California CCW Question

Status
Not open for further replies.
F

fiVe

Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2003
Messages
1,265
Location
West Florida Panhandle
I must confess that my opinion of California concealed carry laws might be at least partially biased--overly strict and restrictive, anti-2nd amendment, etc.--but I have no first-hand knowledge about this.

Someone told me that southern California is not near as strict as the rest of the state when it comes to issuing a concealed carry license (as I understand it, CA CWL's are issued be each county). Are the, say 10-southern-most, counties more lenient? More conservative? Than the rest of CA? I've also heard about an "acceptable firearms" list and if yours is not on the list, it is not allowed in the state.

Can an expert please educate me on all this?

Thanks,
fiVe
 
I think Kern and Medecino County were the easiest, almost shall issue.

For Southern California, Orange County would be the easiest. LA is almost impossible. San Diego is similar to OC, both requiring a valid reason for application. For Orange County, "avid shooter" is a good enough reason (and probably easiest), but prepare to show documentation to support your reason.

I'll let you know in 2 weeks how easy it actually is (or not) :D
 
It all depends on your county...

As the previous poster mentioned, www.packing.org is a great source of info.

In California you _can_ get a CCW but it really depends on the county. Packing.org has a county map in the California section of their site. It all depends on your county sheriff, and if you live in a city with a police force, it is up to the police chief.

I live in Kern County (north of LA County) which is "practically shall issue". However, if I lived in a town with a police force, I might have a problem getting a CCW. Other inland and mountain counties are similar. In general, the more heavily urban counties--you know, the ones with out of control crime--are more restrictive about issuing permits. The California county map on packing.org might as well be a crime rate map.

As for handgun "approval", the state of CA wants to make sure you buy a quality firearm, so they extort, I mean request, that manufacturers provide them with sample guns and money to pay for "testing." Basically if you want to buy a gun, it needs to be on the list. There are exceptions, but that's generally how it works.

If you're moving to CA and bringing a handgun in from out of state, it doesn't have to be on the list, but you must register it with the Attorney General.

One interesting thing about California--since the (legal) CCW population is so small, the laws are actually not very restrictive on where you can carry. When taking the class, for example, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that as a CCW holder you can carry on a school campus. Bascially bars and picket lines are off limits. And you see very few of those "NO CONCEALED HANDGUN" signs like in other states.

All that being said, as a gun owner you'll be happier living elsewhere. We still have the 10 round magazine law and a ban on "assault" rifles.

highdesert
 
CA is a "may issue" state meaning you must show cause why you need a carry permit and the local police or sheriff can deny at will. Some more rural counties are known for being more casual about issuing while the more urban areas are famous for almost 100% denial. Last I heard San Francisco county had 6 or 8 permits issued and all were to judges. Good luck. Of course now the city is trying to ban all pistols, period. Not much hope in San Jose, Los Angeles, or other big cities, either.

A permit issued in any city or county is valid statewide but any police officer can revoke the permit on the spot for any reason or no reason. So if that SF cop spots your gun he will likely tell you to go lock it in your car and if you refuse he yanks your permit. Now you have to stow it or be arrested for packing W/O a permit.

Any police department or sheriff's office can issue but some avoid it. Others are more liberal. One rural sheriff caught Hell from the liberal press because he was issuing permits to anyone who applied just to get the application fee. It was a major source of funding for his department. When I was a kid in CA it was a poorly kept secret that a $500 contribution to the sheriff's re-election campaign would get you a permit.

This is why may issue sucks. Something like 7 states are still may issue and 2 or 3 have no legal concealed carry at all. The rest are "shall issue" meaning the cops can't approve or disapprove unless you're disqualified from owning a gun.
 
It all depends on your county...

As the previous poster mentioned, www.packing.org is a great source of info.

I'm not an expert, but I've lived in SoCal for four years, so I know a little about it.

In California you _can_ get a CCW but it really depends on the county. Packing.org has a county map in the California section of their site. It all depends on your county sheriff, and if you live in a city with a police force, it is up to the police chief.

I live in Kern County (north of LA County) which is "practically shall issue". However, if I lived in a town with a police force, I might have a problem getting a CCW. Other inland and mountain counties are similar. In general, the more heavily urban counties--you know, the ones with out of control crime--are more restrictive about issuing permits. The California county map on packing.org might as well be a crime rate map.

As for handgun "approval", the state of CA wants to make sure you buy a quality firearm, so they extort, I mean request, that manufacturers provide them with sample guns and money to pay for "testing." Basically if you want to buy a gun, it needs to be on the list. There are exceptions, but that's generally how it works.

If you're moving to CA and bringing a handgun in from out of state, it doesn't have to be on the list, but you must register it with the Attorney General.

One interesting thing about California--since the (legal) CCW population is so small, the laws are actually not very restrictive on where you can carry. When taking the class, for example, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that as a CCW holder you can carry on a school campus. Bascially bars and picket lines are off limits. And you see very few of those "NO CONCEALED HANDGUN" signs like in other states.

All that being said, as a gun owner you'll be happier living elsewhere. We still have the 10 round magazine law and a ban on "assault" rifles.

highdesert
 
When I moved to CA in 1989, I moved to Placer County almost exclusively because of CCW. Had one for 12 years there.

