The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday challenging a unique set of concealed carry rules enforced by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California. The legal complaint takes aim at county policies that prohibit handgun carry permit holders from using red dot sights or weapon-mounted flashlights, alongside a complete ban on carrying single-action-only (SAO) 1911- and 2011-style pistols.
According to the SAF, the restrictions enforced by Sheriff David Livingston are entirely unique. The national gun rights organization stated that, to its knowledge, no other municipality or county in California or the rest of the United States forces similar limitations onto law-abiding citizens who hold valid carry permits.
The lawsuit, titled Second Amendment Foundation v. Contra Costa County, argues that these policies violate the Second and Fourteenth Amendments. The plaintiffs point specifically to precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which require gun regulations to align with the nation’s historical traditions.
“Contra Costa County is the only jurisdiction in America that forbids law-abiding CCW permit holders from using red dot sights, firearm-mounted lights, or carrying the venerable 1911 platform,” said Kostas Moros, SAF Director of Legal Research and Education. “These are common, popular and safety-enhancing features and firearms used by millions of Americans and even adopted by multiple California law enforcement agencies. There is zero historical tradition supporting these restrictions, and they cannot survive scrutiny under Bruen.”
The complaint highlights the mechanical and practical usage of the restricted items, noting that red dot sights and attached lights are modern safety tools designed to improve aiming speed, accuracy, and clear target identification in dark environments. It also notes that SAO 1911-style pistols have seen continuous use by civilians, police, and the military for over a century, relying on multiple built-in manual and passive safeties. Furthermore, several SAO models were recently added to California’s official Handgun Roster after passing the state’s rigorous safety evaluations.
A core argument in the legal filing focuses on a geographic double standard created by California’s statewide carry laws. Because concealed carry weapon (CCW) permits are recognized across the entire state, visitors traveling into Contra Costa County with permits from other counties can legally carry firearms equipped with red dots, lights, or SAO mechanisms. Local residents holding permits issued by Contra Costa County, however, face criminal non-compliance if they do the same.
“These arbitrary policies single out Contra Costa County residents and prevent them from using the most effective and popular tools for lawful self-defense,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Law-abiding citizens should not be forced to choose between their safety and complying with an unconstitutional and outlier restriction that exists nowhere else in the country.”
The SAF filed the lawsuit in cooperation with two local Contra Costa County residents who hold valid carry permits. The legal action seeks a court order declaring the policies unconstitutional, an injunction to prevent their enforcement, nominal damages, and the coverage of attorney’s fees.
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