in their trade if they are qualified.  Females can also pay their keep with domestic labor, child care services for those who have children.  Those that are caught in the commission of a crime need to serve out their full sentence and then deported.  Penalties should increase significantly each time someone is caught illegally in the country.  We MUST make the cost of coming here illegally too high for them to want to keep trying.  
There should also be a penalty after a first arrest and deportation that from then on the person will never be granted legal entry to the country.  Even if they
can get the legal documents they must be refused.  Again the cost of coming here illegally must be too high to pay.
Will this stop all the illegal immigration?  No but it will begin putting a cap on it.  All talk of amnesty needs to be stopped.  If amnesty was given to those already here, illegally, where does it end?  If another million come across in the next 5 years do we given them amnesty?  Any politicians who takes a stand for amnesty needs to be voted out of office.  Our country cannot afford to keep allowing the illegal aliens to break in to our home, steal our food and money and not be responsible for their actions.  


N

California AB 1934

Dear Assembly Member;

I wish to state my strongest disagreement over AB1934.  California is Quickly leading the way into total financial collapse, which is guaranteed to bring an increase in crime in our area. 

Instead of following the very positive improvements in crime rates from assaults, rapes and homicides by the population is significantly who is allowed (really allowed?  A state is “allowing” a man his right to the Bill of Rights?) to protect himself, his family or other innocent bystanders is showing a very obvious and powerful ability to protect himself by exercising his right to keep and bear arms.  The crime rates in those approximately 38 states with “Shall Issue” permits is undeniable proof that a person being legally armed is a major deterrence to those wishing to commit crimes or violence.

In case You may have forgotten about the Second Amendment here are a few quotes from those that actually put their quill to paper.

"I ask Sir, what is the militia?  Is is the whole people...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them".

George Mason during Virginia's ratification convention 1788

Congress has no power to disarm the miltia.  their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier are the birth-right of an American...the unlimited   power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the    people.
Trench Coxe, Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb, 20, 1788

"firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself.  they are the american peoples liberty teeth and keystone under independence.
George Washington.

laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants;, they serverather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.
Thomas Jefferson quoting 18th century criminologist cesare beccaria in  "on crimes and punishment."

Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property.  horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.
thomas paine "Thoughts on defensive ware 1775"

Thank You for your time,

Dennis

Sacramento, CA 95826

Fear Factor

FEAR FACTOR

I must be extremely scary and intimidating to the members of Congress, our President, the state legislature and even the Sheriff of Sacramento County. I wish I knew what it was that scared them so much. Lets see, I’m not physically intimidating, I’m short, overweight, wear glasses and have a limp when I walk. None of those seem particularly frightening. So why do I say they are scared of me?

They are acting scared because they, in their wisdom, feel I would be a danger to society if I was given my constitutionally guaranteed rights. Starting with the Second Amendment. How do I know they are afraid of me? Its simple and basic commonsense. They feel I would be a danger to society if I was able to follow the Bill of Rights and bear arms. I have yet to figure out the reason that scares them though.

Maybe if I were a hardened criminal with a lifetime of violent crimes, making innocent citizens the victims of my behavior I could understand it. If I were then I would understand them denying me a concealed weapons permit. Oh, but wait a moment, if I was a criminal I would never apply for a permit. The very fact of being a criminal means that one does not obey the laws and they certainly do not want to deal with law enforcement.

Maybe there are other reasons, other parts of me and my life that would make me a threat to society. Maybe my profession? I don’t see how that can make me a threat. I have been a Registered Nurse for almost 20 years. In that time I have been in charge of the very lives of my patients. I have been the connection between the patient and the Doctor. Doctors treat diseases, while the nurses treat the patients. I have given pts therapeutic medications that if a mistake was made could cause death to the patient. In fact I have given most of the drugs that are used during an execution by lethal injection. However, after years of practice as an RN I never once killed anyone. Did patients die? Yes, that is a fact of life. I have sat and held the hand of a dying patient who was alone in their last few minutes and needed the touch of another human to ease their passage. I have taken care of the victims and the criminals, sadly though there always seem to be more victims then there are criminals.

Still searching for the elusive reason for them to fear me. For the life of me I can’t find any reason that they should be afraid of me and my belief in the Bill of Rights. I have shown over and over that I am not a danger and in fact have proven myself a preserver of life. Now I just seek the chance to be able to preserve my own life, the life of my family, the life of innocent victims preyed upon by the very criminals that will never seek to get a permit to carry a weapon. People that will laugh at the stupidity of that line of thought, the criminals that laugh at people like Nancy Pelosi and Dianne Feinstein who want to disarm all the law abiding public and leave them defenseless. Meanwhile the more disarmed the public becomes the larger of a feeding frenzy by the criminals that know that by every little step on the Second Amendment it makes their job easier, less dangerous and more lucrative. They KNOW that a disarmed public is a weak public.

So far they are only after the Second Amendment (although they have proven to be fully capable of destroying other Amendments such as the Tenth). Have no doubt though that if they succeed in destroying the Second Amendment the First will go quickly after, for without the Second Amendment there is really nothing protecting any of the others.

