California’s strict grip on firearm regulations just hit a major roadblock.
On Friday, a three-judge panel for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s ban on the open carry of firearms in heavily populated counties is unconstitutional.
The decision effectively challenges California’s policy of only allowing open carry in rural areas with fewer than 200,000 residents.
In the 2-1 decision, the majority judges argued that the current law creates a “complete ban” in urban areas where 95% of Californians live. The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by Mark Baird, who fought to restore the right to carry openly in public.
“California’s legal regime is a complete ban on open carry in urban areas,” the judges stated in the decision. “The historical record makes unmistakably plain that open carry is part of this nation’s history and tradition.”
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office wasted no time firing back, accusing “Republican activists” on the court of trying to turn California into the “Wild West.” His team argued the law was carefully designed to keep communities safe while respecting the Second Amendment.
The legal drama isn’t over yet. Chuck Michel, president of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, called the opinion “very significant” but expects state officials to immediately seek a review by the full appeals court.
