Chad Bianco: Proven Leadership Rooted in Family, and Service

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If California is ever going to get back on track, we need leaders who not only talk about values—but live them, every single day. That’s exactly what we have in Chad Bianco, our own Riverside County Sheriff and now a candidate for Governor. His life is a testament to the power of hard work, faith, and good old-fashioned American grit.

A Life Shaped by Integrity and Responsibility

Chad Bianco’s story starts far from the chaos of Sacramento. Born in 1967 at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, Bianco grew up the eldest of three boys in a small mining town. Raised by hardworking parents, he learned early on that integrity, perseverance, and personal responsibility weren’t just words—they were ways of life. In today’s California, where politicians too often say one thing and do another, Bianco’s belief that “respect is earned through actions, character, and commitment to service” couldn’t be more refreshing.

A Sheriff Who Rose Through the Ranks

Bianco made his way to California in 1989, seeking the kind of opportunity and community he wanted for his future family. He worked his way up from the bottom, graduating at the top of his class at the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Academy in 1993. Shortly after, he began his more than 31-year career with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department—protecting the very communities we call home.

In 2018, we put our trust in Bianco as Sheriff at a time when the department was facing serious challenges: budget shortfalls, deputies leaving in droves, and strained relations with local police. Instead of making excuses or blaming others, Bianco rolled up his sleeves and delivered. He stabilized the department’s finances, rebuilt morale, and forged new partnerships with other law enforcement agencies. When our county faced the double punch of civil unrest and a global pandemic, Bianco led from the front, earning the respect of deputies and the community alike. It’s no wonder Riverside County voters re-elected him in 2022.

Standing Up for Freedom During COVID-19

One of the moments that truly defined Sheriff Bianco’s leadership was his stance during the COVID-19 pandemic. While other parts of California buckled under Sacramento’s heavy-handed mandates, Bianco stood firm in defense of individual liberty and local control. He made it clear that his department would not become the “mask police” or enforce orders that infringed on personal freedoms. Instead, Bianco respected the right of business owners to make their own decisions and the responsibility of individuals to assess risk for themselves and their families.

This approach wasn’t about ignoring public health—it was about trusting people over government mandates and preserving the freedoms that make America unique. Bianco’s refusal to enforce ever-changing restrictions won him both praise and criticism, but he never wavered. That’s real leadership. For many in Riverside County and across California, Bianco was a rare voice of reason and common sense during a time of chaos and government overreach.

Championing Real Reform for California

Sheriff Bianco isn’t just managing problems—he’s a leader willing to stand up to Sacramento’s failed policies. Day in and day out, he’s seen the impact of soft-on-crime laws and political games that leave families less safe. That’s why Bianco became a leading advocate for reform, most recently with Proposition 36, which passed by a landslide in November 2024. Thanks to Bianco’s tireless efforts, commonsense is finally being restored to California’s criminal sentencing laws.

Grounded in Faith, Family, and Community

But for those of us in Riverside County, what truly sets Chad Bianco apart is his commitment to faith and family. He and his wife Denise have built their life right here in the Woodcrest area, raising children, doting on grandchildren, and staying active with Sandals Church. Bianco isn’t interested in Sacramento power plays—he’s interested in service, putting others above self, and keeping California a place where our families can thrive.

The Leadership California Needs

At a time when our state is at a crossroads, Chad Bianco offers a clear, conservative alternative to business as usual. He understands what it means to earn respect, not demand it. He’s proven that principled leadership can turn around even the toughest situations. For voters in Hemet, San Jacinto, and beyond, Bianco isn’t just another politician—he’s one of us, fighting for our future.


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Moving to California with a gun? You might have to take a four-hour course

A person wearing ear protection and tinted safety glasses aims a handgun at an outdoor shooting range while another person stands closely behind, appearing to offer instruction. Bags and equipment rest on a wooden bench beside them, with hillside terrain blurred in the background.

In summary

Want to buy a gun in California? Lawmakers may have you set aside four hours — and bring ammo for the range

Californians would have to take a four-hour course with live-fire training to buy a gun if a bill advancing through the Legislature gets signed into law.

Senate Bill 948, by Berkeley Democratic Sen. Jesse Arreguín, also would require gun owners moving to California to obtain a firearm safety certificate and register their firearms within 180 days of their arrival. Beginning in 2028, obtaining that certificate would require completing the training.

It’s the latest effort by California Democrats to add more restrictions on firearm ownership in a state that already has some of the toughest gun laws in the country. However, it’s hardly certain the bill will become law. A similar measure died in the Legislature last year.

This year’s proposal advanced from the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday on a party-line vote with Republicans opposed. Committee members offered no comment on the measure and did not take any public testimony, which is typical for that committee.

But in March, when an earlier version of the bill would have required eight hours of training, Arreguín told the Senate Public Safety Committee the proposed training requirements would reduce gun violence and prevent accidental shootings.

“Firearm safety is essential in preventing firearm-related incidents, especially those involving children,” he said. “By strengthening training requirements and closing gaps in current law, SB 948 will ensure responsible gun ownership to keep Californians and communities safe.”

Rebecca Marcus, a lobbyist for the Brady Campaign, told the committee there were more than 69,000 shootings resulting in death or requiring urgent medical care in California from 2016 to 2021. Around one in three of those shootings were accidental, she said. Many involved children.

Gun rights advocates said the bill would be challenged in court if it becomes law. 

Adam Wilson of Gun Owners of California called the proposed requirements “an insurmountable barrier to exercising a constitutional right.”

Clay Kimberling, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, said that’s especially true for the estimated 115,000 gun owners who move to California each year.

“Whether they move into the state on a new job, a new military assignment, or family obligations such as helping a sick or elderly family member, lawful firearm owners would now have to search out an instructor, pay for the class … and take eight hours out of their day … for simply wanting to continue to practice their constitutional right to keep and bear arms in a new state,” Kimberling said.

That original version of the bill also would have required new California arrivals to register firearms and take the course within 60 days. 

Will the bill make it to Newsom?

Under current law, Californians are required to pass a written test and pay $25 to obtain a five-year firearm safety certificate to purchase a gun, but no formal training course is required.

Licensed hunters are required to take a mandatory hunting-safety course and aren’t required to get a certificate when buying rifles or shotguns. Also exempt are those who’ve obtained a concealed weapons permit, which is issued after 16 hours of mandatory training that includes live-fire at a gun range.

Those exemptions would still apply.

For everyone else, the proposed four hours of training would include coursework on state and federal gun laws, secure firearm storage, safe handling, the dangers of guns, use-of-force laws, how to sell firearms legally and conflict resolution. The live-fire portion of the course would need to last at least an hour.

Second Amendment groups say paying a Department of Justice-certified firearms instructor would add at least $400 to the cost of buying a firearm. Applicants also would have to pay for ammunition, gun rentals and range fees. Fees and firearms taxes already can add more than $100 to the cost of a firearm in California. 

The training requirements would take effect July 1, 2028.

Until then, beginning on Jan. 1, gun owners moving to the state would be required to pass the current written test and register their firearms with the Department of Justice within 180 days.

Violating the proposed law would be a misdemeanor.

The bill now moves to the full Senate. It will then have to advance through the Assembly by this summer if Gov. Gavin Newsom is to sign it. He hasn’t taken a position on the legislation.

Last year, a bill with eight-hour training requirements died in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Moving to California with a gun? You might have to take a four-hour course

In summary Want to buy a gun in California? Lawmakers...