California law to ban the carrying of guns in public places in the state

A federal appeals court has paved the way for a California law that will ban the carrying of guns in most public places in the state, with the law set to take effect at the beginning of the next year. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals suspended an injunction issued by a judge on December 20, who deemed the California law to violate citizens’ Second Amendment rights. The three-judge panel issued an administrative stay, temporarily holding the injunction until a different 9th Circuit panel could further consider pausing the lower court judge’s order for an extended period during the ongoing litigation.

California Governor Gavin Newsom welcomed the court’s ruling, stating, “This ruling will allow California’s common-sense gun laws to remain in place while we appeal the district court’s dangerous ruling.” He highlighted the overwhelming support among Californians for efforts to maintain safety in places like hospitals, libraries, playgrounds, and other public spaces free from guns.

California has some of the strictest gun laws in the US, and the new law, Senate Bill 2, prohibits the carrying of concealed guns in 26 categories of “sensitive places,” including hospitals, stadiums, playgrounds, zoos, and places of worship. Individuals, even those with permits, are barred from carrying concealed guns at privately owned commercial establishments open to the public unless the business operator explicitly permits it.

While the law has faced criticism from some carry permit holders and gun rights groups, others argue its constitutionality. US District Judge Cormac Carney had previously expressed concern that the law effectively eliminated the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The Firearms Policy Coalition, a gun rights group, suggested that unless the 9th Circuit took further action before Monday, the law would take effect, but a definitive ruling might take hours, days, or even weeks.