Gun Permits for Celebrities

Sheriff Lee Baca’s offer of badges and guns to “celebrities, executives, star athletes and a variety of other notables” (June 18) who sign up for what can only be called the “celebrity police” is another humiliation for Los Angeles County. I’m glad I voted for the late Sheriff Sherman Block in the last election.

What your story doesn’t say is that of the “64 hours of training required” to join the celebrity police authorizing one to carry a concealed firearm 24 hours a day, only 24 of those 64 hours are actually spent on firearms training (Penal Code 832). The vast majority of the training (40 hours) is not with firearms at all but rather is of “the laws of arrest.”

With legitimate public concern regarding excessive use of firearms by police and sheriffs, Sheriff Baca is a fool for proposing the arming of celebrities, especially when a mere 24 hours of training is required and the only goal is favorable publicity for the Sheriff’s Department.

DAVE NULL

Claremont

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I’m not a celebrity, though sometimes my wife, son and daughter sure treat me like one. I do not consider myself a hero either, though I have had the opportunity to save many people through my choice of careers. I am a law-abiding, respectful family man who can see the value of a concealed weapon permit. Do you think Sheriff Baca will give me a permit, or is that only for the “real celebrities and heroes” of this county?

TODD J. SANDS

Camarillo