San Francisco Sheriff apologizes for lapsed CCW permits, blames budget cuts for renewal delays
San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto apologized today after admitting that concealed carry weapons permits issued by his office have been allowed to expire due to his officials failing to approve or deny timely-filed renewal requests.
“We have experienced administrative delays in processing renewals and I take full responsibility for the Sheriff’s Office failure to process and renew CCW permits, which resulted in some unintentionally expiring,” Miyamoto said in a statement.
“This should not have happened.”
Some 43 applications are currently pending, say officials. With their permits no longer active applicants have been deprived of their right to carry their firearms with them.
“I want to be clear, we are not attempting to block or limit anyone’s lawful right to carry a firearm.” — San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto
Applications for CCW permits began shortly after the June 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen which barred officials from requiring applicants to show ‘good cause’ to carry a firearm.
Prior to the ruling San Francisco law enforcement agencies refused to issue permits to law-abiding city residents.
The Sheriff’s Office created a lengthy process that, for many applicants, took eighteen months and imposed some of the strictest requirements in the state, including an interview with a psychologist.
163 permits were issued by the Sheriff’s department post-Bruen. Initially valid for two years, they are now expiring, and renewals are pending.
“The delays are the direct result of significant shortages within our professional staff ranks. Due to city budget cuts, we are currently operating with only 63% of our normal professional staffing levels,” Miyamoto said.
“This reduction has had a substantial impact on our ability to process CCW applications and renewals in a timely manner.”
“I want to be clear,” Miyamoto concluded, “we are not attempting to block or limit anyone’s lawful right to carry a firearm.”
Applicants had been told that delays in their permit renewals were due to “City Hall”.
San Francisco Police Department is also authorized to issue concealed carry weapons permits in the city. A spokesman for newly-installed SFPD Chief Derrick Lew declined to comment on his department’s issuance of permits and whether his organization has dealt promptly with all renewal applications.
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