This Father Says it Well

Dear Friends,

Our hearts go out to the families and friends who lost loved ones in the mass shootings in Santa Barbara last night.  As a society, we are all diminished by this terrible act of violence.

We are eager to learn more about these shootings to learn how we may best help prevent them in the future.  Our commitment to the prevention of gun deaths and injuries is made ever more stronger by these senseless and needless tragedies.  We know you share this belief and commitment with us in this journey, too.  We are grateful for your support.

We found this powerful video of Richard Martinez whose twenty year old son Christopher Martinez was killed last night and student at UCSB.  His words resonate with us and we encourage you to view it and share it with as many as you can.... including those who need to be educated on the rights of victims to live....

Please click HERE

Thank you,

Charlie Blek
Chapter President

Wait Time for Permits to Carry Loaded Guns in OC Reduced; but at What Cost? OC Resgister 5/16/2014

We certainly agree and applaud San Diego Sheriff Gore who wrote to the 9th Circuit on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. (Please see Letter from Appellee William Gore on this 9th Circuit Website.)  

As you can see in his letter, he is not changing his policy until there is a final determination of the pending court process.  

His position is consistent with what we have said all along, Sheriff Hutchens should adopt the same responsible policy as Sheriff Gore and not issue CCW permits based on a case where the mandate has been stayed.  Her position is at odds with the posture of the case and has the potential for government waste as CCW permits issued since the policy change will need to be re-reviewed. 

We remain concerned and alarmed by the change in her former policy of "good cause" as this case is likely to come before the entire 9th Circuit Court.  We are confident that the full 9th Circuit Court will reverse the 2 to 1 Panel decision.  

The California Police Chiefs Association and the California Attorney General are in support of the current California "good cause"  requirement and we can only speculate as to why Sheriff Hutchens is in such a hurry to speed the process in our county to issue such permits, including the hiring of additional staff to accommodate the process.  We believe law enforcement dollars could be better spent.

In the interest of public safety, at the very least, she should pause as the San Diego Sheriff and sheriffs across our State have done in keeping current policy until final determination by the court! 

OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens Contact Info:
714-647-7000-Dispatch and Ask for Administration
FAX Letters to:  714-953-3092
Mail Letters to:  550 North Flower Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703

KEEP CURRENT WITH THE CCW ISSUE HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY.  SUBSCRIBE NOW TO THIS BLOG TO GET NOTIFICATION OF WHAT'S NEXT!  

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The Supreme Court Declines to Review! Good News!

We hope OC Sheriff Hutchens is paying attention to the Supreme Court decision today... and will reverse her decision to go forward and accept permits to carry hidden and loaded guns in public without "good cause."   Protecting the safety of Orange County citizens and following the current law in California should be her first priorities.  The 9th Circuit has issued a stay and now see below for the US Supreme Court decision to decline hearing the Drake case:   OC CHAPTER, BRADY CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE.

Brady Center Statement on Supreme Court’s Refusal to Hear Drake v. Jerejian

The following is a statement from Jonathan Lowy, director of the Legal Action Project at the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence:

“In the six years since D.C. v. Heller, the corporate gun lobby has launched a nationwide legal assault in which they have tried—and failed—to deprive Americans of the gun laws they want and need to make their families and communities safe from gun violence, and keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Courts across the country have overwhelmingly refused to expand the Second Amendment into a broad right for virtually anyone to carry any gun anywhere. Today’s refusal to hear this case further reaffirms the Supreme Court’s satisfaction with lower courts upholding all gun laws that have been challenged, so long as they allow responsible citizens to keep a gun in the home.”

Background information: The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected a request to hear Drake v. Jerejian, which challenges New Jersey’s system for issuing permits to carry concealed handguns in public. The case sought to clarify whether New Jersey’s requirement that permit applicants demonstrate a justifiable need to carry a firearm is compatible with the Second Amendment. Today’s decision by the Court leaves in place the ruling made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which held in July 2013 that New Jersey’s system is constitutional. The Supreme Court has previously declined to hear similar challenges to the concealed carry laws of New York and Maryland.