Vacation in California, what do I need to know

[neededausername]

At the end of next month my wife and I are going to California to visit her grandparents, and lay on the beach for a week. I'd like to take my .22 with me and try and get some range time in while she is catching up with family. What all do I need to know about transporting a handgun on an airline, it will be checked. I also know CA is much more restrictive on handguns than where I live, any weird laws that I should know about it? Is it even worth trying to bring it?

 

[ArmedBear]

For most .22's, it's a non-issue, since they have 10 round magazines. However, FYI CA doesn't allow "importing" of larger magazines except for formal competitions.

"Weird" depends on where you're from. Some states allow a glovebox gun or a loaded gun on the seat without a CCW permit. California DOES NOT -- but neither do a number of other states like Texas AFAIK.

To transport a handgun by car, it either has to be in the trunk or in a locked container -- NOT the glovebox or center console even if they're locked. It must be unloaded, which means that it can't have any rounds in it, chambered or not. You can have loaded magazines, but NOT in the gun.

http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html

Many of us use soft zip-up pistol cases with luggage locks on them to transport handguns in the car (I have a Jeep, it has no trunk, so that's what I have to do). As long as the case is "secure", meaning you can't get at the gun without using a key or entering a combination in the lock, it's considered okay AFAIK. It does not need to be some sort of armor-plate lockbox or anything.

I don't know about the airline.

 

[Jim K]

Isn't the CA rule pretty simple? If you don't carry a gun, the gangs kill you and your family. If you do carry a gun, the cops kill you and your family. It's called liberalism.

Jim

 

[Tacticaldude]

Learn Spanish..

NO GUNS(just rent for range time..not worth it..need to avoid the hassle),NO KNIFE(or buy cheap one when you get there),Basic Self defense and awareness brush up,Stay low key..And your good to Go!!

BTW, If your staying till July 11th...bring your bluetooth headset..you'll need it when driving.

Enjoy the Vacation

 

[CWL]

NO GUNS(just rent for range time..not worth it..need to avoid the hassle),NO KNIFE(or buy cheap one when you get there)

Do you live in CA like I do, or this is armchair expertise?

Actually, CA has liberal knife laws for concealing a folder -no length limit. Fixed blades are generally illegal for concealed carry, unless you are in an open carry area or are backpacking/camping etc.

As for guns, unless you have a CA permit, you can't carry a loaded gun with you or in your car. Keep it in a locked container while driving. At home or private property, do what you want with it.

Isn't the CA rule pretty simple? If you don't carry a gun, the gangs kill you and your family. If you do carry a gun, the cops kill you and your family

Strange, CA has been my lifelong home, I haven't been killed by gangs yet. -Maybe it's because I haven't found any active gangs working the 840 miles of our coastline...

 

[Robert Hairless]

Strange, CA has been my lifelong home, I haven't been killed by gangs yet.

Gangs are a myth. Anyone who keeps a close eye on this forum will realize that there has never been a message posted by anyone who lives in California and has been killed by gangs.

 

[SaxonPig]

Going to CA do do some shooting is like going to Ethiopia for lunch.

Enjoy the beach. See the sights. Forget the shooting. Residents can barely legally own guns and go shooting under CA's Draconian laws.

 

[Kruzr]

California is a pretty big state with hundreds of miles of beaches.....which part are you visiting?

 

[B yond]

Gangs are a myth. Anyone who keeps a close eye on this forum will realize that there has never been a message posted by anyone who lives in California and has been killed by gangs.

Not true!

I live in Kahleeforneeeuh and I have been killed by gangs many times.

 

[wellerjohn]

Gangs are a myth. Anyone who keeps a close eye on this forum will realize that there has never been a message posted by anyone who lives in California and has been killed by gangs.

It's hard to post once your dead......

 

[EOTechRulesAll]

What do you need to know?


Don't go!


Just kidding...


If you want to know what my advice is, feel free to message me...


And no, for those of you who believe I am crazy (crazy is relative) my advice does not consist of sneaking weapons onto airplanes.

