Contra Costa Settles Suit, Drops Bans on Red-Dot Sights and 1911s

Contra Costa County's sheriff has agreed to drop concealed-carry permit rules that blocked red-dot sights, weapon lights, and single-action 1911- and 2011-style pistols, settling a lawsuit from the Second Amendment Foundation and two local residents rather than waiting on a court ruling.

Key points

• The settlement: SAF announced the agreement October 8, and plaintiffs filed to voluntarily dismiss the case the next day, per thefirearmblog.com.
• What was at stake: The sheriff's permit rules had named the 1911 specifically and rejected any handgun fitted with a red dot or light, restricting which guns a licensee could actually carry.
• No admission of fault: This was a settlement, not a court finding that the old restrictions were unconstitutional, and the sheriff has 10 days to update the permit website.
• Still work to do: Permit holders must still qualify with each listed handgun, and adding an optic or light to an existing permit gun may require re-inspection and requalification.
• Limited scope: Other rules, including limits on laser sights and certain modifications, appear untouched, and the deal only covers Contra Costa County, not other California licensing agencies.

Quick take

This is a narrow win, but it's a real one for county residents who've been stuck carrying guns the sheriff decided were acceptable rather than what actually fits their hand or training. If you hold a Contra Costa permit, don't swap your setup yet; the county's website hadn't caught up as of October 15, so call before you bolt on a light.

Read the full story: thefirearmblog.com