Techno7
Member
Are you even allowed to carry a handgun in a holster in public here?
Does anyone know the laws in the Golden State about owning or concealing a gun?
Does anyone know the laws in the Golden State about owning or concealing a gun?
California: Land of the Trapped Soul
- Thread starter Techno7
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fletcher
Member
I can't tell you myself, but there are many CA residents here who I'm sure will be along shortly to help. All I know is, depending on where you live, you're about to have a ton of fun.
BrennanKG
Member
Let me chime in here as an escaped Californian with a quote from my beloved CA DOJ:
#11 from the FAQ May I carry a concealed firearm in California?
Except in extremely limited circumstances, you may not carry a concealed firearm on your person in public unless you have a valid CCW license. CCW permits are issued only by a county sheriff to residents of the county, or by the head of a city police department to residents of that city.
http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/pubfaqs.php#2
In general, the answer is no. The Sheriff's of most counties will only issue to folks with...connections (ie, money, status...errr, money, status). I'm told there are exceptions, county by county and sheriff by sheriff.
Regarding open carry, only on the clock LEO (or armed security) can open carry.
Cheers,
B.
#11 from the FAQ May I carry a concealed firearm in California?
Except in extremely limited circumstances, you may not carry a concealed firearm on your person in public unless you have a valid CCW license. CCW permits are issued only by a county sheriff to residents of the county, or by the head of a city police department to residents of that city.
http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/pubfaqs.php#2
In general, the answer is no. The Sheriff's of most counties will only issue to folks with...connections (ie, money, status...errr, money, status). I'm told there are exceptions, county by county and sheriff by sheriff.
Regarding open carry, only on the clock LEO (or armed security) can open carry.
Cheers,
B.
BrennanKG
Member
Caveat: it looks like open carry is actually NOT illegal in unincorporated regions of CA, although to be honest, I would not want to put such a thing to the test.
B.
B.
pbonebright
Member
One thing that is nice about CA is that all the information is pretty well organized and readily available on the web, even though some of it is confusing by its very nature. This is a pretty good summary of California laws:
http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/Cfl2007.pdf
http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/Cfl2007.pdf
kungfuhippie
Member
Ask on Calguns.net we have all the answers. go to californiaccw.org and packing.org to see which counties are ccw friendly and not.
hope this helps. San Bernardino is all but a shall issue county. Our sheriff is cool (about ccw at least) he rips you a new one if you want to list mouse guns as you three ccw guns. Tells you to shoot big calibers if you feel the need to protect yourself.
hope this helps. San Bernardino is all but a shall issue county. Our sheriff is cool (about ccw at least) he rips you a new one if you want to list mouse guns as you three ccw guns. Tells you to shoot big calibers if you feel the need to protect yourself.
If you're carrying a gun in a holster, if it is visible then you need to be in one of the unincorporated areas where this is permissible (a topic for some research) or, if you feel like testing the local tolerance in a populated area, it had better be unloaded (law). Chances are you will be accosted by the local PD and asked what's up with the pistol, doc? Depending on the jurisdiction you may be in for a very interesting day, legal or no. BTW there are some areas where the definition of "loaded" includes posessing any ammo on your person AT ALL. (written into law). So if you have an unloaded pistol on you, be sure to check the lugs of your shoe sole to make sure you haven't picked up a stray .22 round before you head down to the county courthouse.
If you're carrying a gun in a holster that is not visible (concealed) then you need to have a valid CA CCW permit. You get the permit from the sherriff in your county of residence. The permit is discretionary, meaning the sherriff can deny your permit for any reason, or for no reason at all if he so chooses. In some counties the sherriff has a general "no issue" policy, in other areas you can get them if you are well-connected, in other counties, if you have urgent circumstances (the felon you put away for life has just escaped jail and has sworn to see you dead). In some of the most rural counties the sherriff has a virutal "shall issue" attitude and will consider "self-defense" an adequate reason to grant your permit. Don't try to live in one county and apply in another, they DO check.
