Another signal that the State of California will fight tooth and nail to prevent citizens from exercising their Second Amendment rights is an “emergency regulation” announced by the state Department of Justice (CalDOJ) designed specifically to reduce the number of available firearms instructors by limiting who can teach the required training to concealed carry permit applicants.
Among those not accepted under the new regulation are National Rifle Association certified instructors, and according to KTXL/Fox 40 News, the California State Sheriff’s Association is pushing back. The station quoted a statement issued by the organization, which states, “A likely and obvious byproduct of reducing the number of trained and certified CCW instructors will be an increased difficulty in CCW applicants’ ability to access appropriate CCW training and certification…It can be argued that impeding access to sufficient numbers of adequate CCW instructors will jeopardize CCW applicants’ ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights lawfully.”
Under the emergency regulations, “initial applicants must submit a copy of their training certification from one of the following:
- Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California-Firearm Training Instructor;
- Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), State of California Firearms Instructor or Rangemaster; or
- Authorization from a State of California accredited school to teach a firearm training course.”
The California Rifle & Pistol Association is furious. In a statement published online, CRPA notes, “These new proposed emergency regulations strictly limit which instructors can provide CCW training in a system that already has a heavy load of too many students and not enough classes. This move seems like a move to limit and slow the processing of CCWs in the state, which is problematic given that CCW applications have increased significantly since the Bruen decision.”
In an Op-Ed published by then Los Angeles Daily News, Susan Shelley observes, “The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear: the people of the United States, even in California, have an individual right to keep and bear arms. The government of California simply refuses to accept that.”
The new law—Senate Bill 2—takes effect Jan. 1.
In announcing the proposed emergency regulations back on Dec. 8, CalDOJ allowed only five days for public reaction. This only added to the fury.
Even the Sacramento Bee acknowledged, “In addition, last-minute emergency regulations filed by the California Department Justice, will force many instructors to be re-certified in 2024, delaying the new application process.”
NRA-certified instructors have been providing firearm safety courses for generations. Millions of people have taken these courses, and their instruction was accepted.
The Bee noted the Senate Bill 2 doubled the amount of training required for both new applicants (from eight to 16 hours) and for those renewing their permits (from four to eight hours).
Training requirements for obtaining a concealed carry permit/license are nothing new. However several states appear to be weaponizing the requirement in an effort to discourage people from buying and owning firearms. In Oregon, Measure 114 included a requirement for training in order to obtain a permit-to-purchase, but the measure was declared unconstitutional by a circuit judge last month. The state has appealed.
In neighboring Washington—as previously reported by Ammoland News—a proof-of-training requirement to purchase a firearm takes effect Jan. 1. A new proposal will create a permit-to-purchase in Washington, and the same training requirement is included.
Now, in Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware, Senate Bill 2(S) will be considered when the legislature reconvenes on Jan. 9. This bill also requires proof of completion of a firearms safety course within the previous five years, according to WRDE News.
In an effort to justify the proposed Delaware requirement, Democrat House Majority Leader Melissa Minor-Brown was quoted by WRDE insisting, “In almost every aspect of our lives, people must undergo some version of training: to operate machinery, for medical purposes, to drive, to serve alcohol, and many other activities. Requiring people who want to buy a firearm to take a training course isn’t some undue burden; it’s basic common sense to learn how to safely load, use, and store a lethal weapon. This will help us reduce straw purchases, keep firearms out of the wrong hands, and ultimately make both the gun owners and the public safer.”
Critics argue all of these mandates suggest the proponents do not understand the difference between privileges and constitutionally protected fundamental rights.
RELATED:
- White House Hosts State Lawmakers, Launching ‘Safer States Agenda’
- WA Democrats Pre-File Permit-to-Purchase Bill; Training, Live Fire Required
Cal DOJ ‘Emergency’ Regs on CCW Designed to Restrict Instructor Numbers by AmmoLand Shooting Sports News on Scribd
About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
