"Two prominent gun-rights groups and a handful of Santa Clara County residents have sued the sheriff's office in federal court over its methods for issuing concealed-carry weapons permits, saying high fees along with required psychological exams and political contribution disclosures are violations of the Second Amendment. The lawsuit, filed with the Northern District of California on Monday, represents the California Rifle & Pistol Association, the Second Amendment Foundation based in Washington State,"
"In the lawsuit language, the plaintiffs refer to the groundbreaking scandal that effectively forced out the previous sheriff administration under six-term sheriff Laurie Smith, who was found by multiple investigations and a civil jury to have engaged in corruption and political favoritism in the way her office handed out CCW permits. One of her close advisers was convicted and her former undersheriff was criminally indicted, though Smith herself avoided criminal consequences."
"By imposing nearly $2,000 in licensing, training and exam fees, the lawsuit alleges, the current sheriff's office under Sheriff Robert Jonsen has merely substituted an underground pay-to-play' grift for a broad daylight constitutionally corrupt grift, that is intended to dissuade most people from exercising a fundamental right. Jonsen's office deferred to the County Counsel's Office when asked for comment. The county did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent shortly after the lawsuit was publicly announced."
Two gun-rights organizations and five Santa Clara County residents filed a federal lawsuit challenging concealed-carry permit procedures and related requirements. The plaintiffs allege high fees, mandatory psychological exams, and political contribution disclosure requirements violate the Second Amendment and intrude on First Amendment rights. The complaint invokes a prior scandal under six-term Sheriff Laurie Smith involving investigations, a civil jury finding corruption and favoritism, a convicted adviser, and an indicted undersheriff. The lawsuit contends the current sheriff's office under Robert Jonsen imposes nearly $2,000 in licensing, training, and exam fees, creating an effective pay-to-play barrier that burdens applicants financially.
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