Court ruling could affect gun laws across California

(KYMA) - A federal court ruling could lead to changes in gun laws across much of California.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state's ban on openly carrying firearms in large counties violates the Second Amendment.

The decision applies only to counties with populations of more than 200,000 people, which covers the majority of the state.

Imperial County, however, falls below that population threshold and is not affected by the ruling.

Despite that, some local residents believe the law should apply equally across California. A local business owner says population size should not determine whether someone has the right to carry a firearm.

"I think the population comes into the individual right to protect oneself, their family, their assets," the business owner said. "That should be the motivating factor. Everyone should have the same right. Population doesn't mean people won't oppose it, and that’s understandable. They can choose not to arm themselves and choose not to go to places where firearms are allowed," said Jimmy Barker, CEO of Triad Security.

The ruling does not immediately change the law. A grace period is in place before the decision takes effect, meaning California's open-carry ban remains enforced for now.

According to the California Department of Justice, the state had the seventh-lowest gun death rate in the United States in 2022.