{"id":2605454,"date":"2026-05-21T11:05:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T15:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ninth-circuit-weighs-gun-owners-fight-against-california-county\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:07:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T15:07:05","slug":"ninth-circuit-weighs-gun-owners-fight-against-california-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ninth-circuit-weighs-gun-owners-fight-against-california-county\/","title":{"rendered":"Ninth Circuit weighs gun owner&#8217;s fight against California county"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fninth-circuit-weighs-gun-owners-fight-against-california-county%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2605454&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A California gun owner, Kenneth shilling, asked the Ninth Circuit to revive his lawsuit challenging San Diego County\u2019s \u201cdangerousness\u201d standard for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-gun-bill-would-force-ags-office-to-team-up-with-gun-control-ally\/\" title=\"Democrats\u2019 Gun Bill Would Force AG\u2019s Office To Team Up With Gun-Control Ally\">concealed carry permits<\/a> after the sheriff denied him the permit due to his membership in the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club. The three-judge panel heard arguments that the county\u2019s unpublished internal policy labeled the club-and therefore Shilling-as a \u201ccriminal street gang,\u201d violating his First Amendment right of freedom of association and his Second Amendment right to bear arms.  <\/p>\n<p>Shilling\u2019s lawyer, Gary Gorski, argued that although Shilling eventually received a permit last month, the case should continue because the underlying policy remains and could cause ongoing harm; he also warned that allowing dismissal on technical grounds could prevent meaningful review of similar blanket classifications. The panel included Judges Kenneth Lee, Patrick Bumatay, and Jennifer Sung, and it gave no timeline for a decision, with further appeals possible to the full Ninth Circuit or the Supreme Court.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California<\/a> gun owner asked a federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/appeals-courts\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1537\">appeals court<\/a> on Wednesday to allow his lawsuit challenging San Diego County\u2019s \u201cdangerousness\u201d standard for concealed carry permits, after he was denied a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/guns-and-firearms\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"780\">gun<\/a> permit over his membership in a motorcycle club.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard arguments in a lawsuit brought by Kenneth Shilling against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/san-diego\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1161\">San Diego<\/a> County for revoking his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-gun-owners-data-breached-after-state-unveils-firearms-portal\/\" title=\"...\u2019s Data Breached After State Unveils Firearms Portal\">concealed carry weapon permit<\/a> over his affiliation with the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club. Shilling argued that the decision violated his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/first-amendment\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"881\">First Amendment<\/a> right of freedom of association and his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/second-amendment\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1043\">Second Amendment<\/a> right to bear arms. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-to-weigh-whether-states-can-target-donor-lists\/\" title=\"... to weigh whether states can target donor lists\">federal district court tossed<\/a> his case, finding that the sheriff was immune from the lawsuit, among other issues, but Shilling\u2019s lawyer, Gary Gorski, urged the appeals court to revive the case and side with him.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4577227\/baltimore-bridge-civil-trial-criminal-charges\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Judge keeps Baltimore bridge civil trial on track despite criminal charges<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4577075\/former-prosecutor-charged-disguising-jack-smith-report-cake-recipe\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Former prosecutor charged for disguising sealed Jack Smith report as cake recipe<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4576622\/ken-paxton-win-maha-grocery-store-pesticides-organic-produce\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Paxton wins against grocery stores spraying pesticides on organic produce in appeal to MAHA<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the center of Shilling\u2019s dispute is San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez\u2019s \u201cinternal, unpublished policy\u201d labeling the motorcycle club as a \u201ccriminal street gang\u201d and therefore labeling Shilling as dangerous and unsuitable to have a concealed carry permit. Gorski outlined to the judges how the policy harmed both Shilling\u2019s free association and his gun rights, and that, despite Shilling finally receiving a permit last month, his lawsuit should remain alive.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Supreme Court\u2019s 2022 <em><em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3054847\/supreme-court-gun-precedent-upheld-despite-thomas-dissent\/\">New York State Rifle &#038; Pistol Association v. Bruen<\/a><\/em><\/em>  decision struck down New York\u2019s requirement that applicants demonstrate they have \u201cproper cause\u201d to receive a concealed carry permit. After the <em>Bruen<\/em> decision, California repealed its \u201cgood moral character\u201d standard for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-gun-law-starts-in-new-york\/\" title=\"New gun law starts in New York\">issuing concealed carry permits<\/a> in 2024, instead only barring disqualified persons under \u201cdefined and objective criteria\u201d from obtaining permits. Despite the process being streamlined in recent years, denials and long waits have still plagued citizens seeking concealed carry permits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the Golden State, as in most states, county sheriffs handle the processing of concealed carry permits, with different sheriffs having different policies in place. Several Southern California counties are also notorious for long permit processing times. Nearby Los Angeles County was the subject of a first-of-its-kind lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice last year over its long wait times for processing concealed carry permits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the lawsuit before the Ninth Circuit, Gorski argued that the issues for Shilling began after a new sheriff was elected and changed the policy for granting concealed carry permits. Gorski also argued that dismissing the case by disputing whether the state or the county should be the one facing the lawsuit would shield the policy from facing legal scrutiny.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think that\u2019s what\u2019s happening here as well, because the policy is not changing. The fact they give him a [concealed carry permit] is not going to stop a future harm. There has to be an injunction on what happened here, which is the classification of a group and saying you\u2019re dangerous, therefore we can revoke your rights,\u201d Gorski told the panel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd if we follow the logic of that, what\u2019s to stop the county of San Diego from saying anyone with a bar license could be dangerous, because they\u2019re driving to the court fast, they\u2019re making arguments that are dangerous to the public?\u201d Gorski said, using a hypothetical of other blanket bans that the policy could enable. \u201cWe find attorneys dangerous, so anyone with a bar license, you\u2019re not getting a [concealed carry permit] either. You can see the slippery slope on this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4575062\/ninth-circuit-likely-adds-doj-losing-streak-state-voter-roll-lawsuits\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4575062\">NINTH CIRCUIT LIKELY ADDS TO DOJ LOSING STREAK OVER STATE VOTER ROLL LAWSUITS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit included U.S. Circuit Judges Kenneth Lee, an appointee of President Donald Trump; Patrick Bumatay, a Trump appointee; and Jennifer Sung, an appointee of former President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The panel did not say when it will issue a ruling in the case. Regardless of the ruling, the losing side may appeal the ruling to either the full Ninth Circuit or the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California gun owner appeals denial of permit over club ties<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2605455,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP24039754673890.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[80066,57073,32209],"class_list":["post-2605454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-gun-owner","tag-ninth-circuit","tag-second-amendment"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP24039754673890.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2605454"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2605458,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605454\/revisions\/2605458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2605455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2605454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2605454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2605454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}