Sacramento, California – In a significant shift for California’s strict gun regulations, a federal judge has ruled that out-of-state residents who belong to certain gun rights organizations must be allowed to apply for concealed carry permits within the state.
The decision, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, comes as part of an ongoing lawsuit — CRPA v. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department — challenging California’s concealed carry laws. While the judge did not order California to recognize concealed carry permits issued by other states, she did require the state to accept permit applications from nonresidents who intend to spend time in a California jurisdiction over the next 12 months.
Applicants must be members of one of the organizations involved in the lawsuit, such as the California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA), Second Amendment Foundation, or Gun Owners of America. They must also comply with California’s complex firearm restrictions, including listing specific approved handguns on their application…