The Lompoc Police Department revamped its policy for issuing concealed carry permits after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen.
“The policy was a two-prong approach to get a CCW [concealed weapons permit] that was based on moral character and [that] the applicant had to have an actual good cause for needing a CCW,” Lompoc Police Sgt. Jorge Magaña said.
On June 23, the Supreme Court ruled that New York’s equivalent to California’s “good cause” requirement to obtain a public carry license—which states that there is a justified need for armed self-defense—violated the Second Amendment.
“We recognized that the Second and 14th Amendments protect the right of an ordinary, law abiding citizen to possess a handgun in the home for self-defense,” the Supreme Court’s opinion stated. “We too agree, and now hold ... that the Second and 14th Amendments protect an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home.”
After the decision, the California attorney general issued a legal update that said several good cause-related state penal codes were unconstitutional and unenforceable under the Bruen ruling, Magaña said.
“We just have to conform to state and federal law, [and] court decisions that are rendered. We have to implement those changes and be as transparent as possible,” he said.
The new policy only requires proof of moral character—which is done through a series of thorough criminal background checks, interviews, trainings, psychological testing, and three letters vouching for the person’s character, Lompoc Police Lt. Allen Chisholm said.
“The good moral character clause is not new, the only thing removed from the statute was the cause section. The Lompoc Police Department changing their policy is not just specific to Lompoc, [but] every city and county agency is going to be changing their policies as well,” Chisholm said.
The Lompoc Police Department policy will only apply to those within the city’s jurisdiction. Anyone outside of that would fall under the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and follow its application requirements, he added.
Right after the court ruling, the department received several calls, emails, and messages from people who believed that anyone could apply and be granted a license, which is “absolutely not true,” Chisholm said. The policy is not intended to make it harder or easier, it’s intended to make sure anyone licensed meets all of the criteria in order to carry a firearm.
“With the removal of the second prong—which [was] the need of a CCW—people got a little happy. You had to show a specific reason, and with that being gone, that raised the eyebrows of some people. The requirements don’t necessarily change; they may not have to show a need, but they still need to show good moral character,” he explained. “We feel it’s very comprehensive and covers any issues that would come up and eliminate people who don’t qualify for a CCW license.”
Chisholm suggested people visit the Lompoc Police Department’s website to see the policy breakdown, a California firearm laws summary, and find the concealed carry permit application. Call (805) 736-2341 for more information.
