On November 13, 2018, San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob introduced a proposed ordinance to ban recreational shooting on land around Donohoe Mountain and Pink Gate. The land is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency of the US Department of the Interior. Jacob assured her colleagues that the BLM approved the ban, even though a BLM representative was not present at any of the Board of Supervisors’ meetings nor submitted a written statement on the proposed ordinance.
The NRA and CRPA notified the Board in several letters and in public testimony that the proposed ordinance was unconstitutional, that the Board had no authority over Federal land management, and that the ban, if approved, would be overturned. Despite NRA and CRPA efforts and absent a written position from the BLM, the Board approved the ordinance. Following the Board’s ill-advised action, the NRA contacted BLM headquarters expressing concern and opposition over the Board’s breach of Federal sovereignty. The BLM was in agreement and advised the Board that the shooting ban was preempted by Federal law.
The combined efforts of the NRA, CRPA as well as local groups were critical in bringing to light the illegality of the Board’s action. Gun owners throughout San Diego attended meetings and let officials know that the ban was not lawful. The NRA and CRPA thanked all those activists for their efforts.
Just to insure that the unlawful ordinance is rescinded, NRA and CRPA sent a pre-litigation letter to the Board insisting that the ordinance be repealed immediately.
This is a big win in California and hopefully one that will make other anti-gun jurisdictions stop to think before attempting to enact laws against gun owners and recreational shooters.
Continue to check your inbox and the California Stand and Fight web page for updates on issues impacting your Second Amendment rights and hunting heritage in California.
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