California Gun Permits Issue

Sacramento, CA– How much discretion California’s law enforcement officials have in issuing concealed weapons permits is the subject of a federal lawsuit.

This week gun-rights advocates argued in federal court in Sacramento that county sheriff’s who handle most such permits must issue them to anyone who completes a training course and has no mental health problems or criminal background.

They are challenging a policy by Sacramento area Sheriff Ed Prieto, who says applicants must have a reason to carry a concealed weapon, such as a threat to their safety. Alan Gura, a gun-rights attorney, says that gives the sheriff discretion over a fundamental right to bear arms.

According to U.S District Court Judge Morrison England Jr., the lawsuit is a part of a national debate over carrying weapons in public.

Written by tina.falco@mlode.com