[doconix]

I saw a discussion a few days ago on taking a handgun to California, but now I can't find it (not sure if on UCC or TheHighRoad or where). I have been thinking about it and I am quite confused. California is one of the few states around us that doesn't honor the Utah permit. I know that 10+ mags are illegal there.

But I am confused as to whether I can take a handgun with me to California. The post seemed to say that I could have it in my car as long as the mag wasn't in the gun. Is this correct?

Bottom line of my question is this: I have a 6+1 pocket pistol. I'm driving to California. I have a Utah concealed license. I am a Utah resident. Can I take the gun with me or not? If so, under what conditions (just in the car, carry not concealed, in my hotel room, concealed as normal)?

I have read through the info on handgunlaws.us, and I'm only more confused than before. Sorry for the dumb question, but I go to CA enough that I'd like to some clarification. Thanks.

 

[Tarzan1888]

LEGALLY you can have the gun in your motel/hotel room and in a locked box separate from all ammunition, in your trunk, while you are in your car. Technically you can have the un-loaded gun in plain view in your car, with all ammo in the trunk, but that may be asking for trouble.

I am not a lawyer and your mileage may vary.

Tarzan

PS this may be the thread you are looking for.

http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum12/7784.html

 

[Cinhil]

Well, what Tarzan said is correct to the best of my recollection.
I went to San Diego this past summer and I also researched things and the concensus I got was you can however, in California, any city is allowed to have more strict controls than the state provides. Now to me, and probably to any reasonable thinking human being this is just plain asinine. I chose not to carry and put up with all the hassles. Even knife carry laws varied by extremes.
All the while I was there I only saw one person carrying a pocket clip knife and noticed one individual carrying concealed. You may be different in opinion than me, I found the laws confusing and unfriendly so I chose not to carry while there.
The difficulty is that federal law allows for interstate travel and the ability of the individual to carry their protection with them. It seems though that places like the Peoples Republik of Kalifornia is one of those places which doesn't care about lawful travel laws and places their own restrictions on how you can, or if you can.
Good luck! :?

 

[tapehoser]

Yeah....when we drove to Disneyland a year ago, I opted to leave my CCW at my sister-in-law's house in Vegas. Picked it up on the way back. Didn't want to deal with all the Kommiefornia restrictions and such. Too much of a hassle.

 

[T-Man]

Rule #1: Don't go to California.
Rule #2: If you want to go to California, refer to Rule #1.
Rule #3: If you ABSOLUTELY HAVE to go to California, refer to Rule #1.

 

[tapehoser]

Rule #1: Don't go to California.
Rule #2: If you want to go to California, refer to Rule #1.
Rule #3: If you ABSOLUTELY HAVE to go to California, refer to Rule #1.

 

[bane]

Man I hate all of this anti-California banter I read so much here!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not offended. And I also understand that California is a pretty strongly gun-unfriendly state (which sucks, for sure).

I just think that California is a very impressive state in many ways and they get way too much bad press b/c of the Northern radical liberals. The Southern end of the state is actually fairly conservative.

Anyways, my advice for doconix... since you travel to CA so frequently aned want to know the full extent of what your options are... I wouldn't trust the advice you find here (or on ANY Utah-based forum)... I would go online and find a CA-based forum. Addressing your questions to the Citizens there would most likely give you the best information.

If I'm not mistaken, we have several out-of-staters that visit this forum for similar reasons.

 

[tapehoser]

I stand chastized.

 

[Cinhil]

Go to usacarry.com they should have appropriate info for you there.

And yes, Southern California was very nice.

 

[Shaolin]

I lived in Sacto for 23+ years, left in Sep 99 for Utah. What Tarzan sez is right about the gun laws there.

 

[bane]

I stand chastized.

At least it's a 2-way street!

 

[T-Man]

My distaste for California has just a little to do with their gun laws. It is an impressive state, with a lot of cool stuff to see, there's just WAY too many people there. Remember, this is the guy who took a job in Montana because Utah was getting too crowded.

I guess it could also be partly because the first time I drove to CA was 2 weeks after coming home from Iraq. Being on the highways in Orange County or San Diego, I was feeling a little tense. :shock:

If you have business on the West Coast, by all means go and take care of it. Just be 100% sure you are upholding the law, especially gun laws.

 

[xmirage2kx]

Yeah, be careful. you don't want to drive through a school zone and spend 5 years in prison.

CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE SECTION 626.9.

(a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Gun-Free School Zone Act of 1995.

(b) Any person who possesses a firearm in a place that the person knows, or reasonably should know, is a school zone, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), unless it is with the written permission of the school district superintendent, his or her designee, or equivalent school authority, shall be punished as specified in subdivision (f).

(e) As used in this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) "School zone" means an area in, or on the grounds of, a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or within a distance of 1,000 feet from the grounds of the public or private school.


(f) (1) Any person who violates subdivision (b) by possessing a firearm in, or on the grounds of, a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or five years.

 

[Ruger Collector]

My distaste for California has just a little to do with their gun laws. It is an impressive state, with a lot of cool stuff to see, there's just WAY too many people there. Remember, this is the guy who took a job in Montana because Utah was getting too crowded.

+1 Amen brother. I moved back to UT from Santa Monica in '82 because of the over-population, insane traffic, cost of living, illegal imigrant and criminal gang problems. It wasn't an environment where I would want to raise a family. Sadly, SL County today reminds me alot of LA County then... *sigh*

 

[bane]

Sadly, SL County today reminds me alot of LA County then... *sigh*

Boy if that isn't the truth! Drive just 2 blocks north of where I live and you hit West Valley City... everytime we go that direction I comment to my wife that I feel like I'm in the seedier neighborhoods in San Diego.

But, everywhere is ALWAYS going to have it's problems unless you become a hermit. My family tried that whole hermit thing years ago way up in NorthWestern Montana... as much as I don't like the gang-bangers and such, the hermit thing isn't my thing either...

 

[Jeff Johnson]

I lived in California for 11 years. I never want to go back to visit, let alone live there ever again. That state has a lot of natural wonders, but it is a very screwed up place. Even Southern California is unbearable to me.

 

[Jeff Johnson]

...The difficulty is that federal law allows for interstate travel and the ability of the individual to carry their protection with them. It seems though that places like the Peoples Republik of Kalifornia is one of those places which doesn't care about lawful travel laws and places their own restrictions on how you can, or if you can.
Good luck! :?

Read the Federal statute again:18 U.S.C. §926A. Interstate transportation of firearms

§ 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms
Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

(emphasis added)

To enjoy the protections of this law, you must be legal to possess the firearm at both your starting point and your destination when traveling. If the destination in California prohibits you from possessing a firearm, then you are not protected by this statute.

Incidentally, the San Francisco's recently enacted total firearm ban was (once again) struck down in court. Cities in California do not have the authority to ban firearms altogether, but don't think that this makes you safe everywhere in California. That state has many restrictions on the types of firearms you can have.