SOME GOOD NEWS.....

[--->RUDY<---]

http://www.modbee.com/2010/04/12/1125435/stanislaus-county-sheriff-makes.html

[fonionrings]

People with a clean record who want to carry a gun will have a much better chance at snagging a concealed weapon permit, Sheriff Adam Christianson said Monday, drawing thunderous applause from firearms advocates.
The stunning change in policy comes as Christianson prepares to lay off dozens of deputies because of budget cuts. He has released 300 inmates to comply with new state rules.

The sheriff, who is running for re-election on the June 8 ballot, stood grim-faced during a 12-minute introduction at Monday's public meeting of the Madison Society, whose leaders have criticized Christianson for being stingy with gun permits. He had told them -- and The Bee as recently as two weeks ago -- that he would not sign a pledge accepting self-protection as "good cause" for licensing.

Given the stage Monday, Christianson shocked a standing-room-only audience of more than 100 by immediately signing the pledge with a flourish.

"I'm not going to infringe upon your right to protect yourselves," the sheriff said. "You are more likely to get a gun permit when you apply for one."

The pledge reads, in part: "As sheriff, self-protection shall always constitute good cause for the issuance of a permit to carry a concealed wea-pon as that term is defined in (the) California Penal Code."

During a question-answer session, many audience members said Christianson had denied their applications. But they seemed reluctant to grill a sheriff who had just signed the pledge.

Christianson encouraged many to reapply, providing his personal phone number to several former rejects.

They included Ollie Usher, who said he had a permit for five years before being turned down, and Mark Wallace, who was among several Turlock residents who said they were angry about their police chief's conservative approach to gun permits. Of seven issued by that department, two are held by city councilmen.

People in the audience began snickering when it became apparent that many asking questions Monday were from Turlock. Christianson asked those from that city to raise their hands, and he laughed with the audience when a few dozen shot up.

The sheriff continued playing to the crowd, telling stories about assault rifles on open display in Montana stores, where he grew up and took his family on vacation last year.

A farmer said he often irrigates fields in the early morning. The sheriff brought down the house when he responded, "Straight up; I give all ag (people) a gun permit because I know you guys are carrying a gun anyway."

He added, "I'm laying off deputies, and we've got more bad guys; you won't have a problem."

The sheriff said 582 people throughout Stanislaus County hold two-year permits. He personally approved all after background checks by staff members.

When Wayne Elam of Hickman asked about rising application fees, the sheriff pointed to a public hearing scheduled for April 27. Christianson will ask county supervisors to increase the charge from $13 to $115, which is about half the cost to process applications, he said.

Christianson must reduce his department's yearly budget of about $80 million by 10 percent, or about $8 million. He is expected to reveal layoff intentions along with the county's 26 other departments, also on April 27.

Christianson's challenger, Turlock police Capt. Rob Jackson, declined to sign the Madison Society's pledge when he addressed the group last month.

The Madison Society, a Modesto-based group known nationally for pushing pro-gun litigation, was instrumental in a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling reversing a gun ban in Washington, D.C.

For an April 4 Bee story, Christianson had said the ruling "has nothing to do with California," where loaded firearms are legal in homes and businesses.

Carrying concealed weapons in public is a different matter, the sheriff said at the time, and should remain up to the local law enforcement executive charged with judging good cause and good moral character.

Christianson on Monday warned people to come clean on applications, noting it's a felony to submit false or fraudulent information.

After the meeting, many people in the audience said they were thrilled with the news.

"He's right -- there are not enough deputies out there," said Bob Winston, a Modesto attorney. "What does law enforcement do? They come after the fact and try to clean up the mess, which doesn't help the poor victim lying in a pool of blood. You're on your own."

[Phireglass]

Yay! now lets get this guy to run in Ventura County, for real though its good to finally hear somethin positive about the CA scene

[HK Dave]

Awesome... now if we can only get a pro CCW sheriff in Orange County!

[GillaFunk]

I see ONE good thing coming from Californias economic failure....and this is it.

[The DRis]

Elect Jay Laseur for SD county!

[mlancaster]

DAMN!!!!!!! I wish I had stayed a resident in that County

M*^&$% F#(<R!!!!!!!! ARRRG

[--->RUDY<---]

yessir....

[twinjetguy]

Elect Jay Laseur for SD county!

I totally agree!!! SD County! Sure there are cities that might need it more, but SD is awesome! lol.