If you get caught carrying a concealed handgun without a permit it is generally a misdemeanor offense, provided it is the first time and you are breaking no other laws, and the handgun in question is registered in your name. If you get a DA with a bad attitude though he may trump something up and make it a felony. My advice, don't chance it in any major metro area like Sacramento, LA, SF/Bay area, Fresno, etc... If you're guilty of anything in addition to carrying without a permit (such as 999 feet from any school property line), it'll be Felony City for you, bub.
If you move here with handguns, you have a short period in which to register them. They do not have to be on the approved handgun list. In fact that is one of the rare ways we can get unlisted handguns into the state, folks bringing them when the move here. You'll have to have a handgun safety certificate to buy new handguns here, I'm not sure if you need one just to register handguns you already own. DO NOT BRING ANY magazines that can be made to hold more than 10 rounds, that is a felony. If you have any, leave them or sell them before you cross the state line. You'll need to replace them with some 10 round capacity magazines. If they're already here, wipe your fingerprints, stuff them in a box and mail it out of state with no return address by dropping them in a mailbox with plenty of stamps. Whatever they cost, it's not worth hard time. Don't bring any semiauto rifles that have a detachable magazine and a pistol grip, not even a thumbhole stock. We do have "assault weapon" registration but if the rifle was not possessed BY YOU, IN CALIFORNIA AND REGISTERED prior to the ban, you cannot register the rifle now, as registration has been closed for several years.
Generally if you want to transport a handgun it must be unloaded (meaning no ammo in or attached in any manner to the firearm) and locked in a case separate from the ammo. A car trunk can be considered a "case" but you must not have any ammo in there for things to be kosher. Glovebox = no-no even if it does lock, same for console or any other compartment easily accessible to the driver.
Basically, unless you live in a "shall issue" county and are able to get a CCW permit, handguns are impractical for defensive use away from home because of all the restrictive red tape.
The laws in CA are convoluted and not even those charged with enforcing or prosecuting them, really know them all and interpret them correctly. Guns of any kind in CA are a touchy subject and it will pay you to be VERY WELL informed on the laws surrounding them.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
I lived in San Bernardino County (Victorville/Apple Valley, later in Barstow) from 1983-2003. Who is the current sheriff? Still Gary Penrod?
Quiet
Member
Yes. Penrod is still the sheriff.
glockman19
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www. Calguns.net is a great place to gain info and www.californiaccw.org is also a good place to go. the cliff notes version is. CCW is only legel with a permit and CA is NOT a shall issue state. That said every county and police departmetn has different criteria. All have to however show "Good Cause" Some areas LA, SF Good cause is not enough because of teh corrupt PD & SD departments. YOU can carry openly in unincorporated areas but you'll need a GPS and I wouldn't trust an overzelous LEO from hasteling you. AR's & AK's are still legal IF:
1) they are not NAMED on the DOJ no no list. Colt Bushmaster & Armilite are named rifles. Busmaster does sell a CA legal configuration.
2) They are Off List Lowers, including DMPS, Stag and others.
3) They conform to a list of features. the two configurations are:
a) Fixed 10 round non-detachible magazines, NO Flash supressor, but you can have a mussle break, and pistol grip but NOT a folding stock
b) detachible magazine, muzzle break, fixed stock, NO pistol grip. Magazines CAN be hi cap 20 & 30 round IF you had posession before ban. You can also import repair kits to repair hi cap mags with new parts. Burden of proof is on LEO's.
Also if you were planning to move to CA I'd check out the CA DOJ Approved list and get as many guns that are NOT on teh list. you can bring the guns with you and even sell them private party when you are here. You can't get them after you arrive.
If you're comming pick up a Kimber Pro Raptor II with internal extractor and I'llbe happy to buy it from you should you need some cash after you arrive.
