BELLEVUE, Wash. — June 17, 2026 — The Second Modification Basis (SAF) has filed a federal lawsuit in California difficult Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Workplace insurance policies that prohibit allow holders from carrying handguns outfitted with pink dot sights or flashlights, in addition to their outright ban on the carry of single motion solely (SAO) 1911- and 2011-style pistols.
The insurance policies, enforced by Sheriff David Livingston, are distinctive within the nation. To SAF’s information, no different county or metropolis in California – or wherever else in the USA – imposes such restrictions on law-abiding carry allow holders. The grievance alleges the insurance policies violate the Second and Fourteenth Amendments underneath the Supreme Courtroom’s selections in New York State Rifle & Pistol Affiliation v. Bruen and District of Columbia v. Heller.
“Contra Costa County is the one jurisdiction in America that forbids law-abiding CCW allow holders from utilizing pink dot sights, firearm-mounted lights, or carrying the venerable 1911 platform,” mentioned SAF Director of Authorized Analysis and Schooling Kostas Moros. “These are frequent, standard and safety-enhancing options and firearms utilized by thousands and thousands of Individuals and even adopted by a number of California regulation enforcement businesses. There may be zero historic custom supporting these restrictions, and so they can’t survive scrutiny underneath Bruen.”
Crimson dot sights and handgun-mounted flashlights are fashionable devices that facilitate armed self-defense by enhancing pace, accuracy and goal identification – particularly in low-light circumstances. SAO 1911-style pistols have been in steady civilian, army and regulation enforcement use for greater than a century and embrace a number of guide and passive security options. A number of SAO pistols had been not too long ago added to the California Handgun Roster after passing the state’s expansive security testing.
The grievance additional notes the irony arising from the truth that California CCW permits are legitimate statewide: allow holders from different counties might legally carry firearms with pink dot sights, flashlights or SAO pistols when touring by or visiting Contra Costa County, whereas county residents are prohibited from doing so underneath the Sheriff’s insurance policies.
“These arbitrary insurance policies single out Contra Costa County residents and forestall them from utilizing the best and standard instruments for lawful self-defense,” mentioned SAF founder and Government Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Legislation-abiding residents shouldn’t be compelled to decide on between their security and complying with an unconstitutional and outlier restriction that exists nowhere else within the nation.”
SAF is joined in Second Modification Basis v. Contra Costa County by two law-abiding Contra Costa County residents who’re legitimate carry allow holders, and seeks declaratory and injunctive reduction, nominal damages, and legal professional’s charges.
For extra data go to SAF.org.
The Second Modification Basis (saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt training, analysis, publishing and authorized motion group devoted to safeguarding and selling the elemental rights of people enshrined within the Second Modification of the USA Structure. SAF engages in aggressive authorized motion to make sure the ideas of armed self-defense, private liberty, and the possession of arms are defended, secured, and restored. Via public training initiatives, SAF teaches the significance of the Second Modification to advertise a society that values and workouts the correct to maintain and bear arms.
