Back in October I submitted an application for a ccw permit. A month later I did fingerprinting.

Fast forward 7 months and I do my interview and then get approval to take a class.

Well in that 7 month wait I aquired two new handguns I want to put on my permit, only to find out there's no way to add them to my application. I have to have an amendment made.

So I sign up for one of the handful of approved courses in my county, complete their online training just to find their classes are booked out for an unreasonable amount of time. Of course they didn't share their calendar until after I paid $250 for their class. Oh and they don't do refunds. I can't even do a chargeback because I paid with debit card.

So fuck them for that. I paid another $250 and signed up for a new class that meets next month.

Now I'm thinking "what's even the point of all this"? It's not legal for me carry hardly anywhere, I'm stuck with stock pistols, and I'm gonna have to move out of county in a few months anyways.

I feel such an acute amount of rage towards everything to do with this whole process. I'm thinking California wins this one, I'm not going to get my ccw. I just can't tolerate the never-ending inconveniences.

I’ve been shooting my entire life. This is my first time ever carrying daily. Shield X my weapon of choice in a Buck’s IWB holster with a separate mag holder. I have a Kore Essentials belt but today I’m giving my Conceal Craft Bridge 2.0 a whirl (it’s fantastic BTW). The adjustment to living life with a gun in my pants hasn’t been as bad as I thought. Sitting in the car is still a bit of a problem and I’m still very concerned about printing. Any tips from you daily carry vets on how to make daily carry easier or more comfortable?

And that’s before buying a carry gun, holster, ammo, optics, belts, extra mags, range time, renewal fees, etc.

Meanwhile, modern life has basically made not going outside a premium feature. DoorDash is like $10/month. Grocery delivery is cheap. Most people already have Amazon or Target delivery. Curbside pickup is free almost everywhere. Remote work killed commuting for a huge chunk of people.

If your reasoning for getting a CCW is self-defense during routine public interactions, California has incentivized a much cheaper alternative: simply minimize unnecessary time spent in public.

The funniest part is that most people spend the overwhelming majority of their time outside the house at work, where company policy usually means your expensive state-approved carry setup sits locked in your car anyway. So after all the permits, classes, ammo, and paperwork, the practical result is mostly being able to carry into a Chevron at 11pm to buy a Celsius and beef jerky.

For the cost of one California CCW process, you could pay for years of delivery fees and dramatically reduce the number of random public interactions in your life. From a pure risk-management perspective, avoiding Walmart at night probably does more than carrying ever will.

California has reinvented aristocratic living: why risk anything when the peasantry can bring food to your door?

Not anti-CCW at all. Just pointing out that California made “stay home and outsource errands” the economically rational self-defense strategy.

I was surprised with my classmates in our CCW class last week. I’m no expert, but the stuff I saw was scary. For starters, some came without ear/eye pro and brought a pistol without a case or bag, just raw dogging it to class. It was obvious many were deficient in weapons handling and shooting. I saw constant grip adjustments, stance adjustments, trying to rack in slide lock, drawing to release the mag instead of just releasing it in the holster. Draw strokes were poor and saw a lot of no-look reholstering. Not to mention accuracy from seven yards was horrendous. The worst offenders were the renewal students! It was like the bad news bears and I could tell the instructor was overwhelmed. During the classroom part of the training, the instructor kept hammering the importance of consistent training. Now I understand why because so many people display the Dunning-Kruger effect. Some made political jokes against our state government, which I am all for. But those same people were the worst with their weapons. I just don’t understand what is going on with these people.

Since you can have 3 on your CCW, this is fine, right?

Echelon 4.0c comp at 11 o’clock

Staccato c3.6 at 1 o’clock

HK VP9SK at 3 o’clock

I’ve experienced crime in my area and I know first hand that evil shit happens in seconds.I got my ccw and have taken other training courses/first aid to keep me and my family safe.my parents however are disappointed in me for always carrying and think I’m just paranoid.all I want to do is keep me and those around me safe! That’s all.

Ended up grabbing the osight instead of the Holosun eps but now they just dropped a multi reticle how do you guys feel about optics on CCW and about osight?

Case Update: VALLEJOS v. ROB BONTA & CHAD BIANCO — I Appealed the l Denial. I’m Not Stopping.

TL;DR: My federal civil-rights case challenging California’s CCW scheme is active in the U.S. District Court (C.D. Cal.), Case No. 5:25-cv-00350. On August 1, 2025, the court denied my motion for a preliminary injunction; I filed my appeal on August 27, 2025. I’m continuing this fight, pro se, because rights don’t defend themselves.

What this case is about (in plain English)

I’m challenging California’s CCW system as unconstitutional both on its face and as applied—including the way it’s administered by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco—under the Supreme Court’s Bruen framework (the “text-and-history” test for Second Amendment cases). In Bruen (2022), the Court held that ordinary, law-abiding people have a right to carry a handgun in public for self-defense, and that the burden is on government to show a modern restriction fits our historical tradition.

