U.S. appeals court rules open carry firearm ban in California unconstitutional

(NBC, KYMA) - A U.S. Appeals Court ruled that California's ban on openly carrying firearms in most parts of the state was unconstitutional.

The 2-to-1 ruling by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came down Friday, and said the state's law against open carry in counties with more than 200,000 people violated U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment.

The ruling pointed to the U.S. Supreme Court's Expanded Second Amendment Test, which requires gun control measures be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.

However, the panel rejected a related a challenge to California's firearm licensing requirements in less populated counties, which may issue open-carry permits.

Governor Gavin Newsom's (D-Calif.) office slammed the ruling on social media, saying Republicans on the panel want to "return to the days of the wild west."

A spokesperson for California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat who defended the state's ban, in a statement said his office is considering its options.