calif-ccw.jpgThere are a couple of new right-to-carry bills before the California Legislature this session. One of the bills, AB357, would remove discretionary language and make the issuance of a CCW license imperative, rather than at the whim of an activist sheriff like Sheriff Sandra Hutchens or an activist police chief like former Torrance Police Chief Don Nash. These ‘only ones’ as David Codrea calls them, would be obliged to issue CCW permits without regard to their personal judgment.

AB357 would amend Section 12050 of the Penal Code:

SECTION 1. Section 12050 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
12050. (a) (1) (A) The sheriff of a county, upon proof that the person applying is of good moral character, that good cause exists for the issuance, and that the person applying satisfies any one of the conditions specified in subparagraph (D) and has completed a course of training as described in subparagraph (E), may shall issue to that person a license to carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person . . .

Removal of the ‘that good cause exists for the issuance’ language and changing ‘will’ to ’shall,’ enables permits to be issued providing the applicant is compliant with the character and training requirements of the code.

The second bill, AB1167, would establish reciprocity with other states’ concealed carry licenses or permits. This bill would deem persons who have a valid permit or license to carry a concealed handgun issued by another state or a political subdivision of another state to be authorized to carry a concealed handgun pursuant to provisions of California law, as specified. This provision would direct the California Department of Justice to enter into agreements with other states and to regularly publish a list of states with whom an agreement has been made.

AB1167 would add Section 12058 to the Penal Code:

SECTION 1. Section 12058 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
12058. (a) Persons holding a valid permit or license to carry a concealed handgun from any state or a political subdivision of a state shall be deemed a licensee under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 12050. (b) The Department of Justice shall enter into reciprocity agreements with all other states that have the legal authority to enter into those agreements so that licensees under Section 12050 may carry firearms in those states pursuant to the conditions imposed by Section 12050. The department shall each month maintain and publish a list of those states with which this state has established reciprocity.

Both of these bills need support from Californians. Ride Fast and Shoot Straight published contact information for the Legislature and also a list of gun control bills before the California Assembly.

Visit Gun Owners of California for more California resources.

Californians interested in personal protection - do the right thing and contact your legislators.

Click the following links to view AB357 (PDF) and AB1167 (PDF) in their entirety.

UPDATE: Thanks to Liberty Sphere for the mention in the Second Amendment Roundup.