CA CCW - Advantages

[dave3006]

I received my Cali CCW about 3 months ago. After reading this board and personal experience, I think we actually have some advantages over other states if you are fortunate enough to have a CCW.

1. You can carry just about anywhere.

I can carry to pick up my kids at their school. I just attended my 11 year old's violin concert and I was carrying my Glock 27. We don't have stores with the "no guns allowed signs". This is not even on the radar screen here.

2. The sheep are oblivious

Unless you are a CCW'er or a cop. No one even thinks about a person having a gun on them. I carried an obvious "gun fanny pack" around South Coast Plaza the other weekend. To the best of my knowledge, not one person noticed. I was looking to see if anyone gave me a second look. Nope. I think I would have to duct tape the gun to my forehead to wake up the average person.

3. The bad guys probably don't think you are armed.

This is not a sure thing. But, the average bad guy probably does not expect you to be able to produce a gun to defend yourself. It could be a slight advantage in certain circumstances. Maybe.


- I have to remind myself of the small things I have going for me in this socialist hell hole of a state. Someday I hope to escape to free America.

 

[tiberius]

Let me translate: "It's good to be a member of the elite, screw the proletariat"

Seriously though, it is unfortunate that restrictions seem to go hand-in-hand with “shall issue†licensing. Here though, the restrictions have actually improved as we have had the CHL law in place.

 

[BerettaNut92]

I agree we have advantages as CCW is not in our culture.

One thing I'd look out for, instead of bad guys thinking you're armed, is flags that would make bad guys think you're a cop.

Cop vs Fireperson sporting event shirts, being a clean cut well built White guy with cool guy sunglasses, etc.

 

[dave3006]

tiberius, I hope I did not imply that I think the restrictions are a good thing. I actually believe every American has the right to carry without any permit or license.

Great point Skunk. I could easily be confused for a cop. 40 year old, clean cut, in good shape, white male. Another data point to tuck away in the back of my mind.

 

[tiberius]

No, not at all. Note the smiley.

If I was a denied/discriminated Californian though I'd probably be resentful of the "haves" who brag about how great the system is that left me as a "have not".

Only VT & AK have acceptable carry laws, but I do personally find the "may issue" situation particularly distasteful.

 

[LASur5r]

Underpriviledged

Sniff! Sniff! Speaking as a member of the underpriviledged class (Los Angeles County).....I think....you O.G. guys suck! Of course if you guys played fair and shared the CCW with our county...I might be singing another tune. Seriously though, In L.A. County I think that we have more violent blood suckers and a lot of predators collectively because they pretty much know that the victims are not legally armed. Of course, the gang bangers and other law breakers are packing with impunity. Meanwhile the gun grabbers are eroding away our rights yearly. Good point about the appearances, though, Skunk.

 

[Gary H]

..and the bad might be should you need to use your gun in self-defense. You just might find yourself facing twelve of your "peers" that are the same fools that elect the most corrupt legislature in the country. Ah, yes.. and they just might not be so friendly when it comes to defending yourself against a person that had such a tough childhood. Oh.. and you had better hope that the person isn't gay, female, a minority or an animal that is on the protected species act. So, after defending yourself, just remember to save the last round for yourself. I'm only half serious, but it is a problem that you might not face in Texas.

 

[atek3]

Almost was involved in a violent incident on the bus today:
1) Not getting a carry permit because I live in the bay area sucks. Lets think, who has 'good cause for issuance' more, someone who lives out in podunk, or someone who lives in a ghetto.
2) Oh, and public transit sucks too.

atek3

 

[BerettaNut92]

The only reason I'm a member of the Elite is because my guns say that I am right there on the slide:

I'm a little AzN scumbag that made $25k/yr at the time I went through the process.

I really hope Sheriff Carona runs for governor.

 

[dave3006]

I have one STRONG word of advise for any Kali native - apply and see what happens! Like an idiot, I assumed I couldn't get a CCW. My assumptions were wrong.

 

[stv]

I have one STRONG word of advise for any Kali native - apply and see what happens! Like an idiot, I assumed I couldn't get a CCW. My assumptions were wrong.

Great advice. A denial really doesn't do anything, so why not?

 

[BerettaNut92]

dave is right. I had the application for a year and a half before I finally applied and I got a call (or was it a letter) about a week afterwards to come on in.

