Supervisors ask sheriff to grant concealed firearms permits

[RRGlock23]

Good news the Riverside County Sheriff will grant concealed firearms permits to the Law Abiding for "Personal Defense" because of the next six months the Californian prisons will release of the inmates, due to public safety. Wow...What a good news?

RRGlock23


Supervisors ask sheriff to grant concealed firearms permits | mydesert.com | The Desert Sun

RIVERSIDE — The Riverside County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a resolution urging the sheriff to consider granting concealed firearms permits to law-abiding residents who cite “personal defense” as the reason for wanting one.

“This is a way we can better protect ourselves,” said board Chairman Jeff Stone, who authored the resolution that was approved on a 3-1 vote. “I want to make sure our citizens have that ability.”

Stone highlighted the prospective release of 27,000 inmates in the next six months from California prisons and the impact that might have on public safety as one of the motivating factors behind the resolution, which Sheriff Stan Sniff has the option — but not the obligation — to act upon.

“These prisoners are not misdemeanants. These are dangerous people,” said Stone. “We could be the beneficiary of anywhere between two to three thousand felons into our communities and unincorporated areas. Our sheriff's department can only do so much.”

A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal earlier this year ordered California to slash its inmate population to 110,000, from the roughly 160,000 that crowd the state's 33 detention facilities, over the next two years.

The judicial panel made the ruling on the grounds of health and safety concerns — raised in three inmate lawsuits — noting that California's prisons were built to house under 100,000 people.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is challenging the federal mandate, which could be litigated in the Supreme Court if the jurists agree to hear the state's appeal.

Stone said if more county residents want to arm themselves, and they pass background criminal checks and complete the 16 hours of firearm safety training required under state law, there is no reason why they shouldn't be able to obtain a concealed carry permit.

“This goes back to the Second Amendment (of the U.S. Constitution): ‘The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,'” the chairman said.

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State law requires that an applicant for a concealed carry permit demonstrate “good cause” before the chief law enforcement officer of any locality considers authorizing the permit.

Stone said in Riverside County, “personal defense (should) be accepted” by the sheriff as sufficient basis for granting one.

Keith Cunningham, a Moreno Valley resident, agreed, telling the board that any person not prohibited by law from owning a firearm “should be afforded the opportunity” to carry one.

“Those who would like to curtail our access to guns and limit our ability to defend ourselves depend on fear and emotion in their arguments,” Cunningham said. “Their reasoning is flawed and only makes it easier for criminals to target citizens.”

The former Marine said he realized the importance of being armed after he was attacked by five gang members in front of his family in April.

“I was no match for them,” he said, standing with the support of a crutch. “I have since rethought plans for defending myself and my family. No one should be denied the right to defend themselves and their loved ones from an attack. It could happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time.”

According to Undersheriff Valerie Hill, roughly 500 county residents have concealed carry permits.

“We take (the issuance of permits) very seriously,” she told the board. “Every time we issue a permit, it's a liability for the county.”

Supervisor Bob Buster cast the dissenting vote on the resolution, saying he was satisfied with “existing” sheriff's department policy concerning the issuance of permits.

[Glock Fan]

Originally Posted by RRGlock23

According to Undersheriff Valerie Hill, roughly 500 county residents have concealed carry permits.

“We take (the issuance of permits) very seriously,” she told the board. “Every time we issue a permit, it's a liability for the county.”

Supervisor Bob Buster cast the dissenting vote on the resolution, saying he was satisfied with “existing” sheriff's department policy concerning the issuance of permits.

This wouldn't be an issue if the counties assist in getting state law changed to limit or eliminate liability to the issuing counties. It's sad that such a simple fix is so difficult. Leave it to the PRCA to make a simple task difficult. PRHI is very similar in that most of the existing firearms laws are based on laws in PRCA.



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