Local gun owner concerned about recent gun law court ruling

A federal appeals court ruling is causing concern among local gun owners.

The 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that gun owners do not have a constitutional right to conceal carry.

California law enforcement can now require those who apply for a concealed weapons permit to show that they are in immediate danger or have a good reason to obtain a permit beyond self-defense.

“The problem is we have activist judges, specifically like judge Fletcher here that simply don’t believe that the Constitution is relevant,” said gun owner Adam Frugoli. “They think it’s an anecdotic document. It is in the Constitution. That’s what’s so frightening about this.”

On July 1, Idaho permitless carry law goes into effect.

“When the people of Idaho decide to make constitutional changes to the Idaho constitution and it’s voted on by the majority of the people that those laws are challenged. We’ve seen that in a lot of cases in the past several years to what the will of the people in the state of Idaho. The federal government could care less about that. I’m very concerned about this,” said Frugoli.

He said one of his concerns is if it goes to the Supreme Court.

“It’s a little naive to believe that this is not going to affect us. Coming from a judge that was appointed by a President Bill Clinton and his administration, how is that not going to affect us in the next supreme court decision when this is being heard? There could be a potentially President Clinton 2.0,” said Frugoli.

Here’s what Representative Ron Nate of Rexburg who passed a bill for permitless carry in Idaho had to say about the ruling:

“I wholeheartedly disagree with the court’s ruling. Rights are rights, and we shouldn’t have to go begging to sheriffs to secure them. This ruling should stand as a warning to Idahoans that Second Amendment rights and other constitutional rights are increasingly in peril.”

“We cannot rely on the courts to defend our rights; we must have Constitution-minded elected officials and more importantly engaged citizens who are ready to take appropriate stands against unconstitutional laws and rulings.”

What does the Second Amendment actually say?

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”