Sacramentans are arming themselves in increasing numbers, statistics from the Sacramento County Sheriff reveal. Applications approved by the sheriff to carry a concealed weapon have increased more than 500 percent from 2008, statistics show. By September 30, the department had approved 37 applications to carry a concealed weapon, compared with six approved applications in 2008. The sheriff also has been denying applications in increasing numbers: 25 applications were denied by September 30, ... AnneLowe JoshA 2009-10-27T17:47:35Z 2009-10-27T17:47:35Z

Hadn't seen that study before by the Brady folks, but after looking at it I am pretty skeptical of their claims. If they think that accidentally shooting your girlfriend is the same thing as murdering a cop - then I don't know if they should have a seat at the table with the rational adults when discussing gun control. I lived in Oakland for almost 20 years, and you have to be a politician (Perata) or work for one (Jerry Brown's old aide Jacques) to get a permit there.... does that mean people don't carry guns? Hardly!

JoshA 2009-10-27T17:47:35Z dave03835 2009-10-27T00:50:59Z 2009-10-27T00:50:59Z

"Earlier this year, Sheriff John McGinness said he would consider issuing more concealed weapons permits" Our inalienable right to self defense and bearing of a gun was granted to us by God. Therefore, only God can nullify that right. What is the difference between Sheriff McGinness and God? God doesn't think he's Sheriff McGinness.

dave03835 2009-10-27T00:50:59Z MikeLee 2009-10-27T00:48:33Z 2009-10-27T00:48:33Z

This is a growing tragedy for the "predator class" that flees the states that allow their citizens to defend themselves. I had hoped that New York, Illinois, Washington, D.C. and California would be maintained as safe, helpless, defenseless sheeple so the predators we drive out would have a safe environment. However, once California completes the transition to socialism & bankruptcy, perhaps we could get Mexico to take it back.

MikeLee 2009-10-27T00:48:33Z fr8dog 2009-10-27T00:09:31Z 2009-10-27T00:09:31Z

Re: “...500% increase in CCW permits by Sacramento County Sheriff...” ************************************* Im “UNWHELMED” by this increase. The only increase I will find impressive is when ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of all those who pass an appropriate background check are issued permits: NO questions asked or reasons required for issuance. Until that day, IF it ever comes here in “The Peoples Republik of California”, I will continue to follow the True intent of the US Constitution and carry a gun without a so called “permit”. The following is the only significant data for my permit: Date of issue: 15 Dec. 1791..... Issued to: All law abiding Citizens..... Expiration Date: NEVER..... Issuing Authority: The US Constitution.....

fr8dog 2009-10-27T00:09:31Z fr8dog 2009-10-27T00:06:33Z 2009-10-27T00:06:33Z

Re: “...500% increase in CCW permits by Sacramento County Sheriff...” ************************************* Im “UNWHELMED” by this increase. The only increase I will find impressive is when ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of all those who pass an appropriate background check are issued permits: NO questions asked or reasons required for issuance. Until that day, IF it ever comes here in “The Peoples Republik of California”, I will continue to follow the True intent of the US Constitution and carry a gun without a so called “permit”. The following is the only significant data for my permit: Date of issue: 15 Dec. 1791..... Issued to: All law abiding Citizens..... Expiration Date: NEVER..... Issuing Authority: The US Constitution.....

fr8dog 2009-10-27T00:06:33Z swampdog 2009-10-26T21:05:24Z 2009-10-26T21:05:24Z

By the way, there are over 213,000 concealed carry permits in issuance at this time, in Michigan.

swampdog 2009-10-26T21:05:24Z swampdog 2009-10-26T21:02:35Z 2009-10-26T21:02:35Z

Before Michigan went to "shall issue" in 2001, the bradybunch said there would be "BLOOD IN THE STREETS!!!!!!!" The shrieking and wailing went on and on.....Know what? They were WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! CPL holders are the most law-abiding to the tune of more law-abiding than off-duty police officers!

swampdog 2009-10-26T21:02:35Z Floyd Hancock 2009-10-26T20:55:51Z 2009-10-26T20:55:51Z

Number of CCW permits in California approximately 39,000 for a population of about 36,000,000. Number of CHL (concealed handgun licenses) in Oregon about 110,000 with a population of an estimated 3.3 million. Oregon is a shall issue state and has a much lower crime rate. The crime rate in states with a shall issue system is lower and the Brady predicted violence does not occur as has been proven many times over. California's system is dependent upon political law enforcement administrators that ignore real life dangers to citizens in favor of pleasing their political superiors. There is no documentation that indicates more permits result in higher crime but that does not seem to matter to many Sheriff's and Chief's of Police so long as they can maintain their position of power.