YES I'm a trapped soul...but...we do have little ways to release the tension. Great beaches, Great skiing, Great cities, great peopl. It's the politicians & Law Enforcement that really sucks.
1) they are not NAMED on the DOJ no no list. Colt Bushmaster & Armilite are named rifles. Busmaster does sell a CA legal configuration.
2) They are Off List Lowers, including DMPS, Stag and others.
3) They conform to a list of features. the two configurations are:
a) Fixed 10 round non-detachible magazines, NO Flash supressor, but you can have a mussle break, and pistol grip but NOT a folding stock
b) detachible magazine, muzzle break, fixed stock, NO pistol grip. Magazines CAN be hi cap 20 & 30 round IF you had posession before ban. You can also import repair kits to repair hi cap mags with new parts. Burden of proof is on LEO's.
Also if you were planning to move to CA I'd check out the CA DOJ Approved list and get as many guns that are NOT on teh list. you can bring the guns with you and even sell them private party when you are here. You can't get them after you arrive.
If you're comming pick up a Kimber Pro Raptor II with internal extractor and I'llbe happy to buy it from you should you need some cash after you arrive.
YES I'm a trapped soul...but...we do have little ways to release the tension. Great beaches, Great skiing, Great cities, great peopl. It's the politicians & Law Enforcement that really sucks.
Alphazulu6
member
I am sorry but I cant help but say it. <Grammaw wuz here.> Another State that needs to be dropped from the Union. I need to find a flag with 45 stars....
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kungfuhippie
Member
I disagree with glockman19 on a few points.
None of his gun info. Just that are politicians and LEO suck. I mean look at the three beautiful women we have keeping us safe in washington! And Sheriff Baca...we all should love him, look at how nice he was to Miss Hilton
Seriously-we're over crowded, there are too many darn hippies (the real kind, not the guys who pose as kungfuhippie on THR) CCW is all but impossible in most of the state. We're the land of Nixon, it's just a matter of time before the Kennedy clan sets up a winter home here. Our deer are tiny, only Florida has us beat for small deer. We're cursed with Hollywood, San Francisco, Napa, the "High Desert", Palm Springs, Malibu, and we border Mexico. Our home depots have more day laborers outside that employees inside...
I love the physical geography, nature, wildlife...Too bad the people are too many and they all really
me off! As soon as I'm done with college I'll be leaving my 50 mile each way commute and heading to somewhere nice where i can get 15+ acres with a barn and a backstop.
Hey Alphazulu6 only Californians get to trash our state!
It's like how you can trash talk your family but I can't...
So maybe, due to Denver there should only be 44 stars...
None of his gun info. Just that are politicians and LEO suck. I mean look at the three beautiful women we have keeping us safe in washington! And Sheriff Baca...we all should love him, look at how nice he was to Miss Hilton
Seriously-we're over crowded, there are too many darn hippies (the real kind, not the guys who pose as kungfuhippie on THR) CCW is all but impossible in most of the state. We're the land of Nixon, it's just a matter of time before the Kennedy clan sets up a winter home here. Our deer are tiny, only Florida has us beat for small deer. We're cursed with Hollywood, San Francisco, Napa, the "High Desert", Palm Springs, Malibu, and we border Mexico. Our home depots have more day laborers outside that employees inside...
I love the physical geography, nature, wildlife...Too bad the people are too many and they all really
me off! As soon as I'm done with college I'll be leaving my 50 mile each way commute and heading to somewhere nice where i can get 15+ acres with a barn and a backstop.Hey Alphazulu6 only Californians get to trash our state!
It's like how you can trash talk your family but I can't...
So maybe, due to Denver there should only be 44 stars...
You can open carry in your place of business. You can open carry on your property (not sure i wanna pack while cuttin' the front grass though) or private property as long as it's okay with the owner. You can open carry while hunting or fishing. You can open carry in national forest.
glockman19
Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
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- 3,700
kungfuhippie,
Sounds like you do...
