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.