[Sh00tFurst]

Sweet. Thinking about moving.

[anniepoks]

'ts about time for the rest of the Counties to follow....
that would be great - and revenue flowing in to County chest.

[--->RUDY<---]

Wednesday, Apr. 14, 2010
Opponent in race for Stanislaus Sheriff calls new gun policy 'flip-flop'
Sheriff promised more concealed-carry permits
By Garth Stapley
gstapley@modbee.com Buzz up!
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Sheriff Adam Christianson's announcement Monday to a pro-gun group that he'll grant more concealed weapons permits is an election-season flip-flop meant to win votes, challenger Rob Jackson said Tuesday.

Also Tuesday, police chiefs throughout Stanislaus County expressed little concern with the sheriff's sudden policy change, which was featured on the National Rifle Association's Web site.

"I kind of question his timing on this," said Jackson, a Turlock police captain who worked 20 years for the Sheriff's Department. He noted friction between the sheriff and the Madison Society as reported in the April 4 Bee, based on the group's perception that Christianson was stingy with concealed weapons permits.


Modesto Bee - Sheriff Adam Christianson is seen at the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department, Monday, April 12, 2010. (Brian Ramsay/bramsay@modbee.com)CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS

Ex-Turlock cop denied concealed carry request despite previous attack
Each gun application must be judged, Stanislaus County Sheriff says


Christianson did an about-face at a Madison Society meeting Monday and signed a pledge reading, in part: "As sheriff, self-protection shall always constitute good cause for the issuance of a permit to carry a concealed weapon."

"I think 'flip-flop' is appropriate," Jackson said, "when he makes such a dramatic change in the middle of a political campaign."

The sheriff on Monday explained his concern at having to lay off deputies because of budget cuts at a time when state rules require early release of tens of thousands of inmates from prisons and county jails.

"It probably wouldn't be a bad thing to have a few more guns on the streets in the hands of law-abiding citizens," Christianson said at the meeting. He could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

State law grants the sheriff authority to license people anywhere in the county, including cities with their own police departments. Five of nine cities in Stanislaus County have their own departments; the other four contract with Christianson's agency for law enforcement.

Among the five independent cities, Ceres doesn't issue permits, asking Christianson to handle requests within that city. The remaining four chiefs received no warning about Christianson's about-face — but didn't need one, most said.

"I'm sure he has a reason for it," said Oakdale Chief Marty West.

Newman Chief Adam McGill said, "It's his department and his business. I'm not going to comment one way or another."

Modesto Chief Mike Harden said he has "a very good relationship with the sheriff" and "wouldn't feel comfortable (commenting) unless I heard from him."

Turlock Chief Gary Hampton said, "It's pretty clear this whole concealed weapons permit issue has become a topic of debate relative to the pending election for sheriff. I'm just not going to weigh in on it."

Jackson took over as acting chief when Hampton was on vacation last week, but has no part in Turlock's permit process, which has drawn accusations of political favoritism because two of the seven licensees are city councilmen.

Jackson refused to sign the pledge when he addressed the Madison Society last month. He said he would convene a committee, including gun enthusiasts, to establish a clearer standard for the vague clause in California law allowing law enforcement executives wide latitude in determining good cause for a permit.

Even before Christianson's policy change, he was handing out more gun permits to city residents than were their chiefs. The exception is Newman, where McGill has licensed two people and Christianson only one, according to 2009 numbers.

In Modesto, 71 people last year had gun permits through police compared with 127 through the Sheriff's Department. Oakdale police granted eight, compared with 19 given to Oakdale residents by Christianson. And in Turlock, Hampton had granted seven compared with 52 licensed by the sheriff.

Ceres Police Chief Art de Werk said permits were handled by Wyoming state officials when he worked there, removing all accusations of cronyism that sometimes haunt agencies in California.

"So it's not based on personal relationships there," de Werk said. "I favor that more standardized approach. That's why I entered into an arrangement with the sheriff's office probably 10 years ago."

As for Christianson's policy change, de Werk said: "That's his business. He knows the law."

Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at gstapley@modbee.com or 578-2390.



Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2010/04/13/112...#ixzz0l7sFQiQc


Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2010/04/13/112...#ixzz0l7sFZ2JK

[Nor-Cal]

very nice only if he could convince San Joaquin county sheriff to do the same,

[killshot44]

I wonder if he'd done the same if an election to keep his job wasn't months away.....

[KaLiFORNIA]

riverside anyone ???