Concealed Carry Classes Near You in California
Requirements to qualify for a license
As of November 12, 2014 it has become much easier in many California counties to obtain a CCW license. The 9th Circuit Court issued an order denying motions to intervene in the Peruta vs County of San Diego case.
This comes straight from the motion:
The State of California's Motion to Intervene is DENIED
The Brady Campaign's Motion for Leave to Intervene is DENIED
If you have not heard about the Peruta case yet, here is a little background. For years California has only issued CCW licenses to those who can show "good cause". Self defense was not a good enough cause to obtain a license unless you had documented threats against you. Generally you had to be a business owner who carried large sums of money on a regular basis, a private investigator, or a small number of other cases.
Peruta vs County of San Diego argued that California's "good cause" requirement to obtain a license is unconstitutional. In February of 2014 the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court sided with Peruta. California's Attorney General Kamala Harris immediately appealed the decision.
Many county sheriff's decided not to change their licensing policies until the case was settled. Sandra Hutchens, who is Sheriff of Orange County dropped the "good cause" requirement right away. The number of CCW applications in Orange County skyrocketed and the sheriff's office had to hire additional staff to handle the influx.
Now that the interventions have been denied, Californians can use "Self-Protection" as their good cause statement to obtain a CCW in many counties. San Diego County is still waiting for a possible en banc review of the case before changing their rules.
After saying all that I will tell you the general guidelines to getting a CCW license in California. Although each county sheriff can determine some of their own policies.
You must be:
- At least 21 years old.
- Of good moral character.
- Have a "good cause" (This rule is still in effect but the Sheriff must now accept your right to self protection as good enough cause to issue a CCW license)
You must apply to the sheriff or the police chief of the county or city where you are a resident. You can also apply in a different city or county if you are employed there and spend a significant amount of time there.
The sheriff will run an NICS background check on you. Anything that would disqualify you from purchasing or owning a handgun will disqualify you from getting your license.
If you have completed a training course (discussed below) and meet all the above requirements, the next step is getting your paperwork together. You generally must show:
- 2 proofs of residency which could be utility bills from the past 30 days.
- Most California licenses are limited to 3 firearms and you must provide the Manufacturer, Serial Number, and Caliber of up to 3 weapons that you would like to carry.
- Certificate of training completion.
- Complete an application with your local sheriff.
Share your thoughts on Peruta vs County of San Diego in the comments below.
What will you learn in class?
California law allows individual sheriff's to decide on an acceptable training course. The maximum length of the course is usually set at 16 hours. By law the sheriff can also decide to set a maximum of 24 hours of training if a community college course is required. If the community college course is required it must be applied evenly to all applicants. But remember, this is a maximum so your class may not take a full 16 hours. That said, here is what you will learn in your class:
- General handgun safety, care and cleaning of your handgun, safely storing guns in your home
- California law regarding the "use of force"
- Ethical considerations
- Conflict avoidance
- Situational awareness
You will also be required to qualify with the firearm you want to carry. You can list up to 3 firearms on your license and you must qualify with each of them. Expect to bring at least 100 rounds of ammo for every firearm you desire to qualify with. You will spend a good deal of time on the range.
How long does it take to get a license?
I expect there will be an influx of new applications after the Peruta ruling. Sheriff's offices will have a backlog of applications to review, so you should be prepared to wait awhile. Hopefully most counties will hire additional staff to process the applications.
How much does the license cost?
There are several fees you should be prepared to pay:
- Up to $100 processing fees to your county sheriff or city police chief (Only 20% can be collected at application, the remaining 80% is payable upon issuance of the license)
- $75 to $100 processing fees to the Department of Justice
- $150 to $250 for your concealed carry class
Reciprocity with other states
California does not recognize any other states' CCW permits. However there are several states that will honor a California license. Check out this reciprocity map.
When and where can you not carry a concealed weapon?
- Gun shows
- State capitol
- Legislative offices
- While picketing
- Courtrooms
- While wearing a mask
- While consuming alcoholic beverages
- Places with a primary purpose of dispensing alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption
- While under the influence of any medication or drug (This includes both prescription and non-prescription drugs)
- Secure areas of airports
Featured Instructors
- Northern Firearms Instruction
- Best Handgun Training
- Here's a ton of CCW classes in Los Angeles
- Lots of CCW classes in San Diego
- San Francisco CCW Classes
- Fresno CCW Classes
- CCW Classes Sacramento
- CCW Classes in Long Beach
- CCW Classes in Oakland CA
Have you ever thought about buying ammo online?
I'm telling you it's so easy with Lucky Gunner! The ammo shown on their site is guaranteed to be in stock and will ship fast. I heartily endorse Lucky Gunner and so do their many customers.
"Okay, so far I've dealt twice with LuckyGunner, and all I can say is, I LOVE YOUR COMPANY!!!!
