Orange County sheriff's crackdown on gun permits comes under fire

But the most controversy she has generated has been her decision to review the concealed weapons permits issued by Carona.

Hutchens said she was concerned that more than 1,100 people held concealed carry permits issued by the former sheriff -- nearly three times the amount of permits issued in Los Angeles County.

She assigned a lieutenant to review each concealed weapons permit to determine whether the holder had a valid reason for carrying a weapon in public and whether these were people whose safety was at risk.

In the months that followed, the department sent 422 letters to permit holders, warning them that they could lose their licenses unless they can provide the department valid reasons for having them.

The crackdown has infuriated gun-rights advocates and some permit holders, who accuse Hutchens of violating 2nd Amendment rights to bear arms. They have addressed the county Board of Supervisors, demanding intervention and threatened to back an opponent to challenge Hutchens' reelection in 2010.

"My office has been inundated with e-mails and quite a few phone calls," said Supervisor Chris Norby. "They're concerned and confused as to what's going on."

Hutchens said she was surprised by the reaction. "There's so much important stuff going on with the department, I didn't expect there to be so much feedback on this," she said.

Under California law, sheriffs and police chiefs may issue concealed carry permits to anyone with "good cause," or a legitimate reason, to carry a firearm in public. The law grants law enforcement executives broad discretion in issuing the permits.

As a result, the number of permits varies widely throughout the state -- with rural counties such as Fresno, Kern and Tulare at the top of the list.

Hutchens said good cause could include people whose jobs place them in danger -- such as jewelers who might be robbery targets -- or people whose lives have been threatened.

Norby intends to ask his colleagues Nov. 18 to adopt a new county policy that would require the sheriff to renew all previously issued permits unless the holder committed a crime or misused the permit.