Second Amendment: Is concealed carry a privilege or a right?

human events ^ | 12/3/14 | s greenhut

[bestintxas]

The federal courts would never uphold a law requiring people to show “good cause” before they could speak in public or march in a parade. It would be a violation of our First Amendment rights. Yet an ongoing court battle examines whether similar rules regarding the carrying of firearms is an equally outrageous violation of the Second Amendment.

The case started in 2008 in San Diego County, when Edward Peruta and other gun owners challenged San Diego County’s process for issuing concealed-carry permits. State law gives sheriffs the power to determine “good cause” – and San Diego County required documentation showing the applicant faced some sort of specific threat to merit one. The result in restrictive counties is a small number of residents — people connected to law enforcement, lawyers, business people facing security risks and influential people — were free to exercise such “rights.” Actually, it became a “privilege.” In February, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the gun owners.

“Because the Second Amendment ‘confer(s) an individual right to keep and bear arms,’ we must assess whether the California scheme (in light of San Diego County’s policy) allows some people to bear arms outside the home in some places at some times; instead, the question is whether it allows the typical, responsible, law-abiding citizens to bear arms in public for the lawful purpose of self-defense,” ruled the court. “The answer … is a resounding ‘no.’”

[SirLurkedalot]

Thanks.

As is your post above.

FReegards,

SirL

[Jim Noble]

Even in the Wild West, concealed firearms were managed by localities depending on local circumstances.

I think OPEN carry is unquestionably protected by the Second Amendment. I think the act of concealment is subject to legislation, at the locality level.