Going to California

[Griblik]

Hello all. I did some searches on here, and googled, but if I missed any obvious answers somewhere, sorry ahead of time....

Anyway, as indicated by my title, I'm headed down to California with my dad this weekend, to Woodland, in the Sacramento area. Anyway, I'm just wanting to get anyone's input as to what I can/cannot/should/should not bring with me.

As far as I'm seeing, there is no state-wide folder-blade length limit, and although some areas ban 3"+ knives, where I'm going my 3.91" blade Benchmade folder should be ok. Am I understanding that properly? Additionally, I presume OC spray and kubaton is good to go.

And now the rough part.... I know my G19 has to stay home on this trip. I'm not happy about this, as it will be our first extended time apart since she came home with me. (We're going to miss each other.) But, as I understand it, my 15 and 17 round mags will not be welcome. And I obviously don't have a CA carry permit anyway. But, I'd like to find something to bring with, should the commies or zombies choose this inopportune time to invade. From what I've read, firearms in the vehicle are basically a no-no, and I just don't want to run the risk of any LEO trouble, so I'm thinking whatever I bring would just get locked in the pickup toolbox. So, I'm thinking, is it ok/worth it to try and bring the Taurus .357? Or do all handguns need registration in CA?

What about long guns? I know my WASR-10 would not be welcome, again due to mag size if nothing else. What restrictions are there on shotguns?

What I'm ideally thinking, (well, not ideally, but settling for ) would be my Taurus .357 and Mossberg 500 Persuader (PGO), both unloaded in toolbox with a healthy supply of ammo for both. While not going to permit quick access, should the SHTF, it would allow both my dad and I something to repel the zombie hordes with. Any thoughts from you Californians or anybody familiar with California laws...? Thanks everybody.

 

[Librarian]

Woodland is generally decent country. Davis, eh, not so tolerant. It's the agricultural center vs the university.

Generally folders are OK. It's possible to have problems on grade school/high school property.

OC has to be 2 ounces or less.

I'd keep my kubotan in my pocket as part of my key chain, if I were you.

You're right, magazines > 10 rounds are no-nos. Registration is irrelevant - you're not moving here.

Handguns can be carried unloaded in a locked case; so long as you don't use the glove box or center console, you're probably OK.

Long guns, including shotguns, merely must be unloaded; they need to be cased and locked for Federal Gun Free School Zones.

But it's generally not zombie season here in summer; the grass fires keep the numbers down until the rains come back in December.

 

[Prince Yamato]

AWs= no
Mags greater than 10 rounds, if not possessed in-state by a resident prior to 2000 = no
Handguns with threaded barrels = no

Your handgun is OK, but there's no CCW for you.
Shotgun is OK too.

 

[Griblik]

Thanks for the quick response!

Oh, so my revolver would be ok in cab of pickup so long as unloaded and in locked case? Does the case need to be visible, or would I be permitted to have it in a locked case in my suitcase in back seat of pickup? What about carrying suitcase around outside of vehicle? Still ok if handgun is locked in case but case is concealed?

As far as shotgun, don't imagine I'd be going to any school zones, but I presume being locked in toolbox is ok should I encounter one, otherwise it is ok to have in cab so long as unloaded? Does it need to be visible in cab, or again, would it be ok in my suitcase? Pistol Grip Only is not a problem?

True, Zombies are out of season, but you never know....

 

[Librarian]

Case need not be visible. Sometimes, it's better if it isn't... In the suitcase is fine.

Pistol-grip-only may be OK, if it does not fit this:

(c) (1) As used in this section, a "short-barreled shotgun" means
any of the following:
(A) A firearm which is designed or redesigned to fire a fixed
shotgun shell and having a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches
in length.
(B) A firearm which has an overall length of less than 26 inches
and which is designed or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell.
(C) Any weapon made from a shotgun (whether by alteration,
modification, or otherwise) if that weapon, as modified, has an
overall length of less than 26 inches or a barrel or barrels of less
than 18 inches in length.

Cased and locked is OK for passing through school zones; actually on property is forbidden except for CCW on college/university, but apparently OK while quick trips on HS/grade school property (like picking up a kid in the parking lot). Easier just to avoid going onto school property entirely.

If you're from coastal OR, plan on ridiculously hot. If you're from central OR, you already know about that... Earlier in the season the pollen (especially olive trees) could be bad, but not so much in June.

 

[azredhawk44]

Go buy some Klinton-ized 10rd magazines for your G19. Two should do the trick, right?