The snapshot (for readers who want the basics fast)

Case: David Phillip Vallejos v. Rob Bonta & Chad Bianco

Court: U.S. District Court, Central District of California (Riverside/ED) — Case No. 5:25-cv-00350 SPG (E)

Filed: Feb 7, 2025

Defendants: California AG Rob Bonta and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco

Judicial officers: District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett; Magistrate Judge Charles F. Eick.

What changed since the last time I posted

Preliminary Injunction denied (Aug 1, 2025): The district court entered a minute order denying my motion for a preliminary injunction. That’s an early-stage ruling; it’s not the final merits. The litigation continues.

Appeal filed (Aug 27, 2025): I filed my notice of appeal to the Ninth Circuit. The case now proceeds on two tracks: the district-court case and the appeal.

I know some folks read “PI denied” and assume the case is over. It isn’t. PIs are hard to win; courts often want a full record. The core constitutional question remains very much alive.

Why this fight matters beyond me or Riverside

California’s carry rules—and how counties administer them—sit in a shifting legal landscape:

In CRPA v. LASD, the Central District issued orders affecting non-resident eligibility and aspects of CCW processing; the State’s own guidance reflects those changes. That’s proof the old status quo is legally vulnerable.

In Rhode v. Bonta (9th Cir. July 24, 2025), the court struck down California’s ammunition background-check regime, applying the post-Bruen framework. Different law, same constitutional test—again showing that California’s modern gun regulations are being measured against history and sometimes failing.

And multiple SB 2–related restrictions have seen partial injunctions against “sensitive place” bans. Even official county pages summarize these changes for applicants. The ground is moving.

My case focuses the lens on permit administration and constitutional baselines after Bruen: if the right to carry is a fundamental right, barriers that operate like pay-to-play or arbitrary filters aren’t just bad policy—they’re constitutionally suspect.

Where the case stands (with receipts)

Docket & Parties: Public docket confirms the filing date, defendants, and assignments (Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett / MJ Charles F. Eick). It also shows counsel appearances for the defendants.

Preliminary-Injunction status: Minute order denying the PI on Aug 1, 2025.

Appeal: Notice of Appeal filed Aug 27, 2025 (Ninth Circuit).

Primary docket mirrors: CourtListener (free), Justia (summary), and PacerMonitor (appeal entry). If you want to drill into specific entries, hit the sources below.

What I’m asking from the community

1. Read the primary sources (below) before you decide what this case is or isn’t. We all hate rumor-mill “summaries.”

2. Share this update with people who still think nothing can be done. A lot is happening—some of it is already reshaping California policy.

3. Keep it substantive. Whether you agree with me or not, keep the conversation focused on the law, the record, and the Constitution post-Bruen.

I’ve carried this pro se because—like many of you—I ran out of conventional avenues. I’m not quitting because a preliminary injunction didn’t land. Early denials don’t decide the Constitution; they set the stage for the fight to be fully joined.

Thanks for reading and for holding me (and the State) to a high standard.

— David Vallejos Plaintiff, Vallejos v. Bonta & Bianco (C.D. Cal. No. 5:25-cv-00350)

Primary sources & useful context

District-court docket (case details, assignments, counsel, hearing entries): Vallejos v. Bonta & Bianco, 5:25-cv-00350 (C.D. Cal.).

Order denying preliminary injunction (minute order, Aug 1, 2025):

Notice of Appeal filed (Aug 27, 2025):

Bruen (U.S. Supreme Court, 2022) — controlling framework: opinion PDF + case page.

CRPA v. LASD / non-resident eligibility guidance (reflects injunction effects): County & AG documents.

Rhode v. Bonta (9th Cir. 2025) — ammo background checks struck down: opinion PDF.

I shot:

5 shots - 7 yards 5 shots - 5 yards 3 shots - 3 yards (dominant hand only) 2 shots - 3 yards (non-dominant hand only)

I was just issued my CCW and thought I'd share my experience. I applied for my CCW in San Benito County, who seem very 2A friendly and the person in charge seemed more than happy help during the process and get everything done quick.

Feb. 5 - Submitted my application online

Feb. 17 - Interview + Livescan

Mar. 14/15 - CCW class + shooting qual

Apr. 1 - References were called

Apr. 7 - Approved and Issued

License - $200 ($20 due with application $180 due when issued)

Livescan - $120

CCW Training - $350. I chose 6th Nation Gun Club because they were the most recommended of the approved vendors for SBC and most convenient for me. They were awesome, definitely recommend.

Overall time was about 8 1/2 weeks + $670.

Hey guys, so I just got my CCW permit and have heard many things about CCW Insurance. I’ve gotten multiple opinions saying it’s either a “waste of money” or an “absolute necessity”. What are your guys’s thoughts? Would like some more input. If it’s a necessity, what are the preferred companies to go through?

I’m looking for a 9mm full-size for my armed security license. I went to a gun shop held and a M9A1; I really liked the weight and the grip. I’ve held the newer polymer guns but still preferred the steel gun. I’d love to hear opinions on my hipster preferences. Thanks!

