Interview with Bill Hunt - Part One

[Uli Gebhard]

From Today's USCCA Armed American Newsletter: Armed American Report

Interview with a Pro-CCW Sheriff’s Candidate for Orange County CA
Part One
By Uli Gebhard,
Suarez International Staff Instructor

When you read about California in the Armed American Newsletter, you will have the image of one of the most restrictive states in the back of your head, where it is often close to impossible to obtain a Concealed Carry Permit. Most likely this image is build on well-known areas such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento to name a few. The recent developments here in Orange County will most likely have contributed to this image as well.

Thankfully, there are Law Enforcement Officers in California, who have a pro-CCW/pro armed citizen mindset.

I recently had the opportunity to talk with Bill Hunt, who is running against appointed Sheriff Sandra Hutchens for the Sheriff’s position in the next election. He answered several questions in specific regard to the CCW issue for this article:

* Sandra Hutchens claims that she is "just following the law." when she is restricting, denying and revoking CCW's of law-abiding Orange County Residents. What are your thoughts in regards to this claim?

The appointed sheriff's policy on the issuance of CCW's is untenable and unconstitutional. She erroneously claims the law prevents her from issuing CCW's but in reality it is her personal opposition to it that causes her to interpret the just cause statue in California law so narrowly. The fact is that the United States Constitution is the law of the land. No state law can override our constitutionally guaranteed liberties. This document is a contract between the Federal government, the States and the people of this great country. The appointed sheriff like all elected officials swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and is now picking and choosing who actually gets to enjoy that right outright, who gets restricted rights and who doesn't get the right at all. Would we tolerate that when it comes to our 1st Amendment right to freedom of speech or our 4th Amendment protection against warrantless search and seizure? Of course not, and we should not tolerate it here!

* Sandra Hutchens has restricted many of the current CCW's to "course and scope of business." What are your thoughts on these restrictions?

I think it is unconstitutional. It is my belief that the Sheriff should be in the business of protecting people's rights, not restricting them. I will issue concealed weapons permits (CCW) to any applicant who is a law abiding resident of the county, meets state mandated requirements and is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. I will depoliticize the process and establish an annual audit to review each application to ensure the process is unbiased, non-political and equitable. I consider personal protection sufficient to meet the standard of just cause.

* Would you overturn restrictions on CCW's if elected?

As I stated in my response to the last question, I will eliminate the politics surrounding this issue. We are talking about a constitutionally protected right not a privilege and it must be treated as such. Every citizen of Orange County will have the same access and opportunity to apply for and obtain a CCW when I am sheriff.

* What are your recommendations for those people who had their CCW revoked/forced into early expiration by the current OCSD administration?

I would encourage anyone who is unhappy with someone holding elected office, whether they have been appointed to it or not, to get involved and support a candidate that shares their values and represents their interests. That is the only thing politicians understand. If they are left to their own devices as they have been far too often in the past they will start looking out for themselves rather than for us and applying their own personal standards upon us rather than applying constitutional standards. At present we've got an unelected, appointed sheriff who has never been vetted by the people applying her badly misguided policies on the issuance of concealed weapons permits. Get involved and elect the person who shares your values and will represent your interests and send a message that you won't tolerate those who don't!

* Other than the CCW issue, what are the three main improvements that you want to achieve for the Orange County Sheriff's Department?

Accountability, service and performance. I will institute clear and quantifiable performance standards throughout the organization and hold management accountable for meeting those goals. I will institute a culture of service and ensure the men and women of the department remember who they work for and act accordingly.

* The BoS meeting on January 13 saw what many felt was an overbearing police presence in the boardroom. Later, one lady described how she was shadowed into the bathroom by a female plainclothes officer. What are your thoughts on these tactics?

It was unconscionable from my perspective. Here we have an unelected sheriff who has instituted unpopular concealed weapons policies then used the influence and personnel of that office to dissuade our citizens from exercising their 1st amendment rights to voice their opposition to her policies. It underscores the dangerous anti-American political philosophy of the appointed sheriff and the managers she imported from Los Angeles. It should never have happened and should not be tolerated.

Closing thoughts by Uli Gebhard:
When I first met Bill Hunt last year he struck me as straightforward person with good common sense. His answers are even more direct and to the point than I anticipated. This is the most pro-CCW/pro-Armed citizen position that I have seen to date in a candidate for any public office in Southern California. Please join us in our efforts to help Bill Hunt win the 2010 election.

What can we as CCW community do to help getting Bill Hunt elected as Sheriff of Orange County?
Read through his program and share it with friends and family. It is straightforward and to-the-point.
If you are local and can lend a helping hand as a volunteer, please do so.
If you can donate, Bill Hunt and the CCW community of Orange County will greatly appreciate it. In case this not an option, I would like to ask for a couple of minutes of your time to contact, once again, the Orange County Supervisors and ask for their endorsemYahoo!ent of Bill Hunt. Supervisors Nguyen, Moorlach and Chairwoman Bates have a chance to correct the grave mistake that they made in Spring of 2008 in appointing Sandra Hutchens. Please continue reminding them that their actions are being noticed well beyond the boundaries of Orange County and California.

Patricia Bates: 714-834-3550

Janet Nguyen 714-834-3110

John Moorlach 714-834-3220

Bill Campbell 714-834-3330

Chris Norby 714-834-3440

There is a second set of questions that Bill Hunt answered. You will find those in the next edition of the newsletter.

[CCWInstructor]

"Please join us in our efforts to help Bill Hunt win the 2010 election."

