Federal Court Makes Major Ruling on Ballot Verification in Pennsylvania
Jon Stewart's Skewering of Trump in New York Civil Fraud Cause Just Blew...
Did the Hosts of 'The View' Do Their Homework When They Invited This...
Actually, Kate Middleton Does Have a Body Double...Sort of
Checking the Black Box
Trump, Biden Will Both Be in New York on Thursday...but for Very Different...
Democrat Flips Republican District in Alabama Special Election. Here's What She Campaigned...
Here's What Trump Had to Say About RFK Jr.'s VP Pick
VDH Explains What Any 'Normal' President Would Do About Border That Would End...
Yes, a Terrorist Attack Is Coming to America
An Illegal Alien Encouraged Others to Invade American Homes. Here's What Happened Next.
Time For Another Bizarre, Easily-Disprovable Lie From Joe Biden
Did Jamaal Bowman Just Help His Primary Challenger?
Fani Willis Calls Jim Jordan's Investigation Into Her Office 'Politically Motivated'
Tyson Foods Fires U.S. Workers, Exploits Illegal Aliens for Profits
Tipsheet

Gun Rights Groups Take Aim at SoCal Sheriff For 'Discriminatory and Unconstitutional' CCW Policies

After the Dec. 2015 shooting at Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, Calif., residents in the area began to apply for concealed carry weapons permits en masse. San Bernardino County's applications increased nine-fold. Neighboring Riverside County also saw a drastic increase in their CCW applications. 

Advertisement

Since that tragedy almost three years ago, Riverside County has had a very steady flow of applications coming in. So much so that Sheriff Stan Sniff hired more employees to handle the CCW backlog, which sat at a two-year await, as of this past April. 

A resident and five pro-gun groups have filed a lawsuit against Riverside County and Sheriff Sniff for his concealed carry license policy and practices that, the plaintiffs allege, are unconstitutional.

Riverside County resident Arie van Nieuwenhuyzen purchased a handgun with the intent of applying for a CCW. When he asked the Sheriff's department how he would go about apply, he was told he was ineligible for a permit because he's a U.S. resident, not a U.S. citizen.

Van Nieuwenhuyzen has lived in Riverside since 1983 as a legal U.S. resident. According to the lawsuit, van Nieuwenhuyzen has been a successful business owner and member of the community. He is an active member of his church and teaches Sunday School. He "has obeyed all laws and customs of his adopted country and state."

“Courts across the country have long held that legal United States residents are entitled to the same constitutional protections as everyone else,” lead attorney George M. Lee said in a statement. “Sheriff Sniff’s discriminatory and unconstitutional policies and practices are denying people access to the right to keep and bear arms and violating the Fourteenth Amendment’s command that all people shall enjoy equal protection of our laws.”

Advertisement

Lee said Sheriff Sniff is impeding on van Nieuwenhuyzen's Second Amendment rights.

“Mr. van Nieuwenhuyzen has a fundamental human right to carry his gun outside his home for self-defense, but Sheriff Sniff’s policies and practices prevent him from doing so. Those customs are our first target in this case, and we look forward to forcing Sheriff Sniff to respect and follow the United States Constitution,” Lee said.

The Calguns Foundation (CGF), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Firearms Policy Foundation (FPF), and Madison Society Foundation (MSF) have signed onto the lawsuit as institutional plaintiffs.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement