Open carry in California National Forests--now that AB 144 is law

[cekkk]

Reading through this thread is frustrating, troubling and disgusting. And more. As a long time resident of truly rural Colorado Rockies where open carry was common and nearly everyone had guns, I was not surprised that California's gun laws are tough when we moved here. But I'm advised that it would take around two years to obtain a concealed carry permit here in Riverside County. That's ludicrous. And now I'm told that during that wait, I may not have a loaded handgun in my own vehicle! And this thread points to the confusion among people who hunt and regularly carry, or want to carry guns, caused by the myriad of gun laws. I got a hint of this soon after moving here when I phoned the sheriff's office with some really simple, basic questions that were answered with referrals to anyone but who I was talking to. It seems the gun shop owners are the best source of information.

While Colorado has been subjected to some anti-gun laws, it has, for the most part, maintained a reasonable respect for the 2nd Amendment. I'm now wondering where the NRA has been over the years that has seen California all but ban the legal use of guns, which is easier than banning the guns themselves.

 

[mjones]

Reading through this thread is frustrating, troubling and disgusting. And more. As a long time resident of truly rural Colorado Rockies where open carry was common and nearly everyone had guns, I was not surprised that California's gun laws are tough when we moved here. But I'm advised that it would take around two years to obtain a concealed carry permit here in Riverside County. That's ludicrous. And now I'm told that during that wait, I may not have a loaded handgun in my own vehicle! And this thread points to the confusion among people who hunt and regularly carry, or want to carry guns, caused by the myriad of gun laws. I got a hint of this soon after moving here when I phoned the sheriff's office with some really simple, basic questions that were answered with referrals to anyone but who I was talking to. It seems the gun shop owners are the best source of information.

While Colorado has been subjected to some anti-gun laws, it has, for the most part, maintained a reasonable respect for the 2nd Amendment. I'm now wondering where the NRA has been over the years that has seen California all but ban the legal use of guns, which is easier than banning the guns themselves.

Whatever you do, do NOT get advice on California Gun laws from Gun Shops, Range Masters, LEOs or even the CA DoJ. In know that's counter intuitive, but its really the best advice I can give. All of them are notoriously wrong. If you really want the correct answers, I suggest you read/ask here paying strict attention to the citations and/or have a visit to http://www.calguns.net California Gun Laws are incredibly complex - only on a solid gun forum will you be able to glean the correct answer from all the crud.

 

[HPmatt]

Hey folks - visiting CA - Fresno to be thrillingly precise, and wanted to know are pistols even legal there?
Reciprocity with Texas? Let alone OC....

Haven't seen a recent thread that includes any of the new typically crazy laws there.
non-Lead bullets, bio-diverse gunpowder, qr coded ammo with home address...
I used to fly to VA Reagan with pistols in cases, but that was pre-McAuliffe.
Cheers

 

[mlawson]

Hey folks - visiting CA - Fresno to be thrillingly precise, and wanted to know are pistols even legal there?
Reciprocity with Texas? Let alone OC....

Haven't seen a recent thread that includes any of the new typically crazy laws there.
non-Lead bullets, bio-diverse gunpowder, qr coded ammo with home address...
I used to fly to VA Reagan with pistols in cases, but that was pre-McAuliffe.
Cheers

I think you just commited a felony by thinking of bringing a pistol to Nazi land.

 

[HPmatt]

In Seattle, only brought Pepper Spray and a good knife, so they can find me here b4 I make it into Canada…

 

[mjones]

Hey folks - visiting CA - Fresno to be thrillingly precise, and wanted to know are pistols even legal there?
Reciprocity with Texas? Let alone OC....

Haven't seen a recent thread that includes any of the new typically crazy laws there.
non-Lead bullets, bio-diverse gunpowder, qr coded ammo with home address...
I used to fly to VA Reagan with pistols in cases, but that was pre-McAuliffe.
Cheers

Lol, yes pistols are legal there, but not so-called 'assault pistols' nor pistols with threaded barrels. No importation of magazines 10 rounds or greater.

CA doesn't have CCW reciprocity with any other state nor does it honor any other state's permit to carry.

Open Carry is only legal in unincorporated areas where discharge of a firearm is not prohibited.

 

[Gypsy47]

Still quite unclear

So I was reading this thread because I am planning a trip Inyo National Forest (INF), and thought it might answer my question. Which it does not. I sent the following email to the INF Field Office:

Good Day,

Would you please send me the link/information relating to all firearms related information for Inyo National Forest? I'm planning a 3 day backpacking trip on the Cottonwood Lakes Trail to Lower Soldier Lake, and would like to carry my firearm for protection/self defense.

Thank you for your time,
Noah



...and this was the reply:

You must follow the local state laws for carrying a firearm. It is your responsibility to know these regulations.

Additionally, the forest regulations are as follows:

A firearm may not be discharged in the following National Forest areas:

Within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area; or
Across or on a Forest Development road or an adjacent body of water, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge; or
Into or within any cave.


I hope that helps,


Deb Schweizer
Public Affairs Specialist
Inyo National Forest
760-873-2427
760-920-2347
debraaschweizer@fs.fed.us




So, I guess if you can LOC in unincorporated areas, does Inyo National Forest qualify as Unincorporated? Can someone lay out how CA LOC laws specifically relate to National Forest land in plain english and post the (not so plain english) snip from the Statute that applies?

Thanks all

With resent bear attacks, I would carry open, no problem