Floyd Hancock 2009-10-26T20:55:51Z BREAKOUT45 2009-10-26T17:16:31Z 2009-10-26T17:16:31Z

The Brady campaign about 51 ccw killing 51 people was proven false already.They consider self defense as mudering someone.The brady campaign should call their self the brain dead campaign because they only make up lies to tell people.This new law that the governor pass AB962 they think is going to solve all are gun related cases and we will live in a peace world,I think they still live in la la land..If a person can pass the ccw process they should be able to get a permit..Remenber the brady campaign think sacramento is a safe place to live and you don't need to protect your self..I wish they would wake up and see the real world not the one they live in.

BREAKOUT45 2009-10-26T17:16:31Z Billy 2009-10-26T15:37:44Z 2009-10-26T15:37:44Z

Hmmm... so, CCW permit holders are responsible for less than 1% of unjustified deaths involving guns? How many people convicted of vehicular manslaughter do you think were licensed drivers? I'd bet my 9mm that the number is in the high 90% range! We better stop issuing driver's licenses now! And is anybody seriously arguing that people capable of murder are going to have a problem carrying a gun illegally??? “More CCW permits, which would result in more loaded hidden guns in public, would not make us safer and could actually increase gun violence in Sacramento County,” Right now, the VAST majority of CCW permit holders in Sac County are law enforcement officers... does this woman think that the shouldn't be able to carry off duty? Seriously? They are making us less safe? Not to mention that her prediction of increase gun violence has been completely disproven in counties that increase CCW permit issuance. -Billy

Billy 2009-10-26T15:37:44Z William Burg 2009-10-26T03:14:51Z 2009-10-26T03:14:51Z

Actually, if you look at firearms fatality rates, especially accidental deaths, it has been getting better in recent years. Especially in states with concealed-carry laws, for some odd reason.

William Burg 2009-10-26T03:14:51Z John Boyer 2009-10-26T03:09:59Z 2009-10-26T03:09:59Z

The nightly news tells the tale of communication with bullits over and over again. Its still as common place as the old west. I say quit yaping about the effect and target the cause. We as americans seem to have a failure to communicate and would just rather shoot each other to resolve our differences. Sounds like its going to get worse before it gets any better.

John Boyer 2009-10-26T03:09:59Z Anne Lowe 2009-10-26T01:14:50Z 2009-10-26T01:14:50Z

You're right, I think it would be pretty difficult to conceal those weapons! The picture is from the Mather Mud Run -- the sheriff had a display with their firearms set out for people to look at. It was the only stock photo with the Sheriff and guns that I had :)

Anne Lowe 2009-10-26T01:14:50Z William Burg 2009-10-25T23:18:05Z 2009-10-25T23:18:05Z

The Brady Campaign study reports 51 people killed by CCW holders in 2 years? Why, that's nearly .07% of the total number of firearms-related fatalities during the same period! (Not counting the one of 51 that was not killed with a firearm.) Take a look at that report--it includes accidental discharges, and also incidents that took place in the shooter's home, where one can carry a firearm without a concealed weapons permit. CCW is legal in most of the United States, and the result of liberalized CCW laws is generally an overall drop in firearms deaths in that state. A 500% increase in approvals sounds pretty shocking until you realize that is a jump to just 37 approved permits, not exactly a huge number. One final point, although maybe it's a quibble--the firearms in the photo don't look very concealable to me, unless one is wearing a heavy parka! Concealed-carry weapons are generally small pistols, not shotguns or rifles.

William Burg 2009-10-25T23:18:05Z Dan 2009-10-25T17:12:47Z 2009-10-25T17:12:47Z

The number of permits processed combined is just only half the number of deputies laid off.

Dan 2009-10-25T17:12:47Z