The Calaveras County Taxpayers
Association asked the candidates four questions by email. The below questions
and responses were reformatted and approved by the candidates, according to Al
Segalla, President of the association.
Question One: Should Sheriff Department
personnel take a course to learn about the US Constitution?
Answer from Pat: Yes, actually, I feel all employees of the
Sheriff’s Office (sworn and non-sworn) should have a course in the Constitution.
Answer from Gary: Yes, if I had
someone come in during our team training, that would be great. I’m all for it.
Question Two: Presently,
the cost for a Calaveras, two year, concealed carry permit is about $200. Do
you favor changing this to $50 for a five year permit?
Answer from Pat: Some of the amount is charged by DOJ for the fingerprint check,
background check, etc, so those amounts are unlikely to change. State law
allows agencies to charge up to $100 for a new CCW request and $25 for a
renewal. I would look at how much time is involved by Sheriff’s Office
personnel in processing a CCW application and consider adjusting fees
accordingly, i.e. if it takes a tech about 1 hour to process an application and
that tech is making $22 an hour, then it would seem reasonable to charge a $25
fee. Perhaps a flat fee of $50 would be the most reasonable. State law sets the
two year time period for CCW’s so changing it to five years would have to be
done in the legislature. I’d have no problem if the law was changed.
Answer from Gary: First of all it doesn't cost $200.00 for two years. It’s $193.00. $93.00 goes to D.O.J for
finger printing and back ground check, and the rest goes to the Sheriff’s
office. Renewals are $77.00, $25.00 goes to D.O.J and rest to us. Public permit
holders are not allowed by law to go past two years. Judges get to have those
for three years. Custodial officers get to have them for four years.
Citizens like the permits back as fast as possible, so we have an
employee who works on the applications just about full time and we fund this though
our share of the fees.
Question Three: Did
the federal government have the constitutional authority to use deadly force
against the Bundy Ranch without approval of the Sheriff?
Answer from Pat: The short answer is no. With very few exceptions, such as
military personnel protecting secure sites, there is no authority by Federal or
State law enforcement to “approve” the use of deadly force. Generally speaking,
using deadly force is based on if there is an imminent danger of someone being
seriously injured or killed. In such instances, law enforcement officials can
use deadly force to protect themselves or others from being killed or seriously
injured. It is a decision that is made by the law enforcement official facing
the threat. If someone is engaged in an activity that is not going to kill or
seriously injure someone, then deadly force against them would not be lawful.
Answer from Gary:
I would
say no, it’s my county and they don’t have jurisdiction.
Question four:
Should the Sheriff stand up to the Federales if they came for our guns?
Answer from Pat: Yes I
would.
Answer from Gary: I would stand
shoulder to shoulder with the people and stop them from doing so.
