Today, the California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA), along with the Second Amendment Foundation, filed suit against the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department over their unconstitutional CCW application process.
“As CRPA has pursued our CCW Reckoning Project, we’ve encountered many jurisdictions resist the clear mandate of Bruen, even when we’ve supplied specific guidance on how their CCW processes must adapt,” noted CRPA President & General Counsel Chuck Michel. “Santa Clara has continually doubled down but with this lawsuit today, we are sending the message that enough is enough.”
Santa Clara’s current CCW process includes:
That’s $2,000 for a CCW permit that must be renewed EVERY TWO YEARS!
Even worse, the County is forcing every applicant—without cause—to undergo an intrusive psychological evaluation. State law allows sheriffs to use discretion in rare cases where there’s a legitimate concern. But Santa Clara demands it of everyone, treating all law-abiding citizens as if they are mentally unfit before they’ve even applied.
The evaluation is a clear attempt to reinstitute a subjective process for granting citizens their rights, similar to how many anti-2A jurisdictions used the “good cause” provision (a practice denounced by no less than Attorney General Bonta). Santa Clara had to be FORCED to drop that practice in the wake of Bruen.
But as they say on late night infomercials, “that’s not all!”. As noted in our complaint, the County’s CCW application website also “strongly implies that campaign contribution disclosures are part of the licensing process” by suggesting that applicants need to comply with the Levine Act. The effect: a chilling impact on the First Amendment in addition to an egregious restriction on the Second Amendment.
CRPA is fighting back—but we need your support.
As we’ve demonstrated throughout our CCW Reckoning Project, individual lawsuits like this aren’t JUST about one jurisdiction. As lawmakers bent on gun control try new schemes to deny access, we must beat them back to set precedents that stops others from doing the same.
The post CRPA Sues Santa Clara Over CCW Fees & Requirements appeared first on CRPA.
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“As CRPA has pursued our CCW Reckoning Project, we’ve encountered many jurisdictions resist the clear mandate of Bruen, even when we’ve supplied specific guidance on how their CCW processes must adapt,” noted CRPA President & General Counsel Chuck Michel. “Santa Clara has continually doubled down but with this lawsuit today, we are sending the message that enough is enough.”
Santa Clara’s current CCW process includes:
- Almost $1,000 in county fees just to apply,
- A $400 training requirement
- A $500 mandatory psychological exam, and
- Extra costs for fingerprinting and renewals.
That’s $2,000 for a CCW permit that must be renewed EVERY TWO YEARS!
Even worse, the County is forcing every applicant—without cause—to undergo an intrusive psychological evaluation. State law allows sheriffs to use discretion in rare cases where there’s a legitimate concern. But Santa Clara demands it of everyone, treating all law-abiding citizens as if they are mentally unfit before they’ve even applied.
The evaluation is a clear attempt to reinstitute a subjective process for granting citizens their rights, similar to how many anti-2A jurisdictions used the “good cause” provision (a practice denounced by no less than Attorney General Bonta). Santa Clara had to be FORCED to drop that practice in the wake of Bruen.
But as they say on late night infomercials, “that’s not all!”. As noted in our complaint, the County’s CCW application website also “strongly implies that campaign contribution disclosures are part of the licensing process” by suggesting that applicants need to comply with the Levine Act. The effect: a chilling impact on the First Amendment in addition to an egregious restriction on the Second Amendment.
CRPA is fighting back—but we need your support.
As we’ve demonstrated throughout our CCW Reckoning Project, individual lawsuits like this aren’t JUST about one jurisdiction. As lawmakers bent on gun control try new schemes to deny access, we must beat them back to set precedents that stops others from doing the same.
The post CRPA Sues Santa Clara Over CCW Fees & Requirements appeared first on CRPA.
Continue reading...