Info needed on California carry

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MADDOG

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We are taking the grandkids to California to visit my son in the Navy and then to Disney. I can legally carry in my home state of Texas, and NM, and Arizona allow me to CC there. When I get to the CA. border I must put the gun in a locked case and store it in my trunk. I checked the Handgun Law forum and that is what they say. Is carrying the gun locked in my trunk going to be a problem? Is there anything else I should be aware of? Any and all information will be appreciated. Thanks
 
The ammo needs to be separated from the locked gun case. The ammo does not have to be locked up. Have fun in Disney land.
 
Unloaded in a locked case: check.

Ammo wherever you like - in the same case is OK.

Both ammo and the gun case stashed in the trunk, where not visible, will avoid unnecessary inquiries from the curious.

If you are staying in a hotel, it's legal to have your handgun loaded while in your room (PC 12026); try not to freak out the staff, and don't walk out into the hall - outside your room isn't your 'place of residence'. Staff will most likely conclude you are a cop, but the guests might not think that way.

CA does not honor non-LEOSA CCW from any state. Unloaded open carry is a remarkably bad idea, primarily because it is illegal in CA's Gun Free School Zones; the zones are not marked 'on the ground' so you are in peril if you don't know exactly where you are - and schools, especially in urban areas, seem to be everywhere.
 
Leave your handgun at home. California Penal Code sections 12026.1 & 12026.2 deal with this, and they are grey areas to many in law enforcement. My young friends in law enforcement were not raised in the "gun culture", so making you lie down in the dirty roadway while they confiscate your "Roscoe" will not bother them in the least, and they get good reviews for hooking up as many as they can produce. Many are eager to bag whoever they can, you included. Open carry? Too much trouble in any large urban area. Another member posted about that. I assure that it will ruin your vacation at minimum. I know all this sounds bad, and it sadly is. Many, many folks transport firearms in California in a manner that could get very ugly depending on who finds them, so beware. Most are just lucky, and blend in like everyone else. You have to ask if the expen$ive risk is worth it.
A very good reference is the California Rifle & Pistol Association, look them up.
 
If it weren't for your son being stationed in Cali, I'd say that going to Disney World instead would be the logical choice :)
 
Librarian's post is correct.

Apocalypse-Now said:
call the state police there and ask.
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The police are often misinformed on the details of legislation, unless it is something they routinely apply in dealing with the criminal element.
Since California has several separate firearm laws for those committing crimes, and those who are prohibited, as well as exempts LEO from some of the other firearm laws, many of the firearm laws the police most frequently have experience with are often not the same ones lawful gun owners are subject to, or are ones that apply differently.
Various memos and lawsuits have been changing this in recent years, but the police are certainly not the experts on gun laws.
 
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Thanks for the information and also where to look. I am not looking forward to California but I will go and do what must be done. It would be very hard for me to go anywhere and not carry especially with my grandkids being along. Thanks again. MD
 
Apocalypse-Now said:
call the state police there and ask.
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And place myself at the mercy of the intelligence (or lack of) of the person on the other end of the phone? No way.

Branden967 said:
The ammo needs to be separated from the locked gun case.
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The California Highway Patrol disagrees with you. See below.

splithoof said:
Leave your handgun at home. California Penal Code sections 12026.1 & 12026.2 deal with this, and they are grey areas to many in law enforcement.
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The California Highway Patrol disagrees with you as well.

California is actually easier for an out-of-stater to transport a handgun in/through than some states - California is even easier than Ohio, without a recognized permit.

The clear, plain answer PUBLISHED by the California Highway Patrol:
http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html

I will be traveling to California and want to carry my weapon. I currently have a concealed weapon permit. How can I legally transport my weapon while driving through the state?

California law does not recognize concealed weapon permits from other states; therefore, they would not be held valid. If you wish to transport a handgun during your California visit, it should be carried unloaded in a locked container. In the absence of a suitable container, you may secure the unloaded handgun in the locked trunk of a passenger car. Ammunition may be kept in the same container or trunk, but the handgun must remain unloaded with no rounds in the cylinder and no loaded magazines in the magazine well.

If you have additional questions, contact the California Department of Justice at 916-227-3703.
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That's it. Seems really, really simple to me. It's so simple even a Navy officer can, and has done it.
 
One thing to consider, MADDOG....

