Firearms: concealed carry licenses.

Existing law authorizes the sheriff of a county, or the chief or other head of a municipal police department, if good cause exists for the issuance, and subject to certain other criteria, to issue a license to carry a concealed handgun or to carry a loaded and exposed handgun, as specified. This bill would instead require the sheriff of a county, or the chief or other head of a municipal police department, to issue a license to carry a concealed handgun or to carry a loaded and exposed handgun, as specified, if good cause exists and the applicant is of good moral character. This bill would define "good cause" for these purposes to include self-defense, defending the life of another, or preventing crime in which human life is threatened, and would provide procedural guidelines to the issuing authority on determining the presence or absence of "good cause." The bill would make other technical, nonsubstantive changes. By requiring a sheriff or chief of police to issue that license except in specified circumstances, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.