New Lawsuit Challenges Santa Clara County’s Exorbitant CCW Prices

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New Lawsuit Challenges Santa Clara County’s Exorbitant CCW Prices

On behalf of our clients, the California Rifle& Pistol Association (CRPA) and the Second Amendment Foundation, this week Michel & Associates, P.C. filed suit against the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department over its unconstitutional application process and fees charged to process applications for a license to carry a concealed firearm (CCW).

CRPA’s CCW Reckoning Project was launched shortly after the Supreme Court ruled that California’s previous and much abused “good cause” standard was unconstitutional. Since then, we have uncovered far too many California jurisdictions that still resist the U. S. Supreme Court’s clear directive in the NYSRPA v. Bruen decision. Despite repeated guidance, Santa Clara has doubled down on unlawful practices. This lawsuit sends a clear message to Santa Clara and all jurisdictions that still take too long or charge too much for a CCW: enough is enough.

Santa Clara’s burdensome CCW requirements include:

Nearly $1,000 in county fees to apply,

A $400 training requirement,

A $500 mandatory psychological exam, and

Additional fingerprinting and renewal fees.

That’s $2,000 every two years -to exercise a fundamental right.

Even worse, Santa Clara requires all applicants to undergo an intrusive psychological evaluation—without any individualized cause. State law allows such discretion only in rare, justified circumstances. By imposing it across the board, the County adds to application costs and treats every law-abiding resident as if they are unfit before even applying. This practice mirrors the unconstitutional “good cause” requirements previously struck down after Bruen.

Even Attorney General Bonta had to condemn such subjective standards. Yet Santa Clara is attempting to repackage them under a different label. And it doesn’t stop there. As alleged in the complaint, the County’s CCW website “strongly implies that campaign contribution disclosures are part of the licensing process” under the Levine Act—chilling not only Second Amendment rights but also First Amendment freedoms. You can see the Complaint we filed HERE.

MAPC is proud to represent CRPA and SAF in challenging these constitutional abuses. But fights like this require ongoing support. These lawsuits are not just about one county—they set precedents that prevent anti-Second Amendment officials across California from enacting similar barriers.

Help Support the Fight for CCW Rights in Santa Clara and Beyond! Support the CRPA’s CCW Reckoning Project and help CRPA fight back. Donate to CRPA today.

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Michel & Associates is a full-service law firm with decades of experience across a wide range of legal specialties.

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Yours in Freedom,

Chuck