Dealing a blow to gun supporters, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Americans do not have a constitutional right to carry concealed weapons in public.
In a dispute that could ultimately wind up before the Supreme Court, a divided 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said local law enforcement officials can place significant restrictions on who is allowed to carry concealed guns.
By a vote of 7-4, the court upheld a California law that says applicants must cite a “good cause” to obtain a concealed-carry permit. Typically, people who are being stalked or threatened, celebrities who fear for their safety, and those who routinely carry large amounts of cash or other valuables are granted permits.
“We hold that the Second Amendment does not preserve or protect a right of a member of the general public to carry concealed firearms in public,” Circuit Judge William A. Fletcher wrote for the majority.
Local Angle
As of Dec. 4, 2015, there were 27,513 concealed pistol licenses active in Clark County, according to the state Department of Licensing. So far this year, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office has processed 3,816 concealed pistol license applications, along with 6,346 gun sales.
— Andy Matarrese
The ruling overturned a 2014 decision by a three-judge panel of the same court that said applicants need only express a desire for personal safety.
In a dissent, Circuit Judge Consuelo M. Callahan said the ruling “obliterates the Second Amendment’s right to bear a firearm in some manner in public for self-defense.”
Three other federal appeals courts have ruled similarly in the past, upholding California-like restrictions in New York, Maryland and New Jersey. In addition, another federal appeals court struck down Illinois’ complete ban on carrying concealed weapons.
The 9th Circuit covers nine Western states, but California and Hawaii are the only ones in which the ruling will have any practical effect. The others do not require permit applicants to cite a “good cause.” Anyone in those states with a clean record and no history of mental illness can get a permit.
The National Rifle Association called the ruling “out of touch.”
“This decision will leave good people defenseless, as it completely ignores the fact that law-abiding Californians who reside in counties with hostile sheriffs will now have no means to carry a firearm outside the home for personal protection,” said NRA legislative chief Chris W. Cox.
Gun control advocates and others hailed the ruling.
“This is a significant victory for public safety and for local jurisdictions that apply sensible policies to protect the public,” said California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat.
The California case began in 2009, when Edward Peruta filed a legal challenge over the San Diego County sheriff’s refusal to issue him a permit. Peruta said at the time he wanted a weapon to protect himself, but the sheriff said he needed a better reason, such as that his occupation exposes him to robbery.
Lawmaker: Washington should weigh limits
SEATTLE (AP) — A Washington state lawmaker says a federal appeals court ruling upholding California’s limits on concealed-weapons permits should prompt consideration of such legislation here.
Democratic Seattle Sen. Reuven Carlyle says the ruling opens the door to adopting a “good cause” requirement for the permits. Such regulations require gun owners to show a need to carry a concealed weapon, such as that they’ve been stalked or threatened or routinely carry large amounts of cash.
The Alliance for Gun Responsibility, which pushed a successful effort to expand background checks for gun purchases in Washington in 2014, said Thursday a “good cause” requirement isn’t on its list of policy ideas. The group said it’s focused on passing its current initiative, which would create “extreme-risk” protection orders that take guns from people who pose a serious risk of hurting themselves or others.
The NRA said the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling Thursday will “leave good people defenseless.”
Peruta, who is a videographer known for legally challenging local government restrictions, said he is neither a hunter, collector or target shooter but challenged the law because he believed it violated the Constitution. The NRA joined him in fighting the law.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department said Thursday that since the 9th Circuit tossed out the law two years ago, it has received 2,463 applications from people seeking a concealed-weapon permit without having to show good cause.
Sheriff’s lawyer Robert Faigan said the department hasn’t processed those applications and will continue to hold on to them while it waits to see what the Supreme Court does.
