Former Attorney General says concealed weapons ruling will go straight to Supreme Court
Jun 10, 2016, 8:43 AM | Updated: 1:28 pm
(File, Associated Press)
(File, Associated Press)
It won’t be long before the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments against a ruling that makes carrying a concealed weapon more difficult.
Former Attorney General Rob McKenna expects the Supreme Court to tackle Thursday’s ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals soon, he told KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross. The ruling gives local jurisdictions the power to require people show they are either in immediate danger or have good reason to have a concealed weapons permit.
Dave wonders if this decision represents an infringement upon people’s rights.
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“It does if you look at it in the context of all the gun regulations that exist,” McKenna responded.
The decision by the court could have huge ramifications for people living in jurisdictions that already ban open carry. If law enforcement deems someone can’t have a concealed carry permit, they simply won’t be able to carry a gun outside their home, McKenna said. One judge wrote it could “obliterate” the 2nd Amendment right to bear a firearm.
“And that’s what I think gun-owner groups are concerned about,” he added.
Washington, along with Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Oregon, are impacted by the 11-judge panel ruling. The appeals court decision overturns a 2014 ruling by a smaller 9th Circuit panel.
Because the ruling makes it tougher to get a concealed carry permit, McKenna says simply wanting a gun for personal safety will no longer be enough. Now, someone has to convince their local law enforcement that they are threatened in some way.
However, the ruling seems somewhat opened-ended, McKenna explains. It’s possible that one county may have different standards than another. That makes things more tricky because someone legally carrying a concealed weapon may be breaking the law when they enter another jurisdiction.
“That county-by-county law is hard to live with for gun owners,” McKenna said.
McKenna says the Supreme Court could take the case as early as October — or early 2017.
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