The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals has authorized California’s ambitious gun control bill, which would limit the carrying of firearms in most public places. This ruling is in reaction to an injunction issued by a judge that ruled the statute unlawful, permitting the state’s restrictions to take effect in 2024.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation, formally known as Senate Bill 2, into law in September. However, its implementation faced legal hurdles, with a judge asserting that it infringed upon citizens’ Second Amendment rights.
The current ruling by the appeals court places a temporary hold on the injunction, allowing California’s strict gun control laws to remain in place while the case is being handled in court.
This comes after a landmark decision rendered by the US Supreme Court in June 2022, which expanded gun rights across the country. California is known for having some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, but in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the state changed its gun restrictions.
The new rule targets “sensitive places,” which include places of worship, playgrounds, stadiums, hospitals, and zoos. These are the kinds of places where it is forbidden to carry concealed firearms, irrespective of possessing permits. Furthermore, privately owned commercial establishments accessible to the public fall under the law’s purview unless they explicitly permit concealed carry.
Rob Bonta, the attorney general for California, moved quickly to obtain the stay, pointing out that if the measure was not delayed, gun crime might increase.