Open Carry in California?

[Oyeboten]

Just wondering...


I understand that in California, Pistols are not allowed to be in Cars/Trucks and so on, unless un-loaded and in locked Boxes or in the Trunk.


What about open Carry? ( When not in a Vehicle? )


What if hiking?


Anyone know?

 

[TAB]

While hunting/fishing its perfectly legal. Other wise, its generally no.

 

[Librarian]

Bigger subject than you might think...

Summary: loaded open carry is usually illegal without the special variety of CCW which can be issued.

UNLOADED open carry - UOC - is legal, outside of school zones, but a lot of jurisdictions don't train their officers that way; some are Changing Their Ways.

We get to UOC by subtraction - it is not explicitly authorized, and it is not explicitly forbidden.

CONCEALED carry is forbidden (without CCW) by PC12025. LOADED carry is forbidden by PC12031.

Carry neither loaded nor concealed is not addressed; since it's not forbidden, it's legal.

Of course, UOC is also forbidden if all firearms are forbidden - court houses, sterile areas of airports, etc.

 

[ArmedBear]

Hiking would depend.

Loaded OC is forbidden in an area where shooting is generally forbidden. That's most places, but not necessarily most places you'd hike.

If you're hiking somewhere that you could legally shoot, loaded OC is legal.

If you're hiking somewhere that you couldn't just shoot, but you could legally be hunting, loaded OC is legal with a hunting license, especially if you know what you're hunting.

How many places could you legally shoot, any more? Depends where you are. In some areas, there aren't any, even in National Forests (though a hunting license would usually make it legal - just try to know of something you could legally be hunting).

 

[Yellowfin]

Since we just got Nordyke, we're working on it.

 

[lanternlad1]

But these laws only apply to Cali citizens. If you are not a Cali citizen, they will throw you in the hoosgow for five years minimum if you are caught with a gun. I got that info from the Cali Secretary of State's office.

 

[Librarian]

But these laws only apply to Cali citizens. If you are not a Cali citizen, they will throw you in the hoosgow for five years minimum if you are caught with a gun. I got that info from the Cali Secretary of State's office.

If you would be so kind, please post the link.

That summary is simply and completely wrong; CA laws on possession do not change for non-CA citizens.

 

[ArmedBear]

But these laws only apply to Cali citizens. If you are not a Cali citizen, they will throw you in the hoosgow for five years minimum if you are caught with a gun. I got that info from the Cali Secretary of State's office.

This is completely false.