”While [the Monterey County Concealed Carry Weapons permitting process is] open to everyone, that doesn’t mean everyone gets one,” sheriff Scott Miller [above] told mercurynews.com. “In our last batch, we had 18 approved and 11 rejected. If we have one reason that makes you look like a queasy CCW holder, you won’t get one.” And boy is he looking. “For the first time, applicants must undergo a psychological exam that can take several hours. In addition, deputies interview neighbors, spouses, friends and co-workers and have applicants undergo a voice stress analysis.” Would you go through all this to [not] get your CCW license?
There are several cities in RI that now require you to take this worthless test at $350 a pop. I wish the NRA would get involved and force them to stop this silly practice. This test can be avoided if you apply directly to the AG’s office, and you can save yourself a ton of money. The people who handle the applications at the AG’s office are very helpful and polite, and they have been approving qualified candidates who show proper need for a permit.
There is that “need” issue though. I find THAT troubling too. Who are any of these people to say what I need?
I could barely afford this with all my other life expenses and I make the average US income. Sad what this kind of expense must look like to one less well off, living in a worse area, the thought actually makes me kind of queasy.
These provisions give the power to deny law abiding citizens the ability to own a firearm to academics who skew liberal. I wonder how long until the smallest psychological problem leads to being denied a fundamental human right?
How long? Yesterday. This whimsical policy–and tyranny is always capricious–is a trifecta of statist abuse. Not only is the rubric highly subjective. Not only is the Subject’s enumerated Right subjugated to a highly intrusive examination where the process is the punishment.
But the applicant’s (supplicant’s?) qualification for exercising a freeborn’s Right is medicalized. That way, you don’t have merely an opinion nor a reasonable need, but in fact need treatment for what ails you.
You’ll never guess who will soon be providing the care, the medical correction, for your suspicious behavior.
I wonder how much it cost to send deputies around to do interviews? Don’t they have better things to do with their time?
In Monterey?!?!
I remember when I was applying for my Top Secret SCI security clearance in the military, they had us take one of these pysch tests. They ask me if I was a spy working for a foreign government. I said “no.” But I was thinking to myself… “but if I was, do you honestly think I would tell you?” They also ask me if I had “ever engaged in any kinky or bizarre sexual behavior.” Just for fun, I asked the interviewer if there was military definition of “kinky or bizarre sexual behavior.” He rolled his eyes and said “just answer ‘no’ so we can move on.” Overall, I found the test to be pretty dumb.
Back in the 1980s the government was concerned about homosexuality, today it’s not even on the questionnaire and can’t be asked about. Getting a BJ was considered extreme at some point too but Bill Clinton took care of that problem.
Can’t blame Bill, I would have cheated on Hillary too!
Q. So Sir, you say you need a weapon for self defense?
A. Yes. To protect myself, my wife and my kids, as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment.
Q. Sir, aren’t you being just a little paranoid? After all don’t you know the police are there to protect you?
A. “Laughs Gently” Uh, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away and sir, I remind you that in Warren v. District of Columbia, the courts have ruled that the police do not have an obligation to protect citizens. So, I, with the help of the 2nd Amendment, will protect my family.
Q. Let me get this right… In your delusion of grandeur, you think you can protect your family better from harm than can the well trained police force from an attacker that in your paranoia, you think means you harm.
A. Well sir, I’m an expert marksman with my weapon. I fired over 2000 rounds through my weapon in just the past year, undergone intensive training with NRA experts. Compare this with the average police department which trains with an average of 20o rounds a year and has a shot to hit ratio of less than 20%. Yes, I’m better equipped and trained to protect my family.
Q. You believe and TRAIN with those NUT JOBS at the NRA? Sir, this interview is OVER. I am going to report to my superiors that you frequent with fringe groups, have delusions of grandeur, and extreme paranoia and as such have not the mental capacity to carry a weapon.
————— If’n I was living in Berkley, I think the horse and I would mosey our way down the road.
FWIW, my daughter, who attended an event at Stanford University a few years ago while still 15 was placed in the awkward position of while participating in a “break out group” having a Stanford professor and his associates verbally attack the war on terrorism and our nations deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. She stood up, stated “my father is currently on his second tour in Iraq on the orders of the President. He does NOT want to be there but feels obligated to do so to protect the lives of fellow Americans. I can not and will not sit here and have the honor of my Father and the brave Americans with whom he serves attacked while I’m expected to idly sit and accept your wisdom.” She turned and departed and emailed me in Iraq shortly after. I could not have been prouder of her emailed statement “if Stanford offers me a full scholarship, I think my principles will force me to turn it down.”
