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County moves to use procurement to avoid buying from firearm dealers with records of violations
Summary
The board directed staff to develop a county firearm procurement ordinance intended to keep county agencies from buying firearms from dealers with documented legal violations. The measure, modeled on a City of San Diego ordinance cited by the sponsor, passed with one supervisor dissenting.
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to direct the Chief Administrative Officer to develop a responsible firearm procurement ordinance that would use county purchasing power to avoid awarding contracts to firearm dealers with documented violations of state or federal law.
Vice Chair Lawson Reamer, who sponsored the item, said the policy would help prevent county contracting with 'bad actor' dealers and cited a City of San Diego model ordinance (the Ira Sharp Firearm Accountability Act) as an approach to borrow. Supporters in public comment—including gun‑violence prevention advocates—argued the county should not spend taxpayer dollars with dealers who have had multiple violations and that procurement standards can reduce the supply of guns diverted into criminal markets.
Opponents described the measure as symbolic or an overreach that would not reduce criminal access to firearms, and one supervisor questioned whether existing procurement rules already required legal compliance checks. The board acknowledged legal and practical constraints; supervisors said the ordinance would need to be drafted taking into account current state and federal law.
The motion to develop a procurement ordinance passed, with Supervisor Desmond voting no. Board staff will work with the Sheriff’s Office, procurement and county counsel to draft a proposal for future board consideration.
