Supreme Court Refuses to Take Peruta Case Against Sheriff Gore’s “Good Cause” Policies

The Supreme Court refused to hear the NRA/CRPA’s “Peruta” lawsuit against San Diego’s Sheriff Gore. The reason for the Supreme Court’s decision is not important. It is important to understand what their decision means. The NRA/CRPA’s lawsuit leaves us with an En Banc decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals stating there is no constitutional right to bear arms outside of the home, but in no way does this hinder Sheriff Gore’s ability to issue concealed carry permits to law-abiding, trained San Diegans using self-defense/personal protection to fulfill California’s requirement of “good cause”.

For years Sheriff Gore’s excuse for not updating his antiquated and divisive “good cause” policy has been that he was waiting for a final decision in court regarding the Peruta vs. Sheriff Gore. Today is that day and Sheriff Gore has his answer. The Court will not force Sheriff Gore to issue permits. The authority to define California’s requirement of “good cause” is left with each issuing county sheriff or chief of police.

We implore Sheriff Gore to think of the safety of his constituents and change his “good cause” policy to one that is more accepting and inclusive so that San Diegans can exercise their rights to defend their life and dignity. Sheriff Gore should join the clear majority of sheriffs in California and issue concealed carry permits.

In his dissenting opinion, Justice Thomas put it best when he said, “For those of us who work in marbled halls, guarded constantly by a vigilant and dedicated police force, the guarantees of the Second Amendment might seem antiquated and superfluous. But the Framers made a clear choice: They reserved to all Americans the right to bear arms for self-defense. I do not think we should stand by idly while a State denies its citizens that right, particularly when their very lives may depend on it.”

Justice Thomas is wrong on one point. It is not the State that is denying our Second Amendment right to bear arms. It is Sheriff Gore who is denying our right to bear arms and preventing San Diegans from protecting our lives and our dignity outside of our home.

After years of trying to work with the Sheriff, but getting nowhere and years of hearing Sheriff Gore mislead the public and elected officials on California law, we head into another election year. It is gut-check time for many Republicans. Do we continue to vote for him simply because he has an “R” by his name? Or do we vote for another party’s candidate who is running on fiscal restraint and responsibility as well as respecting our Second Amendment right to bear arms? For Republicans who care about their party’s brand, the feedback I hear frequently is they are discouraged we ended up with this decision to make, but they are willing to make the right decision in June 2018.

This is what happens when people stop paying attention to principle in favor of Party allegiance.

Founded in 2015, the San Diego County Gun Owners is a registered political action committee (FPPC ID #1379388) and advocacy organization focused on organizing the gun industry and community and protecting the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms. While every U.S. state has a Second Amendment PAC, along with several nationwide gun rights PACs, SDCGO is America’s only local, countywide Second Amendment advocacy organization.