My advice would simply be, get a California approved .380 or .32 pocket pistol, check it in with the airline, get it when you get off the plane, and then go about your business.

Unless you're planning on causing trouble, trying to enter a place guarded by metal detectors, or you get drunk/high/stupid/etc and wind up in a confrontation with police, you ought to be fine.

The way I see it, you can be charged/tried/imprisoned/released dozens of times, you only get one time when it comes to being killed. Depending on what area you're going to be in, do what you believe is the most reasonable conclusion based upon risks/rewards, or costs/benefits.

Do a cost/benefit analysis.

The cost of carrying concealed (without a CA issued permit) in CA is that you run the risk of major legal trouble. The risk of encountering trouble varies with how well you observe traffic laws, how well you avoid picking fights, how well you avoid being drunk/loud/etc.

The benefits of carrying concealed (without a CA issued permit) in CA, are that you are able to defend your life, or the life/dignity of your wife, should the need arise.

I cannot tell you what to do, I can simply lay out the analysis as best I see it, and leave it to you to make that decision which you conclude is best for yourself and your family. However, that said, I believe I know what I would do in your place.


If worse comes to worse and you get arrested, claim to be part American Indian, scream racism, talk about how you are entitled to carry a weapon on the land of your ancestors, and make a big stink out of things. Again, it's your call... Do what you think is best.

Pick the option that yields the most benefit at the lowest cost.

 

[TAB]

If worse comes to worse and you get arrested, claim to be part American Indian, scream racism, talk about how you are entitled to carry a weapon on the land of your ancestors, and make a big stink out of things. Again, it's your call... Do what you think is best.

ugh just no...

here is the deal with if your cuaght with a CCW with out a permit.

If the hand gun is registered with the CA doj, its a misdemaener. If its not registered with the CA doj its a felony. Since your from out of state the chances of it being registered to you with the ca doj are zero. So you will become a felon nation wide and lose your civil rights.

 

[harmonic]

Residents can barely legally own guns and go shooting under CA's Draconian laws.

I'm not sure what you're saying. I lived in kal and bought, sold and owned many guns. You can own any variety of shotguns, hundreds of types of rifles, and more handguns than any one person can afford.

http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/safeguns_resp.asp

Their website tallys the number of approved guns at 1349. Granted, many are basically the same gun with slight variations. But that's still a lot of guns.

As for shooting, I shot pistol, rifle, and trap at the Manteca Sportsman's Club. I also shot at the Turlock Gun Club. I also shot at a friend's house in Hughson (this is all around Modesto) who had a private range.

Hunting was about an hour's drive, but that's about the case anywhere I've lived.

Kal has problems, but let's not make it worse than it is.

 

[jackslayer]

Good ranges are hard to come buy in many parts of the state. Anyone convinced gangs are a myth in Califonia doesn't have any LEO friends in the state. I suppose crime is a myth too? :banghead:

 

[EOTechRulesAll]

ugh just no...

here is the deal with if your cuaght with a CCW with out a permit.

If the hand gun is registered with the CA doj, its a misdemaener. If its not registered with the CA doj its a felony. Since your from out of state the chances of it being registered to you with the ca doj are zero. So you will become a felon nation wide and lose your civil rights.

Then you either...


A- Sue/challenge on Constitutional grounds.

B- Plea it down...

C- Don't get caught...


Again, it's a cost-benefit analysis. If he is going to be in happy go lucky rural mountain country, his biggest fear might just be wildlife. If he's going to be in South-Central LA or Compton, he might want to consider taking a pistol with him (or a rifle and an APC).

Only he knows his specific circumstances and his trip itinerary (and I'd suggest he not share it with anybody in any fashion).

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

There is a lot of bad information in this thread. Not sure if it is sarcasm or lack of actual knowledge.

Carry the firearm in the locked container as first described.

For residents the requirement is that the firearm is to be transported to domiciles (hotel, camp ground, home, etc.), range or shop with no side trips. I expect it is about the same for visitors, but check the notations already listed.

