Who is the biggest buyer of guns and ammo in the U.S.? As a taxpayer, you are!

Who is the biggest buyer of guns and ammo in the U.S.? As a taxpayer, you are!

Altogether, taxpayers spend more than $5 billion a year to buy guns and ammunition for our nation’s law enforcement agencies.

That’s a lot of money – not to mention guns and bullets – going to the people whose job it is to keep us safe.

But an analysis by Brady United reveals that millions of these dollars have gone to gun dealers that have been cited for violations of the law. As taxpayers, we’ve all unwittingly patronized dealers around the country that have been cited for a variety of infractions, including these:

  • Failing to complete required background check forms
  • Neglecting procedures to certify that customers were not prohibited from buying
  • Losing customer paperwork essential to law enforcement investigations
  • Failing to submit sales reports

Holding firearm dealers accountable locally . . .

In California, 90 law enforcement agencies purchased weapons from firearms dealers that did not follow all gun laws.

Does that mean that the agencies used the weapons improperly? Not necessarily. But taxpayer dollars should not support businesses that fail to meet firearm safety standards. Besides, we’ve all put a lot of time, effort and thought into the gun laws that those dealers aren’t following, so the purchases represent an end-run on the will of the people.

San Diego City Council Member Marni von Wilpert authored the Ira Sharp Firearm Dealer Accountability Act, requiring that gun dealers who bid on city contracts must follow all state and federal firearm laws. The late Ira Sharp was a local gun-reform advocate. Ira and his wife Roseann worked with Never Again CA to ban gun shows at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which sits on taxpayer supported, state-owned land.

The act takes advantage of the City’s purchasing power to hold gun dealers accountable and raise the bar for responsible firearm sales. Approved in June 2024, San Diego’s ordinance is the first of its kind in the nation to help curb the proliferation of “crime guns.”

. . . and elsewhere

LA Action Police Supply, a vendor with over 40 federal violations, has received $18 million in contracts from 67 agencies across the state.

Taking a page from the City’s playbook, the County of San Diego considered a similar ordinance on firearm procurement. A vote by the Board of Supervisors failed due to a tie vote, but Supervisor Lawson-Remer subsequently recommended the development of a firearm procurement ordinance for board consideration in 2025.

Our neighbors to the north introduced a similar ordinance for consideration by the Los Angeles City Council. By December 2024 the ordinance had passed.

Similar measures have passed in the cities of Oakland and San Francisco.

Four cities. That’s a trend.

If you’re a firearms dealer, know that you’re liable for any infractions in your dealings with law enforcement agencies.

And if you’re a taxpayer in the City of San Diego, rest assured that your money is buying guns and ammunition only from law-abiding dealers.

John White is SD4GVP Treasurer and a board member.

Photo credit: Thayne Tuason, CC-BY-SA-4.0

Business Must Act, Part 1 of 3: “How can I buy a hammer without giving money to the gun lobby?”

Business Must Act, Part 1 of 3: “How can I buy a hammer without giving money to the gun lobby?”

Raise your hand if you spend money.

Now, keep your hand raised if you consider yourself conscientious about how you spend that money.

Thought so.

If you think the way we do at SD4GVP:

  • You want to spend your money with companies that support the goal of ending gun violence.
  • You probably want to avoid spending your money with companies that are ambivalent about preventing gun violence.
  • You certainly don’t want to spend your money with companies that have a record of donating to the gun lobby and its supporters.

But how can you become a better-informed consumer about gun-violence prevention (GVP)? Where can you get the information about individual companies?

A GVP report card for your favorite companies

SD4GVP board member Lori Van Orden, our eye on all the news related to gun violence in America, told us about the Business Must Act website. It’s a campaign of Guns Down America, a non-profit that works for a “future with fewer guns by weakening the gun industry” and building support for sensible firearm policies.

Business Must Act offers a Gun Safety Scorecard that weighs factors like in-store policies, corporate action and political and lobbying donations. The resulting scores (A+ through F) are a useful indicator of which businesses are doing their part to reduce gun violence and which ones are failing to act.

“Corporations have the responsibility to make their places of business safe from guns,” the campaign’s leaders state. “They also have the influence to change policy and culture to improve our safety everywhere.”

More important, this project challenges us, as consumers and shoppers, to look in the mirror and demand action from companies that don’t value GVP. “It’s time to use our power by shopping with businesses that deserve our dollar because they stand up for our safety.”

Take a closer look at the scores

Click here to get to the Gun Safety Scorecard. As you scroll down, you’ll see that it currently shows scores for about three dozen well-known brick-and-mortar retailers in the U.S.

Do you see any retailers you patronize? Click on any brand to see the factors that go into their score. Are you happy with the grade they’ve received? Do you wish they could do better?

More to the point, are you happy with what they’re doing with the money they’ve made off of you?