Have to confess that I went through POST and became a reserve deputy, but the last 5 years I was not.

Now in a Must Issue state. Ahhhhhhh. Now I'm legal in 29 states.
 
SaxonPig said:
A permit issued in any city or county is valid statewide but any police officer can revoke the permit on the spot for any reason or no reason. So if that SF cop spots your gun he will likely tell you to go lock it in your car and if you refuse he yanks your permit. Now you have to stow it or be arrested for packing W/O a permit.
Click to expand...
Can you please let us know the source of this information? It's a new one to me and I've had my permit for several years. This has never been mentioned in any of the CCW classes I've taken.
Also, Butte and Tehema counties are pretty much shall issue due to their 2nd amendment friendly sheriffs.
 
Someone told me that southern California is not near as strict as the rest of the state when it comes to issuing a concealed carry license (as I understand it, CA CWL's are issued be each county).
Click to expand...
Most likely a reference to Orange County. You certainly won't get one in LA County or San Diego county and I doubt Riverside and San Bernardino Counties are any easier.
 
I've recently started reading this site for information on the actual laws of California CCW permitting. Evidently, there is a ton of mis-information, even on Packing.org, which I rely on heavily for CCW info.

Hope this helps you.
 
interesting

jojosdad,

I live in Butte Co as well and have been toying with the issue, how long would it take me to get my CCW? I already know where to go and how to do it, but was just ondering how long it takes overall.
 
california sucks as far as gun laws. i live in mass the only state where they are worse. Last year in san fran they tried to pass a law that would not allow any gun to be carried by anyone, including off duty officers. The whole hi-cap mag ban is bullcrap and furthermore manufacturers have to pay the state off in order to make a gun legal there. At one time they considered a plan to put serial #'s on ammunition to track every round. Isnt it funny how CA, NY, and MA are 3 of largest shippint ports we have in this country, and they have the toughest gun laws. Anyone think this might have something to do with the lack of surplus assault ammo coming into country. From the way i understand there is huge ammounts of it waiting in warehouses here to be inspected. Meanwhile other imports are coming through no problem. It just seems very selective as to what they will let through.
 
wrong mudgunner

welcome to thr btw!
Last year in san fran they tried to pass a law that would not allow any gun to be carried by anyone, including off duty officers.
Click to expand...
In the future, try not to rely on myspace for real firearms news.
The SF "preperation H law" was aimed at civillian handgun owners who lived in SF.
Cops and Armed security were to be exempt, plus CCW holders from other counties would still be allowed to carry in SF! ..It is still to be decided by a court whether this stupid law will ever be enforced.

I hope SF wins because it then it means that pro gun counties in norcal can start selling AR15's and AK's again. (it will mean that towns /cities can violate State gun law)
 
I'm dropping off my CCW packet at the Sheriff's office today, actually. It's Santa Clara (Bay Area) so I fully expect to be refused.

No harm in trying though.

NTM
 
Carona is toast come the next election in Orange County. I predict CCW access will either get a lot tougher, or they'll go flat-out shall-issue under the next guy.

Carona came into office promising to "de-politicize" it and he lied through his teeth. Now we've got at least one documented case of a nut running around with a Corona permit - a Los Angeles nut at that, as he scored via the deputy/reserve deputy exception to the "issuance within county" rule (yes, sheriffs can issue to anybody in the state that they're willing to deputize).

This situation with Carona can maybe be turned to our advantage. If we can show that "elite issuance" leads to people running around who think they're above the law, shall-issue becomes the only sane alternative.
 
Well, that was simple.

"I've no problem with taking your $20 application fee and running the application, but I'll tell you right now it's almost certainly going to be denied. It's the political climate, the residents here do not want CCWs issued without overwhelming reason"

Or words to that effect.

I decided to hold on to my $20.

NTM
 
The calguns political forum is where you want to be.
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/forumdisplay.php?f=71

Several lawyers frequent this site.

I lived in a Shall-Issue county of California, and was issued my permit when I submitted the forms. It took four days.

On a side note, it was rumored that a permit was not necessary as long as you stayed within the county. Lots of ranchers.
 
Does anyone know how hard would it be for a security guard in Sonoma county to get a CCW?

-Dev
 
"Does anyone know how hard would it be for a security guard in Sonoma county to get a CCW?

-Dev"
__________________



HA! good luck with that one.... another reason I moved away from that "tree hugging hippy haven". Never looked back and don't miss it or the traffic.
I can say with upmost certainty that you WILL NOT get a CCW in Sonoma County regardless of the reasons, period.
Good luck though.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Y
  • Locked
Riverside County Votes to Encourage CCW!
Replies
11
Views
972
Larry Ashcraft
Larry Ashcraft
G
  • Locked
A little sanity in that California?
Replies
2
Views
429
Robert
Robert
LiveLife
  • Locked
Update to CA DOJ data breach and Doe v Bonta and Barba v Bonta regarding AB 173
Replies
10
Views
542
BreechFace
BreechFace
LiveLife
  • Locked
Push back on anti-gun/2A law makers continues - New lawsuit filed against CA AW ban
Replies
7
Views
1K
LiveLife
LiveLife
R
  • Locked
CCW Victimization Statistics?
Replies
16
Views
1K
Vern Humphrey
V
Back
Top