Throughout the nation, the trend over the last few years has been to make it easier and easier to get a concealed carry permit. As a result, people feel safer in those states, especially those who understand that criminals have been carrying guns regardless of the laws since the dawn of time.

However, it seems that not every state wants to go along with that trend. Especially California, who is in a battle with New York for who wants to be considered the most anti-gun state in the country. While California has held the title for some time, the Empire State is making a strong bid lately. That means California has had to up the ante.

Two San Diego Democrats want all applicants for concealed carry permits in the state to complete at least eight hours of firearms training beforehand in addition to other requirements.

The move by Assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher and Todd Gloria, AB 2103, would set a mandatory minimum for training to carry a gun in the state. The lawmakers argue the regulation is needed to ensure guns don’t wind up in the wrong hands.

“Under current law in California, a person who has never even fired a gun or received proper training on how to safely handle one can receive a permit and carry a loaded firearm in public. This jeopardizes public safety and has to be addressed,” Gloria said in a statement.

The bill would set a minimum threshold of eight hours of training including live-fire shooting exercises. Current guidelines authorize sheriffs and police chiefs in the state to require no more than 16 hours of training before issuing an initial permit and a four-hour minimum on renewals. Some jurisdictions have higher requirements than what is being proposed, but gun control advocates who support the measure say a statewide mandate for more training is needed.

“AB 2103 will ensure that all concealed carry permit holders in California know how to use their firearm – a key step in avoiding unintentional shootings in our state,” said Wendy Wheatcroft, a representative of Moms Demand Action.

On the surface, a training requirement can sound nice. The problem is that it adds yet another mechanism for restricting people’s Second Amendment rights. Training requirements can easily be manipulated to prevent most people from ever qualifying for a permit. Classes held during the work day, tests designed to fail as many people as possible, and a shooting test that even Navy SEALs would have problems with are all easy enough ways to make sure the reality of a carry permit never actually happens.

It should be noted that numerous states lack any training requirement and all of those states have a remarkable lack of cases where a concealed carry permit holder’s lack of government mandated training was ever an issue.

But that doesn’t matter for anti-gun lawmakers. What matters in their minds is keeping guns out of the hands of the average citizen, folks like you and me. They don’t seem to think we can handle the responsibility. Either that or they fear what we will do with it.

Maybe if they showed a little more trust in the citizenry, they’d have less to fear from them.

Just a thought.