No Right to Concealed Carry, Says Ninth Circuit Court

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Gun Owners of America
Gun Owners of America

Springfield, VA -(AmmoLand.com)- You have no constitutional right to carry a concealed firearm in public.

That’s what the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals just ruled, by a 7-4 margin, in a case that puts the battle for the next Supreme Court justice into even brighter focus.

Remember, the Supreme Court ruled, in two 5-4 decisions, that the Second Amendment protects an individual right (District of Columbia v. Heller) and that the protection of the right to keep and bears arms applies at the state level as well (McDonald v. City of Chicago).

The recent death of Justice Antonin Scalia would put those and subsequent Second Amendment cases at a 4-4 split, meaning lower court rulings would stand. And, as we know, almost all lower court rulings are terrible decisions written by rabidly anti-gun judges.

This means that whoever replaces Scalia will tip the balance.

No Concealed Firearms in Public

The Ninth Circuit case, Peruta v. San Diego, involves a challenge to California’s concealed carry laws.
The Plaintiffs sued the San Diego County Sheriff, challenging the state’s interpretation that the “good cause” requirement to obtain a concealed carry license requires a specific threat of harm to the applicant. General personal safety doesn’t count, in San Diego’s view.

“We hold that the Second Amendment does not preserve or protect a right of a member of the general public to carry concealed firearms in public,” wrote Judge William A. Fletcher, a President Bill Clinton appointee.

When the case was first filed, California law permitted unloaded open carry. But while the case was pending, the California legislature banned open carry as well. Therefore, Californians are now almost completely prevented — with a few minor exceptions — from carrying firearms in public.

This decision is a reversal of a 2014 Ninth Circuit ruling by a three-judge panel that the Second Amendment “does require that the states permit some form of carry for self-defense outside the home.”

But California Attorney General Kamala Harris requested that court rehear the case, with more judges participating, leading to this more recent ruling.

Kamala Harris is currently running for U.S. Senate in California, putting her in a position to vote on the next Supreme Court nominee.

GOA: The Second Amendment is the Standard

Gun Owners of America filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in the case. In it, we argue that the Second Amendment is the standard to which gun laws should be held, not the whims and fancies of modern-day judges:

The words “to keep and bear arms” include no words of limitation. They do not describe a right that is subject to “reasonable regulation.” The Second Amendment could have stated “bear arms openly,” or “keep arms within the home,” but it did not.

Absent any such limitation, “keep and bear” must be given their broadest ordinary meaning. Heller explained, “[a]t the time of the founding, as now, to ‘bear’ meant to ‘carry’”, defining carrying as “‘wear, bear, or carry… upon the person or in the clothing or in a pocket….’”

To ensure against contrary opinions of modern judges who might disagree with the Founders’ principles that the right to bear arms applies inside and outside the home, Heller states unequivocally that this right is “‘for the purpose … of being armed and ready for offensive or defensive action in a case of conflict with another person,’” without regard to place.

The Ninth Circuit Court blatantly ignored the Second Amendment, just as it ignored the Heller decision.
Many in the pro-gun community popped the cork prematurely after the Heller and McDonald.

After all, to live by the court is to die by the court. The modern view that the courts are endued with superpowers that reach beyond any constitutional limitations has eroded the very purpose of the judicial branch of government.

In an article on the Peruta decision, two of our attorneys write:

It is the job of courts to interpret the language of the Constitution, not to ignore it. But the en bancNinth Circuit failed in that elementary task. Its opinion is completely illegitimate under the Supreme Court’s Heller and McDonald decisions, and as a matter of constitutional law.

There is an all-out war against your gun rights in all three branches of government, and GOA is fighting on every front.

I urge you to join GOA in these battles today. Your contribution of $100, $50, $25, or even $10 will ensure that we have the resources to meet the enemies of freedom head-on.

And there is yet another front where GOA is active, and that is in elections across the country.

The Ninth Circuit case is likely headed to the Supreme Court. The next president will nominate Justice Scalia’s replacement, and possibly two or three more justices over the course of the presidency.

So GOA is working to elect U.S. Senators who will refuse to confirm ANY judicial nominee who holds your constitutional rights in contempt.

As you can see, there’s a lot going on with GOA. And I want to thank you for your support, without which it would be impossible to continue in these struggles for liberty.

Sincerely,

Tim Macy
Chairman

P.S. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers nine western states, just ruled that you have no constitutional right to carry a concealed firearm in public.

This ruling sets up another epic Supreme Court battle. Your contribution to GOA will help us to elect pro-gun U.S. Senators who will not confirm any judicial nominee who ignores the Constitution and the Second Amendment.

About Gun Owners of America (GOA):

Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. GOA sees firearms ownership as a freedom issue. `The only no comprise gun lobby in Washington’ – Ron Paul.

For more information, visit: www.gunowners.org.

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Eric

Traitors and violates Alaska’s laws.

Colonialgirl

Ninth Circuit, a court loaded with liberals that have no intelligence or common sense as is proven by the FACT that they ARE the court that has had the MOST rulings overturned by the Supreme Court for being completely WRONG when compared to what the Constitution says.
Congratulations you 9th court morons, you got ANOTHER ONE totally wrong, Are you INCAPABLE of reading the Constitution or do you just lack the intelligence to understand its words?

Street Survivor

Apparently the enemy is totally entrenched among us. Looks like all 3 branches of government have turned rogue socialist and communist on the citizens of the Founder’s Republic. Their collective veil has finally been discarded . We will take America over from within without firing shot. No truer words mouthed by N. Khrushchev [USSR] while banging his shoe on the table @ that un American criminal cabal known as the United Nations. A communist is an impatient socialist. This election is the most important election .That I have seen in 60 yrs. Both anointed political parties be damned. As a… Read more »

Mike McAllister

I hope all the liberal high and mighty judges are the first to experience what happens when you take gun’s out of the hands of law abiding Americans. This is what the liberal agenda has brought this country to and it is ASHAME!!!

Laddyboy

Maryland also uses the “good cause” to legally restrict Americans’ Second Amendment RIGHTS. Too get a carry permit is nigh onto IMPOSSIBLE in the “FREE STATE” of Maryland.

Wild Bill

Liberal elitists using their power to negate our God given and Second Amendment enumerated civil Rights. This will go to the S. Ct. so the election in November just became that much more important. That the Senate stand firm against a Obama appointed S. Ct. justice just became that much more important. If the revolution comes, then Judge William A. Fletcher should meet the fate of a traitor to his county.