The thinking of San Diegans interviewed Thursday by NBC 7 generally reflects the results of a new NBC News/Wall street Journal poll showing most Americans reject Donald Trump’s proposal to bar Muslims from traveling or immigrating to the U.S.
By the poll’s numbers, 57 of those surveyed registered opposition to Trump’s plan while 25 percent endorsed it, with 18 percent undecided. On Monday, Trump called for a "total and complete" shutdown of Muslims entering the country. He said it would be a temporary move to prevent another 9/11-type attack.
Here in San Diego, Trump critics were vociferous in their condemnation of the frontrunner in the Republican Presidential primary campaign.
"It' scary; who's next?” said City Heights resident Keith Selby, speaking outside downtown’s Hall of Justice. “This trend -- you know, labeling an entire group of people -- to me, it's quite dangerous and lacking the type of leadership we would need from a president."
Those who back Trump's position insisted they don't see it as racist or religious profiling – it's just about national security.
"It's these people, Muslims, that are the ones coming in here and blowing us up,” said Chula Vista resident Renee Mayen. “So we're not being discriminating."
“You've got to do something,” said Rancho Bernardo resident Ryan Grothe. “If you don't do something, it's just going to get worse, and the last thing we want is to have another 9/11."
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But there was this observation by an attorney who declined to give his name: "Speaking as a conservative-oriented individual, it's pretty clear that he’s crossed the line at this point. And I don't think he can recover from it. I hope he doesn't.”
An estimated 25,000 Muslims live in San Diego County, nearly 0.8 percent the local population -- versus the Pew Research Center’s finding of 0.9 percent for the entire U.S., comprising nearly 3 million Muslims.
