A federal appeals court agreed Thursday to reconsider its decision to strike down a California law that requires applicants for a concealed weapons permit to show "good cause" beyond self-defense.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said an expanded 11-judge panel of the court will reconsider the February 2014 decision.
The court ruled 2-1 then that California's requirement that an applicant demonstrate a real danger or other reason beyond simple self-defense to receive a concealed weapons permit violates the Second Amendment and runs afoul of a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
The case stems from a lawsuit filed against the San Diego County sheriff by several people who were denied a permit. C.D. Michel, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said the 9th Circuit's decision was anticipated, and he was prepared to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
"En banc" rehearings such as the one the court agreed to on Thursday are rare and often lead to review by the U.S. Supreme Court.