Share
SACRAMENTO — A U.S. judge on Monday upheld California’s near-total ban on carrying guns in public even as protests in other states have seen counter-demonstrators armed with weapons.
U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller denied a review of a 2017 federal appeals court decision that upheld the law, which bans carrying concealed weapons in most urban areas and permits open-carry of weapons only if someone believes that a person is in immediate danger and law enforcement has failed to respond, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
However, Mueller also said gun owners can proceed with a lawsuit against California over the ban while awaiting a court hearing next month involving another open-carry ban in Hawaii.
An 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled on Sept. 24 to consider a challenge to the law, which effectively only permits police and security guards to openly carry firearms. Any ruling is at least several months away but it would be binding in nine states, including California.
Amy Bellantoni, a lawyer for the gun owners, said they may ask the appeals court to halt enforcement of the California law while their case is pending, the Chronicle reported.
Most states permit open carrying of firearms. They include Wisconsin, where an anti-racism demonstration over the police shooting of Jacob Blake ended in the killing of two protesters and the arrest of 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of Illinois, who was carrying a rifle although he wasn’t legally of age to possess a gun.
Amy Bellantoni, a lawyer for the gun owners, said they may ask the appeals court to halt enforcement of the California law while their case is pending.
RELATED TOPICS:
Auditor Looks at Fresno’s Credit Card Bills. Who Were the Biggest Spenders?
4 hours ago
Target to Reduce Number of Stores Carrying Pride-Themed Merchandise After Last Year’s Backlash
4 hours ago
US Pledges Money and Other Aid to Help Track and Contain Bird Flu on Dairy Farms
4 hours ago
Stock Market Today: Wall Street Coasts to the Finish Line of Another Winning Week
5 hours ago
Flavor Flav Becomes Official Hype Man for US Women’s Water Polo Team at Paris Olympics
5 hours ago
US Questions Israel’s Use of US Arms, Citing Potential International Law Violations
6 hours ago
A Sustainable Future for Fresno: Rethinking Our Hydrogen Strategy
6 hours ago
Californians Will See Lower Electricity Rates and a New Fee That Won’t Vary with Power Use
9 hours ago
Beloved LA Entertainment Anchor Sam Rubin Dies at 64