I agree about the beat level LEO, although I think it probably varies, too, as I've seen beat level LEO who were anti-gun, at least in civilian hands.texanjoker wrote: I have to disagree with that statement. I worked 2 decades in CA and the beat level LEO is not anti gun, expect when it comes to criminals with guns (gangsters, parolees, drug dealers, ect)...I even remember back when I was a police explorer in the early 80's and we stopped a normal guy with a loaded gun> I got my first lesson on educating the person how to legally carry vs arresting him (Kern County).
Overall, it really depends on where in California you're talking about.
The county I grew up in issues permits, although you have to write up a cause that has to be more than just 'self defense' (although i think that what you write can amount to 'self defense', it just has to be worded as more than just those two words - or, at least, that's the way it was the last time I looked). We used to go out on county land and hike in, find a backstop, shoot a bunch, pick up all our brass and hike out all while open carrying, and it was legal at the time (although the law may have changed since) and the local cops were basically fine and some would even tell you what to watch out for to keep legal.
Another county I lived in for a long time, concealed carry permits were basically a no go unless you donated to the Sheriff's re-election fund (and I believe there were lawsuits over that, and I have no idea if it's the same Sheriff at the moment).
In general, I think the closer to L.A. or San Francisco you are, the more likely it is you'll be in an anti gun area at least politically (although maybe not at the beat cop level). That probably has exceptions too.