If it's your preferred carry weapon, seems the best option by far. Leave the 15's or 17's at home nice and safe, but you have the platform you train with and are most familiar with.

 

[jr_roosa]

When I lived there I seem to remember that there are three problems:

1. CA laws are confusing and complex and very easy to misunderstand.

2. Many municipalities have their own rules that you can easily run afowl of.

3. Some of the rules are from case law (some jury interpreted the rules in an odd way, so now any jury can do the same).

The ones I remember were that you have to be careful with the ammo locked in the same case (toolbox) as the gun. I remember that being somewhat of a gray area when I lived there.

Also, I seem to remember rounds in the magazine can be interpreted as a loaded gun even if nowhere near the acutal gun.

I also think that the weapon being in reach of the driver's seat is bad, even in a locked case. In a pickup that pretty much is anywhere in the cab.

I always put mine in a locked case in the trunk, ammo in a separate box (usually locked too) also in the trunk, and I only had it there when I was going to or from someplace where I could shoot (the range usually). Not very useful for self-defense, although you can really pummel somebody with a pistol case if you put you back into it.

I'd say the odds of either running into legal trouble or needing a gun are astronomically low on a short trip, but if you compare the two you probably stand a much bigger chance of legal problems than of bad guys.

I leave the guns home when I travel. It's hard enough to know all the rules for one state, and that sort of legal trouble follows you around for a long time (for example I'd have to report it every time I need to renew my medical license or apply for a new job, and forget even being in the same room as a gun again).

It's all about risk/benefit.

-J.

 

[Librarian]

The ones I remember were that you have to be careful with the ammo locked in the same case (toolbox) as the gun. I remember that being somewhat of a gray area when I lived there.

Also, I seem to remember rounds in the magazine can be interpreted as a loaded gun even if nowhere near the acutal gun.

I also think that the weapon being in reach of the driver's seat is bad, even in a locked case. In a pickup that pretty much is anywhere in the cab.

Nope - none of these are actual problems - though poorly trained LEO may act that way. For gory details, see link to Calguns.

 

[jr_roosa]

I stand corrected.

Last time I rely on foggy memories from long ago.

Interesting link to the case law. I think that the 1996 case clarifies things a lot. The "How to Own a Gun and Stay Out of Jail in California" book I had was published right around then and had some pretty conservative recommendations for transporting firearms citing how poorly defined "loaded" was. Good to see that things are less vague now.

I still keep the guns locked up and unloaded if I'm not about to use them. Saves me a lot of worry. Although I stopped using separate cases for guns and ammo since I moved...that seemed a bit excessive.

If it was me, I'd still leave them home unless I was planning on being in some pretty shady areas or if the trip was shooting-oriented (competition, hunting, range time with family).

Good luck, and I hope you don't run into any trouble.

-J.

 

[Griblik]

Thanks again for all the responses, lots of good info. I'm thinking I really don't want to monkey around with buying 10-rounders for the Glock that I'll (hopefully) never need again should the election go our way, so I'm thinking to run with the .357 unloaded and in locked case within suitcase in cab, and shotgun unloaded and locked in toolbox.

Jr_roosa, I can definitely see the logic in your advice, and I don't plan to push my luck as far as open carrying where it more or may not be legal, (or where a LEO may or may not know it's legal). Things will stay safely tucked out of sight, hopefully with no one the wiser. Certainly not ideal for quick access, but better then being 600 miles away from any of my firearms, should the zombies attack out of season. That concept just doesn't sound comfy.

What's California's stance on informing an LEO about possessing a firearm? Required? I don't speed and don't expect to have any LEO interaction, but obviously we're all on here because we plan for the unexpected. So, if I found myself pulled over because I "have a tail light out", etc, do I inform of carry status?

Oh, and as far as the weather, I'm from the Williamette Valley, western oregon, but it's been unseasonably crummy here this year weather-wise, so I'm looking forward to some ridiculously hot! And at least it'll be different pollen then has been melting my sinuses as of late.

Anyway, thanks again for all the advice, forums like these are invaluable for these types of scenarios. Everybody stay safe out there.

 

[Quiet]

What's California's stance on informing an LEO about possessing a firearm? Required? I don't speed and don't expect to have any LEO interaction, but obviously we're all on here because we plan for the unexpected. So, if I found myself pulled over because I "have a tail light out", etc, do I inform of carry status?

You do not have to informed them.
Unless they ask, which they won't if it's a routine traffic stop.