Who's Packing Heat In L.A. County? Sheriff Lee Baca's Gun Permit List Includes Many Personal Friends

Wait. So, anyone in LA County, not on that list, who carries a gun outside of their home, is doing so illegally? Is that right? I admittedly know nothing about guns or gun laws. But that number seems absurdly low for a county so massively populated...

Bar-Kochba Botach is the owner of Botach Tactical, a supplier to police departments and the military.

Conflict of interest, anyone?  I wonder what kind of sweetheart deals are passing both ways.

I would like to congratulate the LA Weekly for publishing this list. Anyone who values their 1st Amendment American freedoms should be OK with this article. Well done!

Tomson Ong is a batshit crazy judge who has no business carrying a gun. Also did you notice how many Armenians and Jews have gun permits? Frightening.

Is there an UNshady part of his behavior?

There are many judges on that list from 9th Circuit's Alex Kozinski to Superior Court judges.  Other law enforcement and families appear here, too.

The questions I have is what views they each may have on the issues of 2nd amendment rights for other law-abiding citizens in this country.  As it stands. L.A. County residents do not have any realistic expectation of receiving a CCW permit unless they have some legal system connection or a political cnnection, sometimes one and the same.

What this list tells you is that not everyone is depending on the police being able to meet their safety needs outside their homes and places of employment. 

"The Right to keep AND BEAR arms shall not be infringed." We shouldn't have to ask permission.

What crass disregard for life.  I cannot believe you published this list.  Your paper is less than worthless, a drag on our community. a value subtracted corporation.

I had heard before that Judge Elden Fox had a permit and carried a gun. I believe that judges and DAs are allowed to get a permit as a matter of course, but I may be wrong. I'm more interested that Supervisor Mike Antonovich is apparently packing heat, as are Supervisor Don Knabe's son Matthew, and famed Hollywood producer Richard Donner (assuming it's the same one).

Permits for the rich, none for the normal citizen. Shall issue ccw laws lower violent crime rates.

Cronyism, nepotism, sanctioned deputy thuggery extending all the way up to senior leadership,little civilian oversight, and regular abuse & illegal extended detention of inmates. The Ton Ton Macoute, SAVAK, Iraqi Secret Police??? No good old LASD. What an embarrassing and dangerous organization this continues to be under the "enlightened" Baca! Reform now!

Yet again, further proof not to trust government.

the sanctioned gangsters...

Great article, thanks LA Weekly

Fuck you too James!

Fuck the police

this guy should just fking RESIGN, hes a THUG, with his gang the JUMP OUT BOYS

Googling 4 random names from this list, 3 of them are Los Angeles County judges. 

What are the ethical issues of a judge accepting a VERY exclusive perk, a nearly unobtainable permit,  from the head of an organization that routinely is involved in matters before the court?????

This appears to be CORRUPT.