LOS ANGELES : Police Commissioners Change Weapons Policy

The Los Angeles Police Commission adopted a new policy on concealed-weapons permits Tuesday, but it was unclear if the city would start issuing them again after almost 20 years.

“I can’t comment further. We’re still on litigation on this,” Assistant City Atty. Byron Boeckman said when asked the policy’s effect. Under the new guidelines, applicants must demonstrate “good character” and “good cause” for a permit. Good cause is defined as “convincing evidence of a clear and present danger to life or of great bodily harm.”

The danger must be one that “cannot be adequately dealt with by existing law enforcement resources, and which danger cannot be reasonably avoided by alternative measures, and which danger would be significantly mitigated by the applicant’s carrying a concealed firearm,” the policy states.

Applicants must also present a valid certificate from an advanced officer training institution approved by the state Bureau of Collection and Investigation Services. The previous policy was so restrictive that only one permit had been issued since 1974. It went to Chief Willie L. Williams--while he was awaiting state certification as a peace officer before taking over the Police Department last year.