Two prominent gun-rights groups and a handful of Santa Clara County residents have sued the sheriff’s office in federal court over its methods for issuing concealed-carry weapons permits, saying high fees along with required psychological exams and political contribution disclosures are violations of the Second Amendment.

The lawsuit, filed with the Northern District of California on Monday, represents the California Rifle & Pistol Association, the Second Amendment Foundation based in Washington State, and five South Bay residents who claim the sheriff’s requirements pose an “onerous” financial hardship and unnecessary intrusions of other constitutional rights including the First Amendment.

In the lawsuit language, the plaintiffs refer to the groundbreaking scandal that effectively force

See Full Page