Sheriff begins taking away concealed weapons permits

[Zed]

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/permits-carona-concealed-2186181-county-department#

Thursday, October 9, 2008
Sheriff begins taking away concealed weapons permits
Hundreds of letters have been sent out advising current permit holders of impending revocation.

BY NORBERTO SANTANA JR.
The Orange County Register
Comments 87 | Recommend 144

The Sheriff's Department has begun the process of revoking hundreds of concealed weapon permits across Orange County.

This week, department officials confirmed that 146 letters have been sent out advising current license holders that their permits to carry firearms in public – called CCWs – are being revoked. There are currently 1,024 permit holders.

"The Department has determined that your identified risk does not meet the good cause threshold as required under the new CCW policy based upon the information you provided. As a result of this determination, the Department's present intention is to revoke your CCW license," reads the form letter sent out this month.

The letter, sent out under the signature of Captain Dave Nighswonger, advises current holders that if they feel that additional information should be considered they have roughly one month to provide additional good cause information for the department to consider before the revocation becomes final.

This week, county supervisors grilled Sheriff Sandra Hutchens during her 120-day update on the reorganization of the agency about the status of the concealed weapons review.

Hutchens acknowledged to supervisors that she had indeed tightened requirements for the permits but highlighted the fact that no current license had yet been revoked.

But it seems unlikely that those who are getting the letters won't be revoked.

"Most of them are not coming back with the information we need," said Nighswonger. "A lot of them are arguing the second amendment (to the U.S. Constitution)," he said.

Nighswonger said many of the current revocations listed their reason for having a concealed gun as "avid shooter."

That no longer qualifies under Hutchen's new standards.

Under state law, a Sheriff has discretion to issue concealed weapons permits. And under the administration of former Sheriff Mike Carona – whose federal corruption trial starts on Oct. 28 – guidelines for issuing concealed weapons permits were loosened.

Records reviewed by the Orange County Register show that concealed weapon permits soared under Carona, from 38 in 1998 to 468 the next year. By 2006, it was up to 1,400, a four-fold increase.

When Carona took over in 1998, Orange County ranked 34th in terms of the numbers of permits granted. By 2006, Orange County was ranked number nine.

However, the Register also found numerous instances where campaign donors received the permits. A Register analysis of Carona campaign contributions from 1996 to the end of 2001 shows that at least 95 contributors – who gave at least $68,000 - got licenses.

Indeed, the federal indictment against Carona details one specific instance where a wealthy contributor was granted a license under questionable circumstances.

Hutchens has said that connection prompted her to review the policies and tighten the standards.

Her revisions, and the revocation letters, have enraged gun activists who are pressing county supervisors to take action.

"There's a lot of business owners and a lot of gun owners that have had CCWs that have never met Mike Carona or contributed," said Greg Block, a Huntington Beach-based firearms instructor and activist.

He and many activists suggest a different standard: "If you are not a convicted felon, you should be able to get able to get a CCW in California," Block said.

[K Frame]

WHOOPS!

I should not have closed this one, this is an original topic.

Sigh...

[ArfinGreebly]

"The Department has determined that your identified risk does not meet the good cause threshold as required under the new CCW policy based upon the information you provided. As a result of this determination, the Department's present intention is to revoke your CCW license," reads the form letter sent out this month.

"If, in the future, you are killed because you are no longer able to carry a weapon, please re-submit your application for reconsideration."

Effing idiots.

[Gewehr98]

When I wasted 10 years of my life in the PRK from 1989 to 1999, I got a concealed carry permit via the Isleton Chief of Police, Eugene Byrd.

His actions so enraged Sacramento County Sheriff Glenn Craig, that he petitioned state legislators to shut down the process and deny renewal of any CCWs originally issued by Chief Byrd.

Deja Vu', with respect to PRK sheriffs, I guess...

[LadySmith]

Happens in CA all the time...you try your best to be law-abiding and follow the rules.
And then they turn around and change the rules. 

[K Frame]

On the "I mildly support this" side, it appears that some of these permits are being revoked largely because they were handed out as political plumbs to supporters of the sheriff and probably other elected officials.

Let's face it. Anyone think that you or I could qualify for a CCW in Orange County?

[jamz]

Depends if you have $68,000 lying around. 

[seeker_two]

Wanna borrow our flag?



http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/batgoneye.htm

[slingshot]

Taking away permits (just because)...  this is one of the reasons I resisted getting a permit in the first place.  You shouldn't need permission for what you already have a right to do here in the USA.  (I know, tell that to the judge...)  Hence, I got one.

[MechAg94]

I know some think Texas is the land of statist, repressive gun laws, but at least here the CHL permits are issued and governed by the state DPS, not local officials.  There has been at least one case I have heard of where a local PD tried to railroad a guy and get his permit revoked, but the DPS properly ignored them. 

[zahc]

I noticed that as well. In OH I had to go to the local sheriff's office. My friend got his TX ccw mailed to him in the mail rather promptly.

[Thor]

MechAg, yeah. my return to Texas left me unarmed, at least for carry purposes. I REALLY liked MN Carry laws because they are fairly "liberal". At least I CAN carry a weapon in my glove box down here without having to have a permit.

[Ben]

Let's face it. Anyone think that you or I could qualify for a CCW in Orange County?

Actually under Corona, yeah. I recall several past TFL and THR members that were "Regular Joes" living in OC that got permits fairly painlessly (at least by CA standards). Corona was using the same justification measure Sheriffs in Northern CA do -- "I want to be able to defend myself". Unfortunately his adding political favoritism to the mix screwed things up, and I imagine it will now be as easy for average citizens to get a permit there as it is for them to get one in San Francisco.

[stjeanp]

MechAg, yeah. my return to Texas left me unarmed, at least for carry purposes. I REALLY liked MN Carry laws because they are fairly "liberal". At least I CAN carry a weapon in my glove box down here without having to have a permit.

I'm sorry if I'm misunderstanding you, but if you're in Texas, you can as of September 1, carry in your glove box.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB01815F.htm

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB1815

Pat