A statewide gun rights group is gearing up to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against Santa Clara County over price hikes for concealed carry weapons licenses.
The California Pistol and Rifle Association plans to sue over the Board of Supervisors’ January decision to raise fees for new civilian gun licenses from $662 to $976. The association claims applicants can expect to pay a total of $2,000 when factoring in costs including mandatory psych evaluations, criminal background checks and training courses. A legal warning letter from the group said other counties such as Alameda, San Mateo and San Francisco charge less. Even San Jose — which the group has criticized for an “unconstitutionally high” $1,328 license fee — charges $25 for license renewals compared to the county’s $477 renewal fee.
C.D. Michel, president of the 150-year-old gun owner advocacy group, said the lawsuit is drafted and ready to file in the coming weeks if the county doesn’t walk back the increases. The group already sued La Verne over the same issue and litigation is ongoing.
“The county would never think to force a $2,000 expense on any other constitutional right an individual seeks to exercise, and the Second Amendment should be no different,” he told San José Spotlight. “We will end this anti-gun poll tax.”
Sheriff Bob Jonsen said the fee increase is necessary to comply with regulations from Senate Bill 2, which toughens the approval process and background checks. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the law in 2023 after a 2022 Supreme Court ruling recognized the right to carry a loaded gun in public for self-defense. Jonsen said the fee increase helps cover the expanded costs of complying with the new law.
“This fee adjustment helps cover staffing and additional resources,” Jonsen told San José Spotlight. “We remain committed to maintaining public safety while processing (concealed carry weapons) permits efficiently. Additionally, this increase more closely aligns our fees with those of neighboring jurisdictions to ensure fairness and consistency.”
Supervisors last month agreed with the need to recoup the expanded costs of SB 2, and directed the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office to report back after the fee increase takes effect to evaluate if it’s necessary or leading to excess revenue. The board also asked for the demographics of residents requesting and obtaining the licenses to measure potential inequity after critics — including the NAACP San Jose/Silicon Valley — warned the move would disproportionately impact prospective gun owners with fewer means.
Santa Clara County’s concealed carry permitting process has been mired in scandal — fueling the civil bribery conviction of former Sheriff Laurie Smith, who jurors found guilty of selectively awarding permits to political supporters and friends in exchange for gifts and campaign donations.
The sheriff’s office has seen a 774% increase in permit approvals between 2022 and 2023, and a more recent 132% increase in approvals between 2023 and 2024. There are 1,725 applications in progress, with 1,126 interviews completed — and 690 permits approved — since 2022.
Residents have to be 21 years or older to carry a permit.
Contact Brandon Pho at [email protected] or @brandonphooo on X.
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