The field is not even set yet and your asking for help?

For the record, you can not file till January 2010. For the next 90 days after that ALL candidates will file to run. It had never been wise to back the first horse entry in the race. History has taught us that so many, many times.

[Uli Gebhard]

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

"Please join us in our efforts to help Bill Hunt win the 2010 election."

The field is not even set yet and your asking for help?

For the record, you can not file till January 2010. For the next 90 days after that ALL candidates will file to run. It had never been wise to back the first horse entry in the race. History has taught us that so many, many times.

Greg,

Thank you very much for your words of wisdom... I'm sure we can count on you when the time comes.

[CCWInstructor]

Originally Posted by Uli Gebhard

Greg,

Thank you very much for your words of wisdom... I'm sure we can count on you when the time comes.

You got it. Now you why I'm just sitting on the sidelines eating my popcorn. The field is by no means set. They vetting has not even begun yet either.

Some vetting will start in October when a court case will be heard. I'm sure the Register will be covering it.

[FN9]

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

You got it. Now you why I'm just sitting on the sidelines eating my popcorn. The field is by no means set. They vetting has not even begun yet either.

Some vetting will start in October when a court case will be heard. I'm sure the Register will be covering it.

hey how about you share some popcorn, which case in October for lay people like my self.

By the way, Greg, enjoyed your class a few weeks ago (basic hundgun), I eventually found myself a CDP ultra

[Reloader]

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

You got it. Now you why I'm just sitting on the sidelines eating my popcorn. The field is by no means set. They vetting has not even begun yet either.

Some vetting will start in October when a court case will be heard. I'm sure the Register will be covering it.

I don't know about that. All other known viable contenders have publically opted out none of which have expressed a pro-ccw policy. As for the court case, my understanding is the county has lost one motion after another. I'm sure the county is not thrilled with having a convicted felon as their star witness.

[rickr96]

We shouldn't be too quick to jump on any candidates band wagon... And we must remember that while CCW is very important to us, it is only one of the issues voters will consider before marking a ballot.

Obviously we want to support a candidate who believes like we do... or as close to it as we can find. But that candidate also needs to be electable... and someone the community at large will support. No matter the position on CCW's, what good will it do to support someone who can't win?

I'm not sure everyone has spoken... I think we can expect others with an interest in becoming OC's "Top Cop" will step up prior to the filing deadline in January. Until we know all the players... and until the front runners have been vetted, we shouldn't be too excited about any one potential candidate.

[G36 Steve]

Originally Posted by rickr96

We shouldn't be too quick to jump on any candidates band wagon... And we must remember that while CCW is very important to us, it is only one of the issues voters will consider before marking a ballot.

Obviously we want to support a candidate who believes like we do... or as close to it as we can find. But that candidate also needs to be electable... and someone the community at large will support. No matter the position on CCW's, what good will it do to support someone who can't win?

I'm not sure everyone has spoken... I think we can expect others with an interest in becoming OC's "Top Cop" will step up prior to the filing deadline in January. Until we know all the players... and until the front runners have been vetted, we shouldn't be too excited about any one potential candidate.

Well spoken. I'm with you on this 100%.

[CCWInstructor]

Originally Posted by FN9

which case in October for lay people like my self.

Hunt Vs. O.C.S.0. He filled on six allegations, four were thrown out. Two remain.

[CCWInstructor]

Originally Posted by Reloader

I don't know about that. All other known viable contenders have publically opted out none of which have expressed a pro-ccw policy. As for the court case, my understanding is the county has lost one motion after another. I'm sure the county is not thrilled with having a convicted felon as their star witness.

You crack me up! Your lack of knowledge is incredible in this issue. County Counsel had the final say on the demotion. You are very wrong on the star witness too.

Clue: No Skelly hearing was ever filed. He retired instead. You will be able to read about in the OC register.

[Reloader]

OK. Who are those viable contenders? Why go through a Skelly after you get the Noice of Intent? I understand the Notice dealt exclusively with campaign statements made by Hunt. This isn't a T-Rak deal. This is a guy running for public office and in doing so exercising his First Amendment rights. Would you perfer Hutchens as Sheriff? I sense you have an ax to grind with this guy Hunt. Am I correct in that assumption?

[naganthunter]

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

You will be able to read about in the OC register.

Is there an article floating around out there already, or one we should expect to see in the future? I'm interested in what's going on here - there seem to be some folks that have some info on Mr. Hunt, but it's not been openly discussed here on the fourm.

Thanks for any info.

[Uli Gebhard]

Originally Posted by Reloader

I sense you have an ax to grind with this guy Hunt. Am I correct in that assumption?

Seems the same to me

For those who are voicing quite a bit of negativity about Bill Hunt:

This is even more negative spill than I anticipated – guess I really hit a nerve there!
As usual all negative points are covered ad nauseam, however constructive solutions are missing entirely, which is also rather common, I might add.

What’s also interesting is that someone went into my personal settings and removed a certain person from my ignore list. That person must have really desperately wanted me to see his rant. I just scanned over the niceties and ignored everything that is without substance – quick task indeed!

I have no intention of playing into Appointed Sheriff’s Hutchens' hands by tearing our side of the equation apart.

Uli out!

[Reloader]

C'mon dude. Let's talk! Where are ya? And anyone else of you people. Bring it. I'm waiting.

[naganthunter]

Originally Posted by Reloader

C'mon dude. Let's talk! Where are ya? And anyone else of you people. Bring it. I'm waiting.

Please, let's try and keep this civil. I am interested in hearing all sides on this matter. Thanks!