 

[goalie]

Minnesota used to be like that. When a nurse at work opened her trap about repealing our current law, I told her that I hope they do (sarcasm) because then I could carry to kindergartens again like before the law was changed. She actually is against repealing the law now that she has the correct information about how many permits were already issued in Minnesota before last year's change and what restrictions were, and were not, in place for those permit holders. If ignorance is bliss, she used to be happy but isn't anymore.

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

apply and see what happens!

With a simple caveat; some cities/counties have put up incredibly onerous hoops you have to jump through just to apply. Case in point: Santa Clara Sheriffs Office- they’ll tell you flat out that the Sheriff will not issue CCWs, BUT if you really want to, you can apply. Oh yeah, we forgot to tell you, there is a non-refundable filing fee of $400. And you will still be denied. Nice.

Second case in point: City of Mountain View- now these guys are slick. First there is the non-refundable filing fee, then you have to have a psychological evaluation, by a doctor of their choice, THEN you have to carry a waiver of liability insurance policy, payable to the city, of… ready for it? [Doctor Evil]One MILLION dollars![/Doctor Evil].

Unreal.

 

[Valkman]

I'm glad you got a permit! I had one in Sacramento County for two years until they threw Chief Byrd out of office. Applying through the Sacramento Sheriffs Dept is a joke - you won't get one.

But,

I think we actually have some advantages over other states if you are fortunate enough to have a CCW.

Uh, no. Not Nevada, anyway. And when I don't carry I can have any kind of loaded gun I want in the vehicle - try that in Kali.

 

[Pendragon]

Would you mind posting your county?

In CA - its all about the county.

I was called to go into the Sutter Co Sheriff just before I moved to Sacramento.

Now I am here in TX but the cruel irony is I cant even afford to get my DL, let alone my CHL.

I have seen very few places that post 30.06 signs but I think hospitals are restricted and several other places.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Dave (South Coast Plaza reference) and I are both from 'The OC'--Orange County, not oleoresin capsicum.

 

[voilsb]

3. The bad guys probably don't think you are armed.

Does anybody but me see this as a *bad* thing? I mean, if they don't know/think you're armed, then they might see you as a potential target, making it more likely for you to use your firearm in defense and therefore more likely to have to deal w/ the judge and jury.

In states like AK or VT, or even shall-issue states, the criminal can't safely make the assumption "nobody's armed" and therefore may be more on their guard to avoid all but the most attractive targets.

 

[gunsmith]

what criminals know

The ones I have pepper sprayed here in SF have been real stupid.
They are so used to the sheeple complying that when they come against
some one who fights back they fold quick.

 

[tcdrennen]

OC is pretty good - my CCW took a month from application to issue. It does cost a few hundred $ (fees, print check, required classes) and some time getting references and letters. You also are de facto registering your carry pistols (up to 3, and carrying anything NOT on the permit is the same as carrying WITHOUT a permit) but all that is CA regs, not the Sheriff.

 

[artherd]

LASur5r- Establish residency in a different county. Your 'vacation home' is now in LA


There are ways around all this BS, just like anything else. Unfortunately, they end up just about being class discrimination.

I am currently going up for my CCW in Sonoma county. I think I have a pretty damn good Good Cause (Buisness owner who personally transports $millions in DOD controled munitions as part of my job!) but we shal see.

If I do not have success in Sonoma, I am going to move my residence to Napa or Mendocino county, and just come here for vacation or rent it out.

I wonder what would happen if I snuck my AR-30 on the list of 3?

 

[deleteall]

Wasn't there a lawsuit over Ca's application of the CW laws?

 

[morganm01]

Does anyone have some "good cause" statements that have been succesfully used that fall outside of the typical "I am a Jeweller/banker/movie star/rich guy/ store owner" category? Please include county.

And anyone from San Diego? Chime in please, success's/failures?

 

[TechBrute]

Wasn't there a lawsuit over Ca's application of the CW laws?

Jim March's battle in Contra Costa County.

 

[Gary H]

Good cause differs from county to county. I live in Marin and work in Alameda and "good cause" is "die first and then ask." In Orange County you can shoot twice per week for a goodly time and then ask for CCW to protect your guns on the way to the range. Those are really divergent requirements.