The Sheriff’s Race and Confusion over Concealed Weapons Permits

Bill Hunt has entered the race for Sheriff against current OC sheriff Sandra Hutchens.  Hunt seems to be making an issue over the politicization of the issuance of concealed weapons permits (CCWs).  The corrupt, disgraced, former sheriff, convicted felon Mike Carona (who’s going to the big house later this month) used to issue CCWs to reward political cronies. 

Hunt has a curious statement on his website about CCWs:

“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.”

That’s funny, because in reviewing Sheriff Hutchens reports, I have the impression the process was already de-politicized.

Since Hutchens took office, here’s what she’s done with the CCW policy:

Currently there are 855 ACTIVE CCW Permits.

A year ago, there were 1069 Active Permits.

 Here’s a closer look at the numbers behind the change:

 179 expired and never renewed

4 Deceased

50 Elected to Expire per new Policy

45 Revoked per new Policy (No Response)

9 withdrew from the process

4 denied renewal due to non OC residency

7 Notified department of move out of county

5 revoked due to non OC residency

3 surrendered license prior to expiration (no longer needed)

7 revoked (no longer reserve, never reapplied as a resident)

6 revoked due to incident

50 Expired but renewing

In addition, there 48 new applications that have been submitted and are just in the early stages of the process.  The notable revocation was Mike Schroeder’s permit (since reinstated?) and Adam Probolsky’s permit.  Why either man feels the need to carry a concealed weapon is beyond me.  Inadequacy perhaps?  😉

The sherriff is not violating anyone’s second amendment rights.  The CCW permit policy under her was not politicized as it was under Mike Carona.  She’s following the law.  Hunt is making an issue out of something where there’s no issue.  He’s not running against Carona this time.

 

 

 

He makes an

6 Comments

  1. Nice shot Dan but you have previously let it be known that you are a fan of the LA Democrats moving in on OC. Thanks for the assist.

  2. Hutchens lives in Dana Point and is a Republican who supported John McCain in the last election; and your point is….?

  3. Dan, I respectfully disagree. California law provides a good deal of discretion to a county sheriff with CCW issuances. LA issues few, Kern County alot–other counties, like San Diego, somewhere in between.

    Corona while sheriff was entitled to his own interpretation of the statute just like Hutchins. If she was genuinely concerned that political compadres were getting CCW’s WITHOUT OTHERWISE QUALIFYING under Carona’s interpretation of the statute, than she should have limited her CCW investigations and revocations to that group to see if they improperly obtained the CCW permits. Once someone has been issues the permit they have a vested interest in that permit and until the permit expires, she should not have inserted her interpretation onto permits issued lawfully by another sheriff.

    Because of the greater than expected blowback by 2nd Amendment advocates, the Sheriff has attempted a PR offensive to suggest this is much ado about nothing. Those involved will recall the L.A. influenced heavy handed approach(ah the famous search and intimidate BOS meeting)towards permit holders, hence the number of CCW’s revoked or withdrawn. Just as we should be concerned whether one jail inmate gets beat up or 100, we should also be concerned when teh sheriff oversteps her authority with one or 100 or 500 permit holders. If the people having their permit revoked only got their permits because they ahd given money to Carona and did not otherwise qualify for CCW issuance pursuant to Carona’s interpretation, than she should present the evidence. Otherwise she overstepped her bounds.

    As to future applicants or those whose permits expire, she has a great deal of discretion. For the people who don’t like her interpretation, go tell your troubles to John Moorlach and Pat Bates because they voted for Hutchins. Or come up with a candidate. Otherwise, don’t count on packin in her second term when she’ll probably be Baca South on this issue.

    Dan , you’re right that this is not a Democratic thing–she’s a Republican and in fact, her fundraiser featured a host committee of most of the elected GOP and Lincoln Club heavies in the County. She’s not going to be a Matewan type of sheriff my friends.

  4. Hey there Dan. Didn’t know living in Dana Point was relevant except for maybe that the CWLA hangs out around there. You know who they are right? You’re probably are aware how they came into play durning the appointment process. Which leads me to your curious position of apparently defending an alledged “incumbent” in a non partisian office. Hutchens is a RINO but that is cool. Don’t care. I can do the history of her affiliation at some point but you are nowhere if not a Dem in LA when it comes to promotions. Enter Baca supporting Hutchens at every turn. Proof is in the pudding. Besides which all GOP’ers (including Hutchens) are anti-gunrights fur sure. Just an observation. That’s all.

  5. Diane Feinstein had no problem getting a concealed carry permit when she felt she needed one, yet most of us never know when we will need to defend our lives. Certainly my sister-in-law in Georgia was saved from an attack on her and her infant son by having a CCW and a loaded pistol under the seat of her car that she was trained to use.

    For Sheriff Hutchens to specifically target ALL CCW holders in OC is wrong. That is like enforcing a law retroactively. The fact that she is a Republican is of little relevance. Bill Clinton’s mentor Professor Carroll Quigley pointed out that there cannot be more than a dime’s worth of difference between the right wing and the left wing of the same bird or it will disrupt the directional flow of government in this country.

    Gun crime researcher John Lott, Jr. pointed out that “states with the largest increases in gun ownership also have the largest drops in violent crimes. Thirty-one states now have such laws—called ‘shall-issue’ laws. These laws allow adults the right to carry concealed handguns if they do not have a criminal record or a history of significant mental illness.” Unfortunately, California’s lawmakers and Sheriffs overall do not comprehend his carefully gathered data.

    I’d rather be able to carry a gun and not need it than need it and be attacked by a person carrying an illegally obtained gun who never worried about getting a permit. Unfortunately, I live in San Bernardino County where permits are relatively hard to get, so I do not currently have one.

  6. Re-read the post Charla; there was a review of all CCWs and some of the people on the list were denied a CCW for a specific reason. No one’s 2nd amendment rights were infringed upon.

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