San Franciscians will be voting on Proposition H (San Francisco Gun Ban Initiative) next November. The usual politicians are behind it, including the upper echelons of the police hierarchy (i.e., the cops that turned out to be better at politics than at being a cop).

But here’s a surprise: the San Francisco Police Officers Association does not support the ban and has an eloquent and well-reasoned statement to that effect on their website:

Several supervisors have touted the ban as a step in curbing violence and increasing public safety. The San Francisco Police Officers Association (POA), representing men and women dedicated to a life of service to public safety, must evaluate any legislative effort affecting its membership. After careful review and analysis, the POA does not support the proposed ballot initiative that would nullify the personal choice of city residents to lawfully possess a handgun for selfdefense [sic] purposes.

Read it all — it’s great. Not only are there statistics and case studies, but an argument that is uniquely San Franciscian:

The Pink Pistols, the largest national Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender organization dedicated to the legal, safe, and responsible use of firearms for self-defense of the sexual-minority community, has a San Francisco chapter and is outraged by the proposed handgun ban.