More than 100 protest change in gun policy

[Gladiator]

News: County supervisors and Sheriff battle over gun permits | hutchens, gun, supervisors, permits, law - OCRegister.com

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
More than 100 protest change in gun policy
More than 100 protesters show up at county board meeting to show anger over reversal of Carona gun policy
BY NORBERTO SANTANA JR.
The Orange County Register
Comments 24 | Recommend 5

County supervisors, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and hundreds of gun activists engaged today in a Wild West-style shootout over the new concealed gun policies that Hutchens has introduced during her first six months in office.

The long-awaited meeting – which featured hundreds standing in unison to show their displeasure with Hutchens – set several precedents with supervisors aggressively questioning the new Sheriff, a chief of staff -- Supervisor John Moorlach -- openly taking sides with Hutchens during a public briefing and a raucous boardroom where gun activists said the county had gone backward on personal liberty and even questioned Hutchens preparation and transparency in explaining the motivation behind her new policy.

"I want to take the politics out of that decision," Hutchens told county supervisors.

Yet it seems that Hutchens – who was appointed by supervisors in June following the federal indictment of Mike Carona – has triggered a deep reserve of pro-gun sentiments by revising the policies. And most observers agree that the new Sheriff hasn't helped her cause by repeatedly misstating statistics, in terms of gun permit revocations, as well as state law regarding her ability to devise her own policies.

At today's meeting, Hutchens told supervisors that she had reviewed 1,069 gun permits. A total of 18 were revoked for reasons unrelated to good cause. Another 646 met the good cause threshold. Another 423 letters had been sent out requesting more information from permit holders and threatened revocation.

Yet Hutchens was almost immediately corrected by her staff correct her that the 646 number wasn't accurate. It wasn't clear what the number referred to as the meeting proceeded.

In addition, when Supervisor Pat Bates asked Hutchens how many of the newly-approved permits now had time restrictions on them, she couldn't answer. Other supervisors told Hutchens that the math on the gun permits didn't add up.

The supervisors' ire seemed more heightened at this second meeting in two months over concealed weapons permits. And despite Hutchens skating on explaining her policy, some officials told her how it looked to them.

"You're being extremely restrictive," Bates said. "This is your policy."

Hutchens replied, "I do not view my policy to be restrictive," which triggered massive laughter from the audience.

Hutchens announced her review of gun permits after seeing the federal indictment of Carona feature a questionable gun permit issued to a local limousine mogul as well as allegations that Carona had hatched a plan to sell gun permits to wealthy contributors.

Indeed, the Orange County Register did find 95 instances where Carona campaign donors received gun permits.

Under California state law, Sheriff's are granted wide discretion on setting policies that define the "good cause" needed to carry a concealed weapon. Carona was known in the gun community for his liberal interpretation of the standard. In fact, many rural counties do grant many more licenses than Sheriffs in urban areas.

In October, Hutchens announced her new policy noting that specific proof of threats or workplace needs would be required, in addition to possible psychological and medical checks.

When gun activists began questioning her policies, county supervisors – who generally support concealed weapons holders - asked her publicly to explain. Hutchens noted a 1997 attorney general letter that gave direction on how to define good cause.

At today's meeting, County Supervisor Chris Norby took issue with Hutchens reliance on the letter, saying it had no force of law and was misleading to argue that somehow her hands were tied.

Hutchens quickly replied that the Attorney General letter was the only direction given to Sheriffs. And she insists, "we should follow the intent of the law."

Hutchens told supervisors that the state law generally prohibits the use of concealed weapons. Allowing Sheriffs to grant certain licenses, are an exception, she said, not a way around the law.

But there is no regulatory body that checks concealed weapons checks, creating an "honor system" up and down the state, she said.

But once she reviewed the permits, she started sending letters indicating that her new standards would create lots of revocations.

Norby – responding to the concerns of gun permit holders – has presented a resolution calling on the Sheriff to avoid revoking the permit of any holder who has not broken the law.

Other supervisors seem supportive of the resolution, which has been waiting for most of the day to receive a direct debate as more than 80 speakers voice their concerns over the new gun policies.

[libertarian]

The actual count was closer to 250, for those keeping score. The place was PACKED, standing room only.

[BonoVox]

Originally Posted by libertarian

The actual count was closer to 250, for those keeping score. The place was PACKED, standing room only.

250 WOW!!

[gravedigger]

and it was a 1977 letter, not 1997.

[OCRancher]

Gravedigger, thanks for coming today. Your comments and efforts were greatly appreciated. (and some were fun, too!)

[THE Gimper]

Originally Posted by OCRancher

Gravedigger, thanks for coming today. Your comments and efforts were greatly appreciated. (and some were fun, too!)

+1. Gravedigger, you were great! Thanks for coming up and supporting us.

[maldos]

Great support today!




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Not a Law Professor although I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once...