Sunday, February 23, 2014

Orange County Loosens Requirements for Carrying Concealed Guns


Orange County has loosened requirements for carrying concealed weapons in public following a pro-gun ruling last week by a federal appeals court, officials said Thursday.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2 to 1 that California counties may no longer require residents who want to carry concealed firearms to demonstrate special, individualized needs for protection. The court majority said law-abiding residents have a 2nd Amendment right to bear a gun in public.

The ruling is not yet final, and if successfully appealed, may never take effect. But Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens announced on the department's website that the county has decided to comply anyway.

"Regardless of what her personal positions are, she feels she needs to abide by what the law is," Lt. Jeff Hallock, a sheriff spokesman, said Thursday.

He said the department has received "a huge influx" of requests for permits to carry concealed guns since the 9th Circuit ruling. He cautioned, though, that the new relaxed rules might be "revisited" if the court decision is appealed or overturned.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department, which handles gun carry permits for the county's cities, will now give residents permits if they simply cite a need for personal safety or self-defense, as long as other conditions are met, the department said. Those conditions include an interview, background check, completion of a firearms training course and a fee.

7 comments:

  1. How's that "the court ruling is no big deal" thing workin' out for ya', Mikeb? ;-)

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  2. Are you still calling the decision "no biggie"?

    Hey, you'll take it so long as Colorado teachers can't carry in the classroom, right?

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  3. It never ceases to amaze me how the forces of evil are tireless in their efforts. That's why we have to beat them back and down again. But victory is possible, as we see here. It is not inevitable that evil will win. To borrow a line from Churchill, we must never give up--never, never, never.

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  4. It will be interesting to see how many residents of the formerly heavily restricted counties will avail themselves of the opportunity to acquire a carry permit.

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  5. Hey, you'll take it so long as Colorado teachers can't carry in the classroom, right?

    Exactly. Every gun rights advocate I know is far more disheartened that Colorado teachers remain disarmed, than elated that another federal court--one, indeed, known for its hostility to gun rights--has figured out that one's right to bear arms is violated if one is not permitted to, you know . . . bear arms.

    ;-)

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  6. Well, Orange County is known for its Republican leanings, right? I'm still not convinced what's happening in CA is all that big a deal.

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    Replies
    1. ...for a coastal CA country, yes. Compared to a Central Valley county, no. Compared to the bluest county in Texas, no. It's all relative.

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