LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Some Sacramento lawmakers say the Tucson tragedy underscores the need for state officials to have the right to protect themselves at all costs — even if it means changing the rules.

KNX 1070′s Jon Baird reports a rise in violent threats has spurred lawmakers to push for a bill to make it legal to carry a concealed weapon without a background check.

Under the current law, lawmakers have to apply to the county sheriff or police chief in order to carry a weapon.

But under the new proposal, just being a state legislator or member of Congress is reason enough.

Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore says the feeling is even lawmakers should be going through the stringent background checks.

Whitmore says that while the current political climate would be taken into consideration, he also points out that out of some 10 million people in Los Angeles County, the sheriff’s department has issued only about 400 concealed weapons permits.

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