February 14, 2014: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently struck down a San Diego County policy which required county residents to show a “pressing need” in order to obtain a concealed carry permit. The Court held that the policy was an unconstitutionally restrictive interpretation of California’s “good cause” requirement for obtaining a concealed carry permit, and found that the “good cause” requirement should not be interpreted to disallow law-abiding citizens from bearing arms outside the home for self-defense. A copy of the decision is available here.
Despite U.S. District Judge Alfred Covello’s recent decision upholding Connecticut’s new gun laws, the law is being ignored. According to the Hartford Courant, potentially as little as 15% of the “assault rifles” believed to be owned in the state were registered as of the registration deadline at the end of 2013. Although possession of an unregistered “assault rifle” is a Class D felony, it is estimated that somewhere between 20,000 and 100,000 Connecticut residents still possess unregistered “assault rifles.” Thus far, the state has not commented on how it intends to enforce the law.
In Illinois, newly proposed legislation would require the registration of all firearms owned in the state. The law would also require firearms owners to pass a State Police background check to be issued a registration certificate, and individuals would only be able to purchase ammunition which is suitable for use in a firearm listed on their registration certificate. A copy of the bill is available here.