Where are you going? In the SF Bay area you will find a good number of fine ranges (three outdoors, at least that many indoors and one half and half within about 40 miles of my house). In San Luis Obispo you will find a very nice range and in Orange county you can shoot at the Sheriff's range or a couple of indoor ranges. Don't know whether any of the outdoor ranges in Orange County still exist.

By the way, the gangs exist. Just stay out of their favorite neighborhoods (not attractive anyway) and you will probably never see them.

 

[loneviking]

Isn't the CA rule pretty simple? If you don't carry a gun, the gangs kill you and your family. If you do carry a gun, the cops kill you and your family. It's called liberalism.

Exactly! And I'm a former Californian, born and raised there. Seriously, be VERY careful about being out at night. Some areas are O.K., but you can go from a 'safe' area to a bad one very quickly in So.Cal. I'd just go to a gun range and rent a gun rather than trying to bring one in.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Who the stink wants to go to SoCal anyway? I go only when forced to do so by weddings, deaths and births. I already spent 28 years too many there. "There" being Los Angeles urban areas and the current version of Orange County. The other areas are okay.

 

[Eightball]

What you need to know--

Check your gun rights at the door. If you must get in range time, find a range that lets you rent. Don't do anything stupid there, and it won't affect your rights in the rest of the US (with the exceptions of the other states competing to see who can out-California California on the gun rights thing).

Other than possibly packing a CA-legal type knife in your carry-on luggage (IANAL, check the legality of CA law + knife carry), acknowledge that that's as good as it's going to get for your options for defense, and enjoy yourself as much as possible.

Just my .02

 

[EOTechRulesAll]

While people seem to have largely avoided the urge to grill me over what I said... Let me say one thing that I believe few will take issue with...


Before you even go, ask yourself one thing...


Why am I going?



Evaluate what you hope to gain by going, why you are considering going, the possible outcomes (best-case scenario) of going, with the possible worst-case scenarios of going, and the best-case/worst-case of not going. Then decide if you actually want/need to go, in light of all of that.

My first decision would be not to go, period, and if I was somehow dragged there, I'd probably be armed... That's just me...


I'll tell you right now, I've carried where I've wanted to, period. I have a spotless record, not even a traffic ticket, I don't carry when drunk (mainly because I'm at home when drunk and I'm not out/about as that would entail driving, something I refuse to do when drunk), I don't pick fights, I don't try to take guns on planes or into prisons. I just vehemently believe in my right to carry where I want, when I want, for whatever reason I want. I just run a cost/benefit analysis and decide if it is worth carrying in the area I am about to go into.

Sometimes I obey the letter of the law and let their injustice rule the day, other times I just do what I feel I need to do to guarantee my safety (and the safety of those with me) and I carry.

You do what you feel you have to do. Personally, I don't believe I could live with myself if I survived some shooting spree, where my dad was shot dead before my eyes, because both of us were disarmed, just because he insists on obeying the absolute letter of the law when it states he cannot carry his pistol into a restaurant that serves alcohol even though he is not drinking (he never carries into such places, a point he and I disagree upon), and thus was disarmed, as I would be if I adhered to that requirement. If I'm not drinking (and I'm not) it shouldn't matter... There's the law and there's common-sense. The two are not always in harmony with each other.

 

[Robert Hairless]

It's hard to post once your dead......

Oh. Well maybe I was thinking of New York, Illinois, or Washington, DC.

 

[blkbrd666]

I don't see the Department of Justice link for the list of legal/allowed cars in California...does anyone have that by chance?

 

[SaxonPig]

harmonic- Any state that has a list of approved guns is not for me.

If the state can tell me there's so much as one type of gun I can't own then it can tell me I can't own any gun and that's where CA is eventually headed.

I fled CA in 1992. Now I live in a state without a single beautiful beach but I can own any damn gun I want without the state's permission.

I'll take that trade.

 

[TAB]

Saxon... never fear the federal goverment has already created a list for you...

 

[Anna's Dad]

I believe that the CA welcome centers offer free "unarmed victim" t-shirts.

You'll definately want to take advantage of that.

Sorry, I don't know enough about California to be helpful--just enough to be obnoxious.