Thanks for your service Tex. You should indeed be proud of your daughter.
“I could not have been prouder of her emailed statement “if Stanford offers me a full scholarship, I think my principles will force me to turn it down.””
Well, Tex, did they and did she?
What is the point of your question?
We’re not yet to the point where scholarships have been announced or offered. She has been admitted and is fully intent on attending the University of Texas at Austin. She’s quite the debater and won her district and will be attending the Texas State match next month. Her debate coach is aggressively pursuing scholarships.
Any scholarships she receives will of course be welcome but right now, I’m lucky enough to have served long enough to transfer my GI Bill benefits to her.
TexanHawk, we can be proud of your service and still hate the wars.
Just because the President orders something, don’t make it right or good.
Just because America goes to war, don’t mean there’s a reason to.
I am proud of your service, and I’d like to personally thank you, because someone has to do your job, and I’m glad I have the freedom to choose for it not to be me. From the depths of my heart, thank you, and I’m glad you got home safe.
You only know half the story. Miller promised during the election that he would accept self-defense as “good cause.” (California law requires proof of “good cause” for issuance of a CCW but the term is not defined by statute so is widely and wildly interpreted. It is NOT enough in LA, SanDiego, SF or any other large urban area except Sacramento.) And apparently he did, and at least that part of his promise was kept.
But what he gave in lip service to the 2A he took away as recognized by this news article. Another part of the “test” to get a CCW is proof of good moral character, another undefined term. This latter category is the legal authority that allows the Sheriff of the county to do background investigations, interview friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers and bosses, and/or require written reference letters (usually two or three). The licensing statute permits an interview by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist, but limits the qualified providers to be those who do the psych evals for the police agency, and further require that the fee cannot exceed $150. [But then there are reports of persons paying $400 for the exam.] The Sheriff specifically states that he has a duty to make sure that anyone carrying a concealed weapon is not in the least bit “questionable.” Um Hmm. The local state organization doing a lot of fighting on the CCW litigation front, CalGuns, has taken notice and is intending to act, but they do have a full plate and three important 2A cases on the docket in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that will significantly impact the future of gun rights in this state.
No one knows exactly why the newspaper published the names of the CCW holders in that county. Yes, they are a discoverable public record, BUT there was nothing in the story that had anything to do with those identities, nor consideration for the potential increased risk these people may face because of the publication. We do note, however, that such publication is a favorite tactic of the banners and grabbers.
Alas, I live in California, but just came back from a visit from Wisconsin. I support shall – issue for CCW, but as liberal as California is, I’m often surprised that they allow concealed carry at all. It’s tough living in such a liberal state, but folks like me are here in part to inject some real wisdom regarding responsible gun ownership. Wisconsin made vast changes in CCW, and it certainly seems to be working well.
So I vote, send bothersome emails to my elected officials, voice my opinion in political polls, buy tons of ammo (and Starbucks), and blog on TTAG to help keep from going nuts…
Oh dear…did you just say you were “nuts”?
I see.
My state of Delaware has similar requirements including a newspaper post for 10 days announcing the the world you will be carrying concealed, which defeats the purpose of concealing the gun really.
You need 5 references from people in your voting district, and that’s pretty small. A Prothonotary application is made, 250 dollars for the required safety class is needed and that has to be taken before you apply. It can all be turned down for any number of unknown reasons. I went into a police station and inquired about getting a permit when I moved here 10 years ago and the cop took the occasion to grill me on why I thought I needed to carry. I ended the discussion with a simple question
“So I can count on you to protect me 24/7 if I don’t?”
” Well, no of course not”
” OK, then I’ll get an application from you and start filling it out”
Fortunately the next year Gov Minner (a strong gun advocate) signed reciprocity legislation over the objections of the press. Now I can carry with my Florida permit and so can 2 dozen other states residents.
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
I’d take the psyche test if it was an essay exam but not short answers. ‘Cause my memory isn’t what it used to be, but I write pretty well.
Nope.
But I would for a Klondike Bar.
I gotta say yeah only for the fact im in horrible california and our sheriff is a CCW nazi.