Are you planning on visiting any military installations? Leave the gun locked in a hotel safe if you are, you won't be able to legally transport any firearm or ammunition onto a military installation for the purposes of your visit.
 
Both ammo and the gun case stashed in the trunk, where not visible, will avoid unnecessary inquiries from the curious.
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AKA people "curious" about breaking into your car to see whats in the box. :banghead:

The entire chain of logic California employs in regards to firearms is inexcusably inane. Is there also a law mandating that your mall purchases also be stored in the trunk and out of sight to keep curious people out? :rolleyes:
 
Panzercat said:
...Is there also a law mandating that your mall purchases also be stored in the trunk and out of sight to keep curious people out?...
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No law, but a good idea. Thieves do target and break into cars with visible packages. If a thief can look into your car an see something that might be worth stealing, he'll be more likely to break into your car to steal it.
 
Panzercat said:
AKA people "curious" about breaking into your car to see whats in the box. :banghead:

The entire chain of logic California employs in regards to firearms is inexcusably inane. Is there also a law mandating that your mall purchases also be stored in the trunk and out of sight to keep curious people out? :rolleyes:
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The chain of logic you are having a problem with would seem to me common sense. Packages and locked boxes in vehicles will indeed attract thieves...and not only in CA. But you are of course free to leave packages you've bought at the mall unattended on top of your car if that is your wont.

I'll take it that you understand that that isn't what fiddletown was referring to in his original statement.
 
mrvco said:
If it weren't for your son being stationed in Cali, I'd say that going to Disney World instead would be the logical choice :)
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You wouldn't be able to CCW on that property either. Disney has very clear rules about possession of firearms on their property and have not qualms about stopping your entry or asking you to leave
 
Quartzsite is the last town in Arizona before you enter California on the 10 Fwy. You can unload your gun there.

You'll notice lots of exaggerations about transporting a gun in California. The cooler responses are correct. You can have a locked bag holding your unloaded handgun and loaded magazines sitting on a passenger's lap if you wanted. If something bad happens, you or they can legally load the gun in respond to a lethal threat.

Another tip, fill your gas tank completely in Quartzsite. I've seen 60 cent per gallon differences between AZ and CA. The first Arco you encounter as you come from the east into Quartzsite has a "No Weapons" sign on the door. I pass them by and stop at the next exit, further west. Those stations don't deny our Second Amendment rights.
 
AKA people "curious" about breaking into your car to see whats in the box.
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In this case, I was referring to LEOs being curious. California has an onerous bit of law, PC 12031(e), that allows a LEO to inspect a firearm to determine if it might be loaded. If the firearm and ammo are not visible, then there is no reason for a LEO to ask.
 
NavyLCDR, did you get promoted recently and I missed it? If so, congrats from the USAF! If it's just me being oblivious, uh... never mind....

Edit: apologies for the thread-jack....
 
Librarian said:
If the firearm and ammo are not visible, then there is no reason for a LEO to ask.
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Don't ask, don't tell and don't show!

PavePusher said:
NavyLCDR, did you get promoted recently and I missed it? If so, congrats from the USAF! If it's just me being oblivious, uh... never mind....
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Yes I did! Thank you!
 
The police are often misinformed on the details of legislation, unless it is something they routinely apply in dealing with the criminal element.
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they're the ones that arrest folks when they don't obey firearms laws.

you could also contact the state attorney's office.

the state i called actually had a specific phone number for firearms inquiries routed to a state police station.
 
Apocalypse-Now said:
they're the ones that arrest folks when they don't obey firearms laws.
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That is no evidence that they know what the firearms laws are. That's why charges get tossed out of court every day.

Just about anybody who is a professional in the field of law will tell you that the last person you should ask legal advice of is a LEO officer/agency.

Your decision, though. I prefer to abide what is written in the law rather than what a stranger in a uniform with a badge tells me the law is or isn't.
 
I will not be going on the Navy base. I will keep my firearm in the locked container in the back compartment of my SUV. I will keep the ammo seperate. We will be in CA. for about 6 days so I will have to be aware of everything around us. I will be relieved to get back to Arizona. Thanks again for the info.
 
@9mmepiphany
@Fiddletown

Of course, it's common sense to store crap out of sight to prevent temptation, but apparently only the unknowable firearms box need regulated in such a matter. That's the inane logic I'm referring to. Unless your box screams "There's a gun in me!" They would have broken in anyway :scrutiny:
 
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