Federal Court Says ‘Good Cause’ Requirement for Conceal-Carry Permits Violates the Second Amendment

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit handed gun rights
advocates a major victory today by invalidating San Diego,
California’s requirement that conceal-carry permits only be issued
to those gun owners who have a “good cause” to carry a concealed
gun in public. According to local officials, “one’s personal safety
is not considered good cause.” In his opinion for a divided
three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit, Judge Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain
rejected the local government’s approach as an unconstitutional
infringement on the Second Amendment.

“In California,” the ruling observes, “the only way that the
typical responsible, law-abiding citizen can carry a weapon in
public for the lawful purpose of self-defense is with a
concealed-carry permit. And, in San Diego County, that option has
been taken off the table.”

As Brian Doherty
noted on Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court is currently
considering whether it will take up two other cases that also
center on the Second Amendment’s reach outside of the home. This
new ruling from the 9th Circuit makes it all the more likely that
the question of gun rights in public will soon be addressed by the
Supreme Court.

Today’s ruling by the 9th Circuit in Peruta v. County of San
Diego is available here.