By Michael Schwartz

Listen for yourself.
In comments made to California Democratic Party supporters, San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher described the Californians leading the effort to recall Governor Newsom as “linked with neo-Nazi, white supremacists, right-wing militia groups.” He also called the leaders “Trump-inspired conspiracy theorists.” Insulting the recall organizers is the same as insulting the more than 1 million Californians who have signed the recall petition.
In a taped recording (https://twitter.com/carldemaio/status/1349410320335343617), Fletcher said the following: “But these same extremists, these same Trump-inspired conspiracy theorists, are now seeking to undermine our democracy in California. They are involved in recall elections against our governor, Gavin Newsom. The recall effort led by pro-Trump extremists seek to undermine the Democratic process across our state. There is substantial evidence that those who are leading this recall effort are linked in associate with neo-Nazi, with white supremacists, with right-wing militia groups, and we cannot stand for this here either.”
On behalf of our members, our board and our employees, San Diego County Gun Owners (SDCGO) PAC condemns Supervisor Fletcher’s hateful, divisive rhetoric. SDCGO is joining in the chorus of elected officials, community leaders and organizations who are calling for the resignation of Fletcher.
It is beyond words to describe how we feel hearing an elected official condemn California voters who are participating in the democratic process via a recall process laid out clearly in our California Constitution.
Fletcher’s name-calling of law-abiding California voters has gone too far. And, it is obvious that he intends to intimidate gun owners who are just some of the over 1 million California voters from across the political spectrum who are proudly participating in the Newsom recall effort.
With all that has happened politically in the last 12 months, choosing to compare honest, hard-working gun owners to Nazis demeans the Holocaust, its survivors and all of those who lost family, friends and loved ones. We are befuddled, confused, and sad that Fletcher made this horrible, calculated smear.
We repudiate his actions and are calling for his immediate resignation. San Diego County deserves representation from leaders who speak the truth and do not support or encourage sedition by their harmful, misleading and false statements.
We do not know what Fletcher intends to incite against us, but we won’t be intimidated. We won’t stop working to protect our Constitutional rights. We won’t sit silently while irresponsible elected officials fan the flames of hate with harmful rhetoric. We will continue to work within the peaceful, constitutional, political system to protect our civil rights.
For the good of the voters in San Diego County, Nathan Fletcher, step down from your office.
Michael Schwartz is executive director of San Diego County Gun Owners (SDCGO), a political action committee promoting Second Amendment Rights.