FEAR THE GOVERNMENT THAT FEARS YOUR GUNS

Without a doubt the best way to enslave a people is by taking their guns. 

taking a stand

For much of my life I kept my political beliefs to myself, with the exception of a few friends and family that had to listen to my diatribes. Afraid of what others might think of my beliefs, afraid of what they would think of me, how it would make me look. Recently I have come to understand I cannot do that. I won't do that anymore. I don't have radical views, I believe in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We have to hear those political figures that are supposed to speak for us, when they speak in whatever way will be the most beneficial to themselves.


I can see that we are being turned into sheep just waiting for the wolves to pick us off one by one. Being a victim is not part of my psyche. Being a sheepdog and not a sheep is what I am, who I am and who I have always been. Unfortunately the government is trying to remove the teeth of the guardians. While at the same time they make the sheep look even more tasty and helpless. The wolves work in packs, they have sharp, numerous teeth. They had been told that teeth were no longer allowed but they are wolves, they do not care what the powers that be tell them. They laugh because they know that even if they are caught, that the penalties for killing and feasting on sheep are so weak that they hold no fear for them.

People need to get a grasp on the situation we are facing. Criminals have guns. They do not go to gun shows to buy them, they don't go to the local gun shop to buy them, they steal them, they buy them on the street. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT GUN LAWS BECAUSE THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT ANY LAWS, THAT IS WHY THEY ARE CRIMINALS. What part of that can the anti-gun people not understand. I don't care if you like guns, hate guns or don't care either way. When a criminal has a knife or gun to your throat, or is raping your daughter I think you would be willing to have one in your hands. If not then I pity you and even more, your family. It only takes ONE incident to change someones mind, the one time they or their family are the victim of a criminal that wants to take what is yours, your car, your TV are the obvious things that they can take, but how about your families innocence, their right to feel safe in their home, or most importantly your life. I, for one, am not willing to give up those things just because some politician who has paid bodyguards decide that the second amendment does not apply to me.

Arnold, the Second Amendment and SB962

Can you hear the bugle in the background?  Playing Taps?  The mournful sound that often signals the loss of someone or something very important!  Those of us that believe in the Bill of Rights which, contrary to some public opinion the Second Amendment is actually one of them, are slowly losing them in the backward state of California.

We want to let criminals out of jail early, the rights of the victims are being stomped on daily and now the Governor has decided that registering ammunition is a good idea.  No matter that the US Congress got rid of similar laws because they were totally ineffective.  In a state that cannot balance its budget, nor indeed even set a budget by the time set by STATE LAW, the find it a good idea to add paperwork and red tape because you want to buy ammunition for your already registered firearms.

Can you believe this crap?  This bill requires individuals purchasing ammunition be fingerprinted and registered at the time of sale, mandates that dealers keep these records and make them available for inspection by the California Department of Justice.  Ammunition retailers would also have to store ammunition in such a manner that it would be inaccessible to purchasers.  Finally, mail order ammunition sales are prohibited under AB962.

Let me say that again.  The dealer must fingerprint the purchaser and then the purchase must be registered and made available to the DOJ.  


The word often overlooked in the Second Amendment is "infringed".  The dictionary defines infringed as To transgress or exceed the limits of; violate".  It certainly seems this is an infringement to me.

Here is a copy of the letter I wrote to Arnold.

I wanted to voice my opinion and one that is shared with many people I know. The signing of SB962 is very concerning and upsetting to me. The United States Congress abolished similar legislation because it found it did nothing to help to prevent or solve crimes. And if it does not do either of those two things all it can do is add more paperwork and the registering of owners of firearms.

The simple fact is, and is a very common sense thought is that those that are criminals will not obey the law and those that are not criminals should not be singled out in this way.

I understand that there is a great deal of argument about what rights the second amendment gives the citizens of the USA. There is also much disagreement about how the second amendment relates to specific states. It is funny though that is not a question on the other entries in the Bill of Rights. Can you imagine the outcry if we were told that in order to say or write something for public consumption we would have to get fingerprinted and have it monitored by the Department of Justice?

The laws on the books in this state concerning firearms and the right to keep and bear them are already far past the state of being infringed. What goes next? How about our fourth amendment rights? Or are these rights that are supposedly guaranteed by our forefathers and all the men and women who have fought and died for those rights only a suggestion that can be taken or ignored by the states.

I have lived all my life in California. Unfortunately with the erosion of our rights, not to mention such things as the taxes, are making me look to other states as my home. As a Registered Nurse (by the way groups like California Nursing Association do not speak for all nurses or other medical professionals) I am able to work anywhere in the Country. I hate to give up the state I grew up in believed in but the rights of the criminals has become more important than the rights of the citizens and victims and with the signing of SB962 there is a further denial of our rights and it may have been the last straw for myself and family.

Thank You for your time,

Dennis Peek RN

Please write to our Governor and voice your displeasure respectfully and remember to vote for freedoms and rights that we are guaranteed (supposedly) when the time to vote comes around.

http://gov.ca.gov/interact

Thank You for reading and please feel free to comment.