CHIEF DEVISES CONCEALED-WEAPONS RULES\City to require mental test, $1 million policy, safety course.

Byline: Terry Kanakri Daily News Staff Writer

Police Chief Randy Adams has drafted a set of guidelines effective Feb. 1 that aim to make it easier for residents to carry concealed weapons without compromising public safety.

Among the guidelines are requirements that applicants pass a psychological test, carry $1 million in personal liability insurance and take a weapons proficiency course every six months.

"That's what needs to be done to assure public safety, and that's the only way that I'm comfortable in issuing permits," Adams said Tuesday.

The local chapter of the National Rifle Association, however, takes issue with a clause that would require applicants to pay for the psychological test.

"Is this a situation when only the rich will be able to afford a concealed permit?" asked Mike Mason, president of the East Ventura County NRA Members Council. "It could exclude a lot of people. I certainly am not in favor of mentally unbalanced people having guns, but I'm not sure a police chief has a right to require a psychological exam."

Adams countered the psychological exam requirement is essential to ensuring that no mentally unstable person will threaten public safety once the new guidelines open the door for more residents to carry concealed guns.

"I'm not going to alter my criteria," Adams said

State law currently says sheriffs and police chiefs may issue concealed-weapons permits if a person shows just cause and is of good moral character. Police chiefs and sheriffs do not need approval from elected officials to determine their individual policies.

The issue of concealed weapon permits, which are good for a year, arose last week after it became known that the local NRA chapter would approach the Simi Valley City Council with a proposed policy that would make it more difficult for Adams to deny concealed weapon permits.

The NRA proposes that permits be issued to applicants who are victims of a crime or an attempted crime of violence or have personally witnessed the commission or attempted commission of a crime. The goal would be to limit a police chief's ability to make subjective judgments regarding an applicant's moral character or need for a concealed weapon.

Adams, however, said that his policy will make it easier for him to issue concealed weapon permits to Simi Valley residents while still guarding the community against weapons falling into the wrong hands.

Other guidelines in the chief's policy will require applicants to have a clean police record and carry pepper spray as a less lethal alternative.

Adams said he began working on the guidelines shortly after taking office in September.

"(The new policy) makes it more objective," he said. "I believe if people have a need to carry a gun because of personal safety and protection, if they are a good citizens with a clean record and good background, and are psychologically sound, then I believe they have a right to carry one."

Councilwoman Sandi Webb, a strong believer of the right to bear arms who has admitted to carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, said that she will not fight Adams' policy but shares the NRA's concern about requiring a psychological exam.

"I don't think it's particularly needed," she said. "I think it's very arbitrary and I think the true fruitcake will probably carry a gun anyway. He's not going to go out and apply."

But other council members said they do not object to Adams' proposal.

"Why not make certain that people to whom we issue a concealed weapon permit are stable?" asked Paul Miller, a former police chief. "If someone wants to carry a concealed weapon, we want to make sure that we're issuing those weapons to stable people."

Miller also rejected the NRA's concern over the cost of the exam, which is currently required to be taken by police officers.

"Everything in life costs something," he said. "Nothing is free."

CAPTION(S):

PHOTO

Photo (Simi edition only--Color) Randy Adams Says plan protects public