Sheriff Sniff talks rise in concealed weapon permits

After the San Bernardino shooting massacre, people across the southland want to carry a gun and are applying for a Carry Concealed Weapon permit.

“Since December 2nd, we’ve seen an explosion of interest,” said Riverside County Sheriff Stan Sniff.

The sheriff’s department received 300 voicemails and 1,300 applications and interviews are pending.

“We’re now literally backlogged almost 18 months on doing interviews on CCWs. Hopefully we’ll get more staffing allocated if we get our funding levels approved this spring,” said Sniff.

The department broke records for gun permits. Sniff said it issued nearly 1,700 concealed weapon permits, three times the amount in our county’s history. About 400 completed applications are being processed now.

“It really underscored the fears people have had since AB 109 realignment was passed, Prop 47, crime rates have been going up across California,”said Sniff.

The permit process isn’t something the sheriff’s department takes lightly.

“A permit to go anywhere in the state with a loaded concealed handgun on their person, in their glove box or car seat, that’s a great deal of responsibility. We take great pains to do due diligence on every single applicant,” said Sniff.