U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- “A Santa Clara County civil grand jury accused Sheriff Laurie Smith of corruption,” NBC Bay Area reports. “The sheriff is accused of multiple counts of “willful and corrupt misconduct in office.” Six of the seven counts are connected to allegations of trading coveted concealed weapons permits for contributions to her re-election campaigns.”
This is the latest development in a story this column has been following for over two years.
In November 2019 we learned from The Mercury News that Smith’s office was being “investigated over concealed weapons permits issued by her office, particularly one to an executive security agent who made the biggest single donation to support her re-election bid…”
In September 2020 The Mercury News again reported how a former CEO pled guilty, how others had been indicted for “brokering” $90K in campaign contributions, and how Smith and her undersheriff had both pled the Fifth.
In January 2021 we learned four permits were released for security [protecting Apple’s virulently anti-gun (for you) CEO Tim Cook, with what looks like a quid pro quo for 200 iPads.
The following month, we saw how Santa Clara County Sheriff’s department ethics at the top translate down to the rank-and-file when a deputy who claimed to have been wounded turned out to have fabricated the story:
“The question really is: Why wouldn’t [the] deputy think corruption is systemic, lies are rewarded, and the only rule not to break is to not get caught”
Throughout the relaying of “mainstream” (what I call the DSM) accounts, AmmoLand reporting used those to springboard into consideration that “real reporters” not only wouldn’t touch, but they also wouldn’t know to even think about asking.
The fact is, “may issue” permits generally mean “may not,” and make “pay-to-play” and/or currying favor with the elites inevitable, as we’ve seen prove out many times over the years.
Over 20 years ago, I wrote about then-Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca’s “Star Cops” program, resulting in an almost hilarious and potentially tragic incident:
“Depending on whose story you believe, less than a month after being sworn in, celebrity reservist Scott Zacky, 35, a scion of the Zacky Chicken empire, did or did not run out of his Bel-Air house in his underpants, did or did not yell “Stop! Police!” and did or did not point a gun with a laser sight at a couple on a date, causing them to flee in fear from the scene. Mr. Zacky must now answer to firearms charges filed by the City Attorney. Sheriff Baca has yet to explain why a background check failed to detect a 1992 brandishing charge against his protégé resulting in a no contest plea and a 90-day house arrest sentence. Nor has he offered much in the way of explaining a second ‘Star Cop’ recently arrested in an undercover money-laundering sting.”
Going to another bastion of celebrity elites, we find:
“Then there are the reports that [Bill] Cosby himself had obtained one of New York City’s rare, reserved for the rich, famous, powerful, and connected concealed gun permits, joining other celebrities like Robert DeNiro, Howard Stern and Donald Trump.”
There’s one other factor being reported you will find on AmmoLand but not in any “mainstream” reports, and if you think about it, the question “Why not?” becomes self-evident. Asking it would work against the citizen disarmament narrative and start waking people who traditionally vote Democrat up to the fact that their political leaders are swindling them out of their birthrights.
As I’ve asked before in this column, How do the earnings and race/sex demographic numbers and rates for permit recipients compare to the general population in Santa Clara County and in all counties throughout California? Are minority citizens afforded the same opportunities, or is “may issue” permitting controlled by police officials effectively racist?
The Democrat-dominated government in California makes great noise about how “inclusive” they are. How does that work in practice for which citizens are “permitted” by the “authorities” to exercise “the right of the people”?
They have the numbers. Ask yourself, “Why will no one tally them?” Or better yet, ask them.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
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