California ban on guns in most public places blocked again

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

CALIFORNIA’S NEW BAN ON LEGAL AND LICENSED GUN OWNERS CARRYING IN MANY PUBLIC PLACES IS BACK TO BEING OFF THE BOOKS.

AT LEAST FOR NOW.

A PANEL OF JUDGES FROM THE 9TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS – DISSOLVED AN EARLIER INJUNCTION – PUT IN PLACE BY A DIFFERENT 9TH CIRCUIT PANEL – THAT HAD ALLOWED THE LAW TO GO INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST.

SATURDAY’S DECISION KEEPS IN PLACE – A DECEMBER RULING FROM FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE CORMAC CARNEY BLOCKING THE BILL. CARNEY DEEMED THE LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL, SAYING IT WAS “REPUGNANT TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT” AND “OPENLY DEFIANT OF THE SUPREME COURT.”

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM SIGNED “SENATE BILL TWO” – INTO LAW IN SEPTEMBER, BARRING LEGAL GUN OWNERS FROM CARRYING IN 26 “SENSITIVE PLACES”.

SOME OF THOSE “SENSITIVE PLACES” INCLUDED – PARKS, ZOOS, CHURCHES, AND MUSEUMS.

THE LAW WOULD HAVE ALSO PUT NEW REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE FOR THOSE SEEKING A CONCEAL CARRY PERMIT – AS APPLICANTS WOULD NEED PREVIOUS FIREARMS TRAINING, TO BE AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD, PROVIDE CHARACTER REFERENCES, AND COMPLETE A BACKGROUND CHECK.

AFTER THE DECISION – NEWSOM VOWED TO NEVER STOP PUSHING FOR STRICTER GUN CONTROL MEASURES.

NEWSOM’S OFFICE RELEASED A STATEMENT ON THE DECISION SAYING “THIS DANGEROUS DECISION PUTS THE LIVES OF CALIFORNIANS ON THE LINE. WE WON’T STOP WORKING TO DEFEND OUR DECADES OF PROGRESS ON GUN SAFETY IN OUR STATE.”

A COURT CASE CHALLENGING THE LAW WILL CONTINUE –
THE 9TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS WILL HEAR ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE IN APRIL.