The Java Jive and your morning brew

The website shows the companies in alphabetical order, but you’ll probably find it more interesting to examine them by category or industry.

Up near the top of the page you’ll see “Filter Scorecard:”

Gun Safety Scorecard

Click on that to open a list of industries:

Filter Scorecard

“Hmm,” you say. “I buy a cup of coffee several times a week. I wonder if I’m doing that in the most GVP-conscious way possible.”

You tick the Coffee box and scroll down to see something like this:

Gun Safety Scorecard - Coffee

It’s not an exhaustive list, but chances are you spend at least a few dollars a year in one or more of these shops. And, with two high-scoring brands on the scorecard, you can buy that cup of java without pangs of GVP-conscience. But with one of them, you may need to change your spending habits.

If you then click on each brand, you can see how it scored on the seven criteria. The Learn More link below the criteria provides even more detail.

If I bought a hammer . . .

Or, what if you need to buy a new hammer or radial saw this weekend? How can you do that without giving money to the gun lobby?

Go back to Filter Scorecard. Clear the Coffee box, tick the Hardware box and scroll down. You’ll see something like this:

Gun Safety Scorecard - Hardware

So, according to the Gun Safety Scorecard, it’s quite difficult to buy a hammer in the U.S. with a clear GVP conscience. About the best you can do is a C-, with a company that isn’t doing much more than trying not to rock the boat.

Stay tuned

This intersection of commerce and GVP conscience is thought-provoking. We included it in a recent newsletter, sending a fair number of clicks to Business Must Act. When we walked our attendees through the website at a recent general meeting, spirited discussion ensued.

So much so, that we’ll publish a sequel to this post with more of the implications of the Gun Safety Scorecard and a few more observations from our members.

John White is SD4GVP Treasurer and a board member.

SD4GVP & UPAC March in 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade [video]

SD4GVP & UPAC March in 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade [video]

San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention marched hand-in-hand with coalition member Mothers With a Message, which represents families who’ve lost children to gun violence and also supports Union of Pan Asian Communities-UPAC’s efforts to help such families, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. parade this past Sunday, January 19, 2025. It was a beautiful day of community, celebrating diversity, and promoting social equality and safety for all.

December 19, 2024: SD4GVP COMMENDS USE OF GUN VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER

December 19, 2024: SD4GVP COMMENDS USE OF GUN VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER

PUBLIC STATEMENT:
SD4GVP COMMENDS USE OF GUN VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER

The group praises the Carlsbad Police Department for swiftly confiscating guns from a would-be perpetrator of gun violence at a government building.

SAN DIEGO (December 19, 2024) – San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention (SD4GVP), a nonprofit dedicated to preventing gun violence, is encouraged by the recent successful use of a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) in Carlsbad yesterday. This action demonstrates the critical importance of this tool in preventing tragedies.

Yesterday’s GVRO was used to remove firearms from a young Carlsbad resident who had been in direct contact with the Madison, WI school mass shooter before that shooting took place. In their communication, the Carlsbad resident conveyed his intent to perpetrate violence with guns and explosives, targeting a government building. This intercepted communication immediately raised red flags and highlighted the need for intervention with a GVRO.

We commend Carlsbad law enforcement for their commitment to public safety and their swift action in detaining this individual and removing his firearms before he could move forward with his violent plans.

This is just one example of many which demonstrates how GVROs, introduced in California in 2016, are effectively preventing violence. This is supported by studies on the effectiveness of GVROs, such as this 2022 study published in UC Davis’ Health Magazine: https://health.ucdavis.edu/health-magazine/issues/fall2022/features/some-recent-vprp-research.html.

We must continue to support initiatives like GVROs that help identify and disarm individuals who pose a threat to our community.

Note: CBS 8 coverage of this story can be found here »

About San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention (SD4GVP)

Founded in 2018, SD4GVP, 501(c)(4), is an all-volunteer coalition of citizens and organizations in the
San Diego region and beyond dedicated to ending gun violence in the U.S. This is accomplished through legislative advocacy, public education, and intervention strategies in high-risk communities. For more information, visit sd4gvp.org. Follow us on Facebook at SD4GVP, on Bluesky at sd4gvp.bsky.social and on Instagram.

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How to Obtain a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO)

How to Obtain a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO)

First things first:

Afraid someone you know or love will harm themselves or others with a gun? In California, a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) can protect you and the ones you love.

If you know of anyone who poses an immediate danger of gun injury to themselves or to others, call 911. A trained officer will investigate immediately and, if warranted, can petition a judge to obtain an emergency GVRO at any time of the day or night. The emergency GVRO allows the officer to take away any firearms or ammunition the person possesses or has access to and prohibits them from acquiring any more until there is a court hearing. Emergency GVROs have prevented many suicides and saved the lives of many people threatened by boyfriends, ex-spouses, co-workers, classmates and others.

