After receiving only a handful of applications for permits to carry a concealed weapon in the past decade, the city of San Francisco is being flooded with them as property crime skyrockets. Last week, the first of those applications was finally approved.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling last year in the Bruen case, which made it easier for gun owners to get concealed carry permits, it is now much easier for residents of San Francisco to obtain a license to carry weapons in public. That right may be short-lived, however, as the state moves to rewrite gun laws to comply with the court’s ruling. 

Last week, Benjamin Zheng — an automobile shop employee — had his application approved by the San Francisco sheriff’s department. Mr. Zheng works in the Tenderloin neighborhood, which the New York Times has called “the dirtiest block in San Francisco” due to the frequency of open drug use. 

Sheriff Paul Miyamoto said his office is processing more concealed carry permit applications than ever, and predicted that the number of applicants would be in the hundreds by the end of the year. He told ABC7 News that his office had received only four applications in “the last 10 or so years.”

Mr. Zheng said the reason he applied was because he felt unsafe in his neighborhood. “It’s just that enhanced level of security,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I was never a gun guy … but it’s getting alarming. Drug dealers moved up on my block now. I never saw that until recently.”

Violent crime in San Francisco is significantly lower when compared to other American cities of similar size. On average, the city’s violent crime rate is more than 20 percent lower than cities like Houston, Chicago, and Denver.

The rate of property crime, however, is much higher. According to data from 2022, property crimes like robbery and theft are, on average, 41 percent higher than comparable cities. Burglary is 67 percent higher in San Francisco and robbery is 47 percent higher. 

Mr. Miyamoto said the Supreme Court’s decision from last year has opened the door for new applicants. In the past, San Francisco only approved permits for those who demonstrated a need for self-defense, such as diamond dealers, judges, or law enforcement. 

New York State Pistol and Rifle Associate v. Bruen overturned the requirement that applicants demonstrate need for a permit. “The significant change from the Bruen decision was that they took out the ‘good cause’ requirement for someone who is applying for a CCW license,” Mr. Miyamoto said.

San Francisco still requires applicants to undergo a psychological evaluation before approving their permit. 

The Bruen decision declared many gun laws unconstitutional based on the “demonstration of need.” New York and New Jersey are currently engaged in litigation over gun laws adopted in the wake of Bruen. 

California is also working on new gun regulations in the wake of the high court’s decision. Senate Bill 2, introduced by Senator Anthony Portantino, would clarify the state’s gun laws in order to bring it into compliance with the Bruen decision. 

The legislation would allow local law enforcement to deny applications or renewals if applicants are a “danger” to themselves or others, and require permit-holders to register their weapons with the U.S. Department of Justice.