Imagine: only items in stock are advertised. Who'da thunk, eh? The more highly advertised ones - Cheaper Than Dirt, Cabela's, et. al. - will put you on backorder forever and a day. But LuckyGunner - I ordered 500 shells of .45 ACP (hard to get in this "shortage") - and there it was at my address. No backorders, no bull. Business as it should be.
Yes, I'm telling my friends! I'm constantly writing down your addy on bits of paper (and running out of the latter), spreading the joyous news, "No backorders! No bull! Try LuckyGunner.com, you won't be sorry!" Thank you for being there for an ammo-starved public. And, thanks for the SUPERB customer service."
-- Walter J., Silverdale, WA --
Jason Huskey
Owner of CCWClasses.net
Jason Huskey is a family man with three kids and a wonderful wife. He’s always starting new hobbies, but his true passion lies in shooting sports. Jason has been a CCW license holder for over 10 years and carries every day. In addition to firearms, he also enjoys playing guitar and writing songs. He tries to live by the Christian values he believes in.
More things you might enjoy…
Can a 38 Special Shoot 357 Rounds?
Image by MikeGunner from Pixabay I’ve long since discovered that very few activities give me the same thrill and sense of security as firing a gun. As a gun owner and enthusiast, I’ve always been curious about which guns can shoot which kinds of ammunition. I have a Derringer five-shot revolver that uses .22 rounds.…
Who Makes the Most Popular Brands of Ammo
If you are here to figure out who makes Herter’s ammo just look below the following table for a more thorough answer. If you are looking for a specific type of ammo, then you need to start by figuring out who makes it. There are lots of options for ammunition and each type of bullet…
What Does Full Metal Jacket Mean?
If you have heard the term full metal jacket, then you might be wondering what this means. I know that growing up, I heard this term a lot. I dismissed it as some sort of saying or cliche. Eventually, I decided that I needed to figure out what people meant when they use this term.…
How Often Should You Clean Your Gun?
After purchasing a firearm, you might wonder how often you should clean your gun. The truth is that it largely depends on how often you use it and where you live. Keep reading to learn more. How Often Should You Clean Your Gun? The short answer: do a light cleaning after every shooting session and…
What Is The Main Difference Between Centerfire And Rimfire Ammunition?
Rimfire vs Centerfire Everyone has to start somewhere. If you’re new to guns, learning the difference between rimfire and centerfire ammunition is important. Let me backtrack a moment. The first time I went out on the gun range, I had zero idea that there were different types of ammo for different types of weapons. All I knew…
Continue Reading What Is The Main Difference Between Centerfire And Rimfire Ammunition?
How Should You Hold a Handgun for Maximum Accuracy?
Whether it’s for sport or you find yourself in a defensive situation where you need to use a handgun, how you hold it will significantly affect your accuracy. Developing your handgun techniques will help you become a better shot and keep you safe. Read on to learn the answer to the question: How should you…
Continue Reading How Should You Hold a Handgun for Maximum Accuracy?
What Is Stippling On A Gun?
Hey, would you like a more firm grip on your gun? Would that help you shoot better? Well that is what stippling is for. Stippling is a modification to the grip that makes it, well, more grippy. It is done by sanding off the original finish and then using a hot soldering iron to make…
What Is A Centerfire Pistol?
To answer the question: “What Is A Centerfire Pistol?”, you must first understand that there are two main types of ammunition: Centerfire Rimfire These ammo categorizations are based on where the firing pin hits the back of the bullet to make it fire. A centerfire pistol is one where the firing pin strikes the center…
Is It Bad To Dry Fire A Glock?
There are loads of myths and assumptions surrounding handguns. If you grew up around guns, you probably heard some of these myths. Today, we will answer the question: Is it bad to dry fire a Glock. The Quick Answer Dry firing modern centerfire guns is completely fine (this includes most Glocks). The firing pin does…
What Is The Sight Picture?
When you first became interested in shooting you probably heard the terms sight picture and sight alignment being thrown around. Most people tend to use the two terms interchangeably; however, they do not mean the same thing. In this guide, I will make a clear distinction between sight picture and sight alignment. To master any new trade, you must…
What is Ball Ammo
When you hear the term “ball ammo” you may be picturing an actual ball. While the term did originate from ball shaped ammo, that’s not what it means today. Most ball ammo today is cylindrical in shape. It will have a lead core coated with copper. Keep reading to learn all about the history and…
How do I get listed on your site?
We have many classes for our area. We not only do CCW classes for Redding CA and Shasta County, but we also do Advanced Handgun training.
Please let me know!
Thanks,
Chris
For reference, here is our website: http://reddingfirearms.com/
Hi Chris
Just send me a list of addresses, phone numbers, and emails and I will add them to the site.
[email protected]
Jason