You don't agree with me on the politicians and LEO's?I disagree with glockman19 on a few points.
None of his gun info. Just that are politicians and LEO suck. I mean look at the three beautiful women we have keeping us safe in washington! And Sheriff Baca...we all should love him, look at how nice he was to Miss Hilton
Sounds like you do...
Agreedonly Californians get to trash our state!
Alphazulu6
member
You can trash any so called "State" that does not accept the rules set forth by the Constitution and openly strips their so called "citizens" of their inherent rights. And I agree with you on Colorado. Its got tons of Californian hippies... we are plagued and I am in the process of moving because of it. Next week HELLO TEXAS!!!
BrennanKG
Member
Watch it, a lot of us Californians move to TX!
B.
B.
Careful on this one. State forests, yes. But you better check with the ranger on duty anyplace else. If it's federal, do some homework first.
I visited the forest/waterway at Knight's Ferry (in the valley) which is run by the Corps of Engineers. They do not allow any guns. Period.
I haven't saw any signs around here that said "STATE FOREST" they all say "NATIONAL FOREST". And it is legal to open carry in the National Forest around here. I do it all the time. The only comment i've ever gotten from rangers, or any park service personal is "Whatcha carrying." followed by a conversation about his/mine favorite handgun. If the sign says "NATIONAL PARK", then it isn't legal to carry.
MudCamper
Member
Alphazulu6, you piss on me? Go run and hide in Texas, coward.
And FYI, most of the hippies and idiot antis are immigrants from north eastern states. Most CA Natives are pro-gun.
And FYI, most of the hippies and idiot antis are immigrants from north eastern states. Most CA Natives are pro-gun.
Alphazulu6
member
Naw just the rediculous anti-gun/anti-freedom Californian government! If you support those values that align with those hippy liberals that strip us of our rights then you could get a little bit of that yellow stream... and as far as Coward... HAHA ok. I have a problem with my temper and my pro-right attitudes with a complete lack of restraint towards tyranny.
I love States that are Pro-Gun. Its the United States. The beutiful thing is you can go live WHEREVER you want. If you live in California thats completely your choice
Chicago, again thats your choice. Unless your in the military then you have the freedom to live, work, play wherever you want to! No excuse.MudCamper
Member
For those that like to bash California, and there are a lot of you on THR: Stop and think before you do, because when bash on California, you are bashing Californians. There are more Californian gun-owners than there are people in most red states. Think about that.
And it's places like California, and DC, where the important fights for our 2A rights are taking place.
And it's places like California, and DC, where the important fights for our 2A rights are taking place.
kungfuhippie
Member
+100 MudCamper
It's this separatist mindset that is crippling the RKBA activists.
The people here in California, buying guns, writing their reps, contributing to the education of the hippies, were the ones helping maintain any freedoms. If we all run and hide in Colorado or Montana the rights will be lost for all. Retreat is never an option-even if we must advance backwards at times.
It's this separatist mindset that is crippling the RKBA activists.
The people here in California, buying guns, writing their reps, contributing to the education of the hippies, were the ones helping maintain any freedoms. If we all run and hide in Colorado or Montana the rights will be lost for all. Retreat is never an option-even if we must advance backwards at times.
wjustinen
Member
In the late '70s
there was an affirmative defense in California law that covered concealed carry without a permit if the individual had good reason to believe his life was in imminent danger.
Is that provision still on the books?
there was an affirmative defense in California law that covered concealed carry without a permit if the individual had good reason to believe his life was in imminent danger.
Is that provision still on the books?
kungfuhippie
Member
Yes it is. But you must be really scared for your life. Having to go to Compton for something does not work. Having you ex threaten to kill you tonight should work. I'm not sure. I just know that the law is written in a away that leaves you at the mercy of the court.
We also still have the provision that if you're a famous liberal Hollywood star that yiou can carry anytime any place and no one will question you.
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