In Memory Of Second Amendment Advocate And Fresno District Attorney, Ed Hunt

Former Fresno County District Attorney Ed Hunt passed away on April 21st at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Fresno California. He suffered a heart attack a week earlier and was 69 years old. A memorial service was held on April 30th at the First Presbyterian Church in Fresno. He is survived by Linda, his loving wife of 32 years, his daughter Tami, and his stepson Steve Airman. He is also survived by his loving dogs, Boomer and Gunner.

Hunt served as a District Attorney for Fresno County for 27 years from 1975-2002. He became the District Attorney for Fresno County in 1982. During his time as District Attorney, he was a popular and influential member of the community. He loved Fresno, and as the District Attorney, it was his mission to make it a better place. During his time at the DA’s office, Hunt was the mentor of current Fresno District Attorney Elizabeth Egan.

Ed Hunt was well known among Second Amendment activists for supporting the right to keep and bear arms, and for being the lead plaintiff in an unprecedented prosecutor vs. prosecutor lawsuit, Hunt v. Lockyer, that got the attention of California police, prosecutors, the legislature, the criminal courts, and DOJ regulators.

When the 1999 features based “assault weapon” ban (SB 23) passed, there was a great deal of concern and confusion within the law enforcement community and among prosecutors. Many, including even the San Francisco District Attorney’s office, spoke out concerning the confusion SB 23 created. Most of those police officers and prosecutors, however, were unwilling to actually challenge the law in court. Two California elected District Attorneys, however, Ed Hunt of Fresno County and Norm Vroman of Mendocino County, became named plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging SB 23. The lawsuit was financed primarily by the National Rifle Association, with contributions from the California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA) Foundation. The District Attorney plaintiffs, along with the CRPA, Law Enforcement Alliance of America, former Oakdale Chief of Police David D. Sundy, Herb Bauer Sporting Goods, Barry Bauer, and others, filed the lawsuit on September 18, 2001. The Hunt lawsuit alleged, among other things, that certain terms used in SB 23 and subsequent regulations were unconstitutionally vague and ambiguous to the extent that prosecutors, law enforcement, and citizens could not ascertain their meaning and conform their conduct to comply with the law.

As part of his efforts to take a stand against this vague law, District Attorney Hunt sent a letter to prosecutors in the state explaining how unjust the law was. Many prosecutors took his words to heart and relaxed their prosecutions under the ill-advised law.

The Hunt v. Lockyer lawsuit served several valuable purposes over the years. The fact that some District Attorneys and police were willing to take these positions in court gave credibility to the NRA and CRPA’s position of opposing additional firearm restrictions, commenting on administrative regulations on related topics and defending against criminal prosecutions. The legislature even enacted some corrective legislation to remedy problems raised in the lawsuit. The lawsuit also contributed to the success of other effects to narrow the scope of SB 23’s application and to limit the number and types of firearms considered to be “assault weapons” under the law.

When the Heller decision was rendered by the Supreme Court in 2008, it created a new tool to use to challenge SB 23 (and other ill-conceived laws). The Hunt lawsuit was settled, so that a separate NRA/CRPAF Second Amendment challenge to SB 23 could be prepared. That suit is still pending as Second Amendment jurisprudence develops around the country, and through NRA and CRPA lawsuits in California.

“Ed Hunt was an inspiration to prosecutors across California because he was not afraid to call out the legislature over the stupidity of California’s gun laws,” said civil rights attorney Chuck Michel, who represented Hunt and the other plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “His courage was part of the reason other District Attorneys were willing to sign onto pro-Second Amendment amicus briefs in the critical Second Amendment Supreme Court cases in 2008 and 2010.”

Edward Woodrow Hunt was born June 27, 1942, in Huntsville, AL. His parents were working-class citizens. His father had been in World War II and worked construction jobs, his mother was a homemaker. Hunt served in the Air Force from 1961 to 1964 and later in the Air Force reserves.

Hunt was an instrument-rated pilot. Hunt graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a degree in business administration and from the San Joaquin College of Law. He later worked in the Fresno County DA’s Office twice – from January 1975 to January 1979 and again from December 1979 to August 1980 – before putting his hat in the ring for the top job.

When Fresno’s crime rate was at an all-time high, Hunt fought to protect residents by ramping up efforts against drugs and gangs. Hunt also played a role in passing the Three Strikes law.

During his tenure, Hunt put 13 people on death row. But last January, Hunt said his stance on the death penalty has softened with concerns an innocent person could be killed. “Sometimes I wonder what is society looking for – vengeance or justice,” he said. Hunt felt the prosecutor’s job was to do justice, not seek vengeance.

When Mr. Hunt retired, he said: “I can tell you that a ride as the District Attorney of this county has been one hell of a ride. I’ve enjoyed it, most of the time.” But then he added: “Sometimes I would rather be fishing.”

No doubt the big fish are biting in heaven for our blessed friend Ed Hunt.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to HOPE Animal Foundation, 5490 W. Spruce Ave., Fresno CA. 93722; Animal Rescue of Fresno (ARF), 4545 E. Dakota Ave., Fresno, CA. 93726; Valley Animal Center, 3934 N. Hayston Ave., Fresno, CA. 93726; or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS. 66675.