NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org
Sheriff’s CCW Policy Following Court’s Grant of Rehearing in Peruta Case
SANTA ANA, Calif. – (March 27, 2015) – On Thursday, March 26, 2015, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals voted to rehear “en banc” the case of Peruta v. County of San Diego. In February 2014, a three-judge panel split 2 – 1 and held that a Sheriff’s policy requiring more than “self-defense” or “personal protection” to meet the “good cause” requirement for a concealed weapon license violates the Second Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms.
In remaining consistent with the law and respecting the court’s previous opinion, Sheriff Hutchens has been issuing CCW Licenses and citing the three-judge panel opinion as authority for the “good cause” requirement. Based on yesterday’s vote to rehear the case, the three-judge panel opinion can no longer be cited as authority. In response to the court’s decision, Sheriff Hutchens will require all new applicants and those applicants currently in the process to articulate their safety concerns and provide supporting documentation in accordance with Orange County Sheriff’s Department Policy #218 – License to Carry a Concealed Weapon. CCW Licenses issued under the previous Peruta standard of “good cause” are lawful and will NOT be recalled; however, supplemental “good cause” may be required at time of renewal. Continue reading