Latest Remark by Republican Opponent Poochigian On Cop Killing Rifles Draws Calls for Retraction
By Frank D. Russo
If you ever wonder why Jerry Brown, the Democratic candidate for Attorney General, has the lion’s share of law enforcement endorsements, take a look at Exhibit A: The comments his opponent made during a Sacramento Bee Editorial Board Meeting yesterday about his vote against outlawing 50 caliber bullet assault rifles.
One of the biggest bullets in the world, the 50 caliber rounds were designed to pierce armor from hundreds of yards away. Numerous demonstrations by the U.S. Marines and various police departments throughout the nation have shown this weapon to be devastatingly effective. Dozens of public policy groups and media reports have observed that .50 Caliber BMG Sniper Rifles could be lethal to innocent bystanders, police officers and even have terrorist application.
Bob Valladon, President of the Oakland Police Officers Association, called on Poochigian to retract these comments in which Poochigian "defended his vote, saying that at the time the rifles were legal in 49 other states."
Valladon minced no words. He said this was:
“Offensive to every police officer in California. His comments make it clear that he doesn’t have the judgment necessary to be Attorney General.
It’s incredible that Poochigian says we needed to wait for other states to act before taking measures to protect our own police officers. This is the worst possible kind of leadership and the sort of thinking that simply writes cops out of the public safety equation. California is a state that I am proud to say had the foresight to ban these dangerous weapons which can shoot bullets through two police cars and come out the other side and still kill an officer. The 50 caliber ban was signed by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and it is unfortunate that Charles Poochigian was so extreme that he would not support the rank and file police officers and that he was so extreme that he couldn’t even support his own Republican Governor on this important issue. Poochigian should immediately retract his comments and apologize to every police officer in California.”
It’s not just the hometown police in Oakland that are supporting Brown. Among others, he has the endorsement of the Fresno Police Officers Association, from the base of Poochigian’s Senate district.
Even before the latest Poochigian remarks, the Brown for Attorney General campaign had started running campaign ads highlighting the endorsement of Brown by California Police Chiefs and warning voters about Charles Poochigian’s record of being too extreme for California.
The first ad stars the President of the California Police Chief’s Assocition, Steve Krull who talks about why his organization endorsed Brown over Poochigian and points out Brown’s record of being tough on crime. It also highlights Brown’s overwhelming support from dozens of police associations, deputy sheriffs, police chiefs, and individual law enforcement officers across California. Steve Krull, President of the California Police Chiefs Association says, “When the California Police Chiefs decided to endorse a candidate for Attorney General, we interviewed both candidates –We looked at their experience and their records in Law Enforcement. And Jerry Brown is clearly the better choice for California.”
Polls have shown Brown leads Poochigian by over 20 points. Brown has $6 million in the bank. Since the last reporting period, Brown has continued to out-fundraise Poochigian by over a 3 to 1 ratio.
Jerry Brown is supported by law enforcement agencies across California including: California Police Chiefs Association, Peace Officers Research Association (PORAC), California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations, Sacramento Police Officers Association, Sacramento County Sheriff, Modesto Police Officers’ Association, Contra Costa Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Madera Police Officers Association, Amador County Sheriff, Sierra County Sherriff, San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs Association, San Francisco Police Officers Association, Oakland Police Officers Association, Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Alameda Country, San Jose Police Officers Association, Marin County Deputy Sheriffs Association, San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of Santa Clara County, Los Angeles County Police Officers Association, Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association, Long Beach Police Officers Association, Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, Huntington Beach Police Officers Association, Pasadena Police Officers Association, San Diego Police Officers Association, Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of San Diego County, San Bernardino County Safety Employees’ Benefit Association (S.E.B.A), Riverside Police Officers Association, Long Beach Police Officers Association, Fresno Police Officers Association, Kern Law Enforcement Association, Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association.
Looks like the train is leaving the station.
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