Standing firm against assault weapons

As one of the three candidates running for the San Dieguito school board, I had the privilege to participate in the debate organized by SDFAA this past Tuesday, October 2. One of the questions that emerged that evening related to our community’s stand on gun laws. Unfortunately, time did not allow me to provide my perspective on this important subject.

I can emphatically state that I am a strong supporter of an outright ban on any sort of assault or semi-automatic weapons. As a community, it is our duty to send a strong message to our lawmakers demanding reasonable and common-sense laws.  Together, as a community, we must take a stand—regardless of party affiliation or politics.

Sadly, this past August 29, my opponent, Kristen Gibson, president of the Del Mar Union School board cast the deciding vote against a school resolution that included strong language to ban assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, bump stocks and other equipment that increases a firearm’s rate of fire. Meanwhile, the boards of the Solana Beach, San Dieguito Union, San Diego Unified, Encinitas, Cardiff and Vista school districts all adopted strong language in favor of a ban.

The voices of parents and the pleas of teens in our community fell on deaf ears. Team Enough, a teen activist group from Canyon Crest Academy, Torrey Pines High School and San Dieguito High School Academy, implored the Board to “acknowledge their responsibility to children in [their] District…they are tired of being afraid and…are looking to their city leaders to make clear stands…to see these places as sanctuaries of safety…”

Gibson along with fellow board members voting against the ban felt the resolution was “extreme” and were uncomfortable about “politicizing” the school board. But it was dissenting board member Stephen Cochrane who hit the nail on the head: “In our belief statement we talk about empowering our students to be thinkers and change makers. We need to model what we want our students to be. What we say isn’t going to change the national law on gun control. But if we’re like a drop in the ocean at least we’re contributing to the degree we can.”

As for me, I can assure you that if awarded the privilege to serve on the Board, my priority will be to empower our students—to be change makers, to take a stand for what they believe in.  Only by standing together we can stop the madness.

I hope I can count on your vote this November 6.

Lea Wolf