In almost every instance of a mass shooting, the shooter told someone of their intentions. California’s GVRO law is based on a well-established principle: You can always give back a gun, but you cannot give back a life.

“I wish we could have gotten the guns out of their control before somebody got hurt.”

People around this country, this state and even this city find themselves saying that all the time.

They say it because of “family fire,” the accidental shootings with a misused or improperly stored gun in the home that injure or kill 8 children and teens a day.

They say it because of domestic violence, as 52 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner in an average month.

They say it because of suicide incidents, 51 percent of which are by firearm.

They say it because they hear a co-worker or fellow student make a threat.

In 17 states and the District of Columbia, citizens have said “ENOUGH!” to wishing they had had the guns removed before somebody got hurt. They have passed Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws, or “red flag” laws, which we call Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) laws in California.

A GVRO is a civil court order that temporarily prevents someone from possessing, accessing or purchasing firearms and ammunition when the person is at risk of attempting suicide or harming others. Because a GVRO is a civil procedure, the person from whom the firearms are temporarily removed will not have a criminal record — unless they violate the judge’s order.

Often, family members do not know how to go about removing the guns or are afraid to do so, particularly if the person has dementia or PTSD, or is experiencing depression or a temporary mental health crisis. When family or co-workers inform the police of their fear of an immediate threat, a GVRO allows the San Diego Police Department to remove firearms temporarily, when warranted. A GVRO provides an opportunity to get care for the person at risk (known as the “respondent”) and takes away the fear that possession of the gun could lead to serious injury or death.

Who can request a gun violence restraining order?

Law enforcement, family and household members can request a GVRO in San Diego. That includes spouses, parents, grandparents, children, stepparents, stepchildren, domestic partners, siblings, and roommates and persons who have regularly resided in the last six months on the same property as the respondent.

I am a family or household member. How do I request a GVRO?

1. If you are afraid and you believe that somebody in your family or household poses an immediate danger of injury from firearms to themselves, to you or to others, call 911. A police officer can obtain an Emergency GVRO 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The GVRO empowers the officer to remove the guns and ammunition.

2. If you live in the city of San Diego and there is no immediate danger of injury, call the SDPD at 619-531-2000. A police officer can obtain a Temporary GVRO at any time of the day or night.

3. Go to a local police station and ask for assistance in obtaining a GVRO.

Do I have to go through the police to get a GVRO? Are there other ways?

There are other ways to request a GVRO, such as with the help of an attorney. In San Diego, however, there are advantages to working with law enforcement officers:

1. They are experts in handling dangerous situations and people with firearms; private citizens are not. Once a petition for a Temporary GVRO is granted, it must be served on the respondent. When police officers serve the order, they immediately seize all firearms and ammunition. But when the order is served by a private citizen, the respondent has 24 hours to comply, either by taking his guns and ammunition to the police or by storing them with a gun dealer and providing proof to the court. A lot can happen in those 24 hours, including an attack on the threatened party or the stashing of guns with friends for later use.

2. Evidence that will hold up in court is very important. Police officers know how to gather evidence that the respondent is a threat to him-/herself or others. Most private citizens do not have that expertise.

3. Working through the San Diego Police Department is free; hiring a private attorney is not.

After the respondent is served and the firearms are removed, what happens?

In San Diego, the initial GVRO lasts 21 days, during which time a hearing occurs. If the respondent wishes to contest the order, he or she must attend. At the hearing, the judge will hear evidence about whether the possession of guns by the respondent poses a danger to him-/herself or others, and decide whether to continue or cancel the temporary order. If the judge decides to continue the temporary order, the GVRO will last up to one year.

Are GVROs “No Contact” orders?

No, GVROs do not prevent the respondent from having contact with you, your children, your family members or others who live with you. And they can’t force the respondent to move out of your home. For more information about other types of restraining orders, including those for domestic violence, civil harassment, elder or dependent adult abuse and workplace violence, visit: www.courts.ca.gov/1260.htm.

Where can I get more information on obtaining a GVRO?

Visit Speak for Safety. You’ll find an entire website for the kinds of people who ask questions about having guns removed before somebody gets hurt or killed:

  • Family and household
  • Health care providers
  • Veterans
  • Eldercare providers
  • Fiduciaries
  • Public health
  • Attorneys
  • Law enforcement

GVRO laws are relatively recent in California, and not everyone knows how they work. If you need help from somebody unfamiliar with GVROs, direct them to Speak for Safety for more information.

Do GVROs really work?

Yes. In 2019 alone, the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, with significant support from the San Diego Police Department, obtained GVROs against 200 individuals who posed a threat to themselves or others.

Obtaining a GVRO requires effort and, in some cases, courage.

But it can mean the difference between “I wish we could have gotten the guns out of their control before somebody got hurt” and “I’m so glad we got the guns out of their control before somebody got hurt.”

John White is a volunteer with San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention.

Photo credit: Lisa Roe