Big Decision by Federal Appeals Court Could End Controversial Concealed Carry Restrictions in California

SAN FRANCISCO (TheBlaze/AP) -- A federal appeals court let stand its previous ruling that San Diego County was wrong to require people to show good cause beyond self- defense to get a concealed weapons permit.

Most of California's 58 counties have the same requirement, and some were awaiting the outcome of an appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit before changing the rule.

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California Attorney General Kamala Harris had asked the appeals court to reconsider the ruling. But the 9th Circuit found Wednesday that Harris had waited too long to intervene in the case that began four years ago.

Harris asked to intervene after San Diego Sheriff William Gore said he would not appeal the February ruling.

In a statement provided to TheBlaze, George Mason University School of Law professor Joyce Malcom commended the ninth circuit court for its decision.

“Bravo for the ninth circuit. A right to bear arms is no right at all if you need to demonstrate a need to carry that firearm which satisfies the police,” she said. “The Supreme Court's landmark decisions in  2008 and 2010 confirming the individual right to keep and carry arms is finally being acknowledged in California.”

Malcom also testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year as a Second Amendment expert during the first-ever hearing on guns and domestic violence.

David Beltran, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, said it was reviewing the 9th Circuit ruling to determine if it should appeal.