Sheriff attacked for policy on concealed weapons(CA)

The Orange County Register ^ | 25 February, 2010 | MARTIN WISCKOL

[marktwain]

Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens prompted guffaws from some Second Amendment stalwarts when she said at a Feb. 9 candidate forum that she's approved 90 percent of applications for concealed weapons permits.

In fact, she's significantly tightened distribution criteria. There are 22 percent fewer CCW permits than when Hutchens was appointed to the job in 2008. And most permits she's approved come with restrictions absent from permits issued by predecessor Mike Carona. Article Tab : sheriff-photo-file-challe Sheriff Sandra Hutchens' election challengers want a more lenient policy on concealed weapons.

The issue is unlikely to determine the outcome of this year's sheriff's election (while it could affect a close election, it won't make the race a close one). But one challenger – Bill Hunt – has made it a central campaign issue and the other challenger – Craig Hunter – is also critical of Hutchens' policy. Voters for whom the permits are important are relatively few, but they are passionate and could bring gun-rights dough to Hunt and Hunter.

Both challengers say they'd be more lax in handing out the permits. Hunt has said he'd grant requests from any adult with a clean legal and mental-health record, so long as they say they need the gun for "personal protection."

Hunter says he'd like state law to allow Hunt's generous approach, but that a bit more scrutiny is mandated – although not nearly so much scrutiny as Hutchens practices.

Hutchens too cites state law, which requires applicants show "good cause" to qualify for permit to carry a concealed weapon. Is somebody stalking or threatening you? Do you carry large amounts of cash or valuables in the course of your work? Those are the types of "good cause" that qualifies, according to Hutchens.

[marktwain]

Sheriff Hutchens was appointed from L.A. There have been several scandals involving the way she has restricted CCW permits in Orange County, and the way that she has worked to pressure the opposition against her.

[rpierce]

Is "guffaw" some kind of new journo-speak code for use with those crazy pro-life, pro-gun, teabaggers? That's the second this week I've seen that dusty word. Smells to me like someone has focused-grouped a new word.

Guffaw (gə-ˈfȯ, ˈgə-ˌfȯ): a loud or boisterous burst of laughter

[mountainlion]

Guffaw (gə-ˈfȯ, ˈgə-ˌfȯ): a loud or boisterous burst of laughter This is the boomer version of LOL. Two Colorado Sheriffs have stated that they will not enforce the gun ban made by Colorado State University.

[SkyDancer]

My understanding that in CA the CCW’s are county to county or does one cover the whole state ....

[Cicero]

A clean break in O.C. sheriff

Sandra Hutchens, the first woman to hold the post, pledges to dispel the scandals of the Carona era.

June 11, 2008|Stuart Pfeifer and Christine Hanley ,LA Times Staff Writers

In a historic break from a male-dominated, deeply conservative past, Orange County supervisors on Tuesday named a woman and former Los Angeles County cop to lead its troubled Sheriff’s Department and help bury the legacy of its indicted former sheriff.

Sandra Hutchens, a 53-year-old retired Los Angeles County sheriff’s division chief, becomes the 12th sheriff of Orange County and the first woman to hold the position. She pledged to be an agent of change in a department that has suffered through scandals, criminal indictments and withering criticism.

[jrp]

Permits are issued solely at the discretion of the Sheriff or Chief LEO in each county. Permits are good state-wide, unless otherwise restricted by the Sheriff (which I don’t think is common).

A lawsuit has been filed in federal district court (Sykes vs. McGuiness) challenging California’s discriminatory permit system. This lawsuit is on hold pending the outcome of the McDonald vs. Chicago incorporation case now in front of the Supreme Court. There is also an on-going lawsuit in San Diego county regarding CCW issuance.

[SkyDancer]

Here in Washington you just fill out a form, pay the fee, then they run your ID through the state and federal law enforcement database ... if it comes back clean you get the permit. No local cops involved (first time applicants have to have their fingerprints taken) ....and it usually comes back to you in five days ....

[marktwain]

Here is some history of the Sheriff:

Basically, she secured her appointment from the BOS w/ misleading statements about how she would interpret the CCW situation. Now that she is the sheriff, the BOS has absolutely no control over how she runs the department*. Despite the pleadings from the revokees AND the BOS, Hutchins has not budged even a fraction of an inch.

“It is a CCW holder's worst nightmare.

*After the spying on the BOS members and the intimidation of CCW holders by sheriff dept SWAT officers at a BOS meeting, the BOS has fired the sheriff's dept. from the job (worth about $800,000.00 annually) of providing security at BOS meetings. The BOS is expected to give this plum to the Santa Ana Municipal Police Dept.”

http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbulletin/1091487-post19.html
__________________

[KeyLargo]

The results of hiring females to do street police work. Also applies to military combat jobs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDfNV9bJoSg

[smokingfrog]

Vote her out!

[SoConPubbie]

For those of you in the Orange County Area here are the details for a couple of fundraisors for Hunter:

——————UPCOMING EVENTS——————

To All of Our Students and Friends,

We will be hosting two upcoming fundraisers for Deputy Chief Craig Hunter who is running for Orange County Sheriff this year.

As you may or may not know, he believes in the fundamental 2nd Amendment Rights of Citizens and supports Concealed Weapons Permits for Citizens!!

---

Please join us to meet and support

Deputy Chief Craig Hunter
For Orange County Sheriff 2010

---

For an Evening of Good Music and Great People

On Sunday, February 28, 2010

At 7:00 PM, Live Music by “Cheap Date”

Hosted by Mayor John Anderson and Council Member Nancy Rikle

Gloria’s Java Joes
4973 Yorba Ranch Rd.
Yorba Linda, CA 92887

-——Also-——

---

Bring Your Family & Friends to a Fun Shoot in Support of

Deputy Chief Craig Hunter
For Orange County Sheriff 2010

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At Mike Raahauge’s Shooting Enterprises

For a day of Sporting Clays, Cowboy Shooting, Modern Gun Shooting, Tri-Tip Lunch, Silent Auction & More!

Sunday, March 7 at 10:00 AM

Hosted By: Firearms Training Associates, Norco Running Gun IPSC, Mike Raahauge’s Shooting Enterprises, Shooting Sport Alliance, and the Cowboys

Chief Hunter Proudly Supports Citizens’ 2nd Amendment Rights and Concealed Handgun Permits!

Even if you don’t live in Orange County other Sheriffs base their CCW policy on Orange County’s!

---

Suggested donation / person:

Chief’s Circle $500, Friends of the Chief $250, Chief’s Supporter $100

For more information please contact: Cristen

[ Cristen@ftatv.com ]

[rickomatic]

Here in Washington you just fill out a form, pay the fee, then they run your ID through the state and federal law enforcement database ... if it comes back clean you get the permit. No local cops involved (first time applicants have to have their fingerprints taken) ....and it usually comes back to you in five days ....

Actually, there are local cops involved here in WA. You have to make your application through your local Sheriff's office or municiple police department. Other than that, you're right..it's a snap. Just don't forget to renew on time, or you'll have to reapply, and pay the initial fee again. Don't ask how I know that.....LOL.

[SkyDancer]

Yep, did it that way. Now I just go to the courthouse, fill out a renewal form and five days later it’s here ....

[Red in Blue PA]

Any legislator who does not uphold the 2A in full is not fit for the Office of Dogcatcher.