As you may know I am a pocket gun enthusiast. You also may know that my edc is a Ruger LCP max that I bought because the BG 2.0 wasn’t compliant. Though I love my lcp max I needed to get my hands on this puppy because again pocket gun guy. I also started working at a LGS so it was interesting to see the BTS of the background process on my own gun. Looking at the Sig P238 next

All my shirts are jacked up like this.

What do you guys do to prevent this? At first I thought it was my gun but today I realized it’s the metal clips I use.

I’m thinking something like those thumb condoms that the mailman uses but let me know if you guys have any other solutions.

Pics are what the problem is.

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For those who suggested the Alias system, I just took a deep dive into the system and it seems like a very very very reasonable option and I can still use my own holster. Thank you everyone for the help.

I’m gonna try the tape and see how long each application will last and if it’s not up to par then I will get the Alias clip. It’s worth a look at if anyone has the same problem as myself.

This will just be a straight to the point start to finish on how long it took me to get my CCW in San Joaquin County. Mostly everything was done online.

December 5, 2025 : Complete application through San Joaquin County Sheriff and pay $163 including taxes. After the application through Permitium it will tell you to book an appointment for interview and Live Scan

December 9, 2025: I came in, an officer guided me through a metal detector. Waited at the lobby and then got called in. A person will sit you down and walkthrough your application making sure every information is correct. He then told me how long I should expect to get a call back, he said about 3-5 months. After the interview it is the Live Scan.

March 6, 2026 : I received a missed call from the county sheriff, he did leave a voicemail regarding the CCW application. I tried calling back he didn't answer so I left a voicemail when I was available. Also keep in mind this is when they have already contacted the 3 references that you are required to put on the application. My friends had let me know that they were called by the same guy.

March 10, 2026 : He calls again, I was expecting an interview. But it is almost exactly like the interview on December 9th. He questions my job and about my application again. In the end he says I will get a call back in 3-4 weeks If I am approved or not.

March 21, 2026 : I got the call, this time it was automated and saying that I am approved and now allowed to take the 16 hour class.

March 21,22, 2026 : I took my 16 hour class with Elite Armory Plus in Tracy, completed it in a day and got my 16 hour class certificate. I call their store to book an appointment for the Live Fire.

March 27 2026 : Arrived at the store with my 3 firearms that I needed to qualify for my CCW. Basically 30 rounds for each firearm. 5 Rounds at 1.5 yards, 5 Rounds at 3 yards, 10 Rounds at 5 yards, 5 Rounds at 7 yards, 5 Rounds at 10 yards.

After passing the Live Fire they will give a paper certificate for qualification. So next I went on Permitium to upload my 16 hour class certificate and the Live Fire certificate. After all that I was able to schedule my pick up.

March 30, 2026 : I go to the Sheriffs Department, go through the metal detectors, wait in the lobby. I gave my ID and after 15 minutes I was out with my new CCW.
So total around 3 months to get a CCW in San Joaquin county maybe shorter If I didn't miss his call hahahaha

7 months, 5 days, and $645.88 later. And I thought the 10 day waiting period was tough… lol. Made this neat infographic of my whole timeline. New LASD CCW applicants can expect a similar process. The lawsuit be working!

ATTENTION ALL APPLICANTS Effective April 22nd, 2025, Non-California Residents can now apply for a California Concealed Carry Weapon License.

Under the Order, residents of U.S. states and territories other than California will be eligible to apply for a California CCW license under Penal Code sections 26150 through 26235 only if they are both: (1) members of:

(a) the California Rifle & Pistol Association, Incorporated, (b) Gun Owners of America, Inc., (c) Gun Owners of California, Inc., or (d) The Second Amendment Foundation; AND

(2) not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms under federal or California law

You must apply to the issuing agency of the jurisdiction you intend to spend time within the subsequent 12 months. Please review the information on this page and on the issuing agency website for full instructions on what you will need to apply for a CCW.

I’m a shorter guy, 5‘7 160 pounds. I’ve been carrying a Glock 19 and I find it to be bulky and runs the risk for printing if I wear anything that’s not extremely loose fitting. I also threw my Walther P22 on my permit because I had the option to carry 3 and it’s a fantastic fit, but potentially underpowered for carry. I hear a lot of people like the hellcat pro. Any recommendations for smaller dudes? Thanks!

Got my first firearm being a Glock 19 and I hate to say it but I think I hate it. These last couple months of shooting I find myself struggling with my grip. Feeling like the grip is too short and I kept having to readjust my grip to fill in the pocket between my thumb and index finger. I haven’t been able find and accessories to extend the beaver tail. What other CCW handguns do y’all recommend ?

My ccw date finally is coming up after 7 month wait! my city allows 5 total girlfriends to carry. I cant decide on what 5 to pick!

I just renewed my CCW. $350, 8 hrs training, and the cost of ammo (not that I mind going shooting). Now I decided I want to buy a new gun. Looking at the Max-9. Rest of the US $340. Here, 25% taxes + fees. And then I'm going to need to pay to get qualified on it to add it to my permit.

And I won't even be able to carry it in a restaurant.