Concealed Carry Case Study

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The Issue On February 13, 2014 the Ninth Circuit Court issued a ruling allowing a citizen to carry a concealed weapon without having to show “good cause”. This ruling came as the result of the case, Puruta vs. San Diego County. San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore would require concealed carrier applicants to show “good cause” for their need to carry a weapon concealed on their person. Good cause usually meant that the applicant had to have some type of articulable reason to carry a weapon. One saying they need a weapon for personal defense was not enough. “Orange and Ventura counties have dropped the "good cause" standard for issuing conceal carry permits after the requirement was struck down Feb. 13 by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeal.…show more content…
For the last 80 years the general public become accustomed to not carrying firearms as a normal part of their day. In the days of the old west this practice was considered taboo. It is notable that this issue concerns concealed carry, since open carry is illegal in the state of California. This court decision has already had huge effects on the policy of issuing concealed carry permits in some counties. “More than 500 applications have poured in to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in just two weeks — roughly the total number of applications filed in 2013, a spokesman said. Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens announced on the department's website that the county will comply with the federal court's order immediately, sparking the wave of applications”(Miller, 2014). All the sheriffs in California do not accept these changes as graciously as they were by the Orange and Ventura County Sheriffs. Some feel that taking away the good cause standard from sheriffs limits their desecration, which limits the sheriff’s ability to help ensure public safety. Public perception of law enforcement ability to protect them is changing as well. Many people realize that law enforcement is not always present right when they are needed. Just look into the many active shooter situations where no armed good guy stood in the way of the bad guy. In short, the people are…show more content…
It is likely the United States Supreme Court is going to step in the not so distant future and put as many of these verbiage and definition squabbles to rest for good. Currently, the tension is the air all across America when it comes to the gun rights debate. Ultimately, it will be up to the courts to review history, case, law, and the culture of the United States of America. With either outcome there will be many very angry people and many happy people. The law does not please everyone. “The U.S. Supreme Court has already affirmed our Constitutional right to keep arms, and today, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the right to bear arms. Our fundamental, individual right to bear arms is not limited to the home” (Miller, 2014). In the end the bottom line is if Americans are able to take on the responsibility of not only owning a firearm but also possessing one on their person wherever they go. Law enforcement officials understand this responsibility probably better than anyone else. With the proper firearms education, practice, laws, and background checks, those Americans who decided to carry will be able to do so with a better since of respect and responsibly as a
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