#California

In California, Contra Costa County’s sheriff has agreed to lift its concealed-carry permit restrictions on red-dot sights, weapon-mounted lights, and single-action-only 1911- and 2011-style pistols, according to the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF). SAF announced the settlement October 8. The plaintiffs filed a notice of voluntary dismissal the next day.

If you buy firearms in California, there’s a secret tax you don’t know about, but it almost certainly affects you. Ever since 2024, California has levied an excise tax on firearms manufacturers, importers, and dealers, not consumers—but studies indicate (and common sense dictates) that consumers eventually bear the weight of this government burden. Now, the Firearms Policy Coalition is gearing up to fight California’s Assembly Bill 28 (AB 28) in court.

If you missed how we got here: a three-judge Ninth Circuit panel struck down California's ammo restrictions in July 2025, applying the Bruen text-and-history test. California pushed for en banc review, got it, and the background check requirement stayed in effect during the appeal. TFB covered the en banc grant back in December.

This year’s broad pushback against firearms rights at the state level continues, with California now gearing up with a lawsuit against big names in the 3D firearm print world. On Friday, February 6, the State of California announced it was suing Gatalog and CTRLPew LLC over files they distribute online.

In a 2-1 decision issued Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled that California's ban on openly carrying firearms in counties with populations exceeding 200,000 is unconstitutional. The ruling affects roughly 95% of California's population and represents one of the most significant Second Amendment decisions since the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.

This case is worth watching not just for California gun owners, but because it raises fundamental questions about how Bruen's "text, history, and tradition" test applies to ammunition regulations. If the Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms, what about the ammunition those arms require to function? Can states impose transaction-by-transaction barriers to exercising that right?

The California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA) recently scored a legal victory, not only for the long-oppressed residents of the state but for visiting non-residents also. The   case, known as CRPA vs. LASD challenged the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and the La Verne Police Department (LVPD) on the issues of delays, denials, and other means of obstruction in the processing of concealed carry weapons (CCW) licenses. The case covered broader topics also, like non-resident carry, out-of-state permit reciprocity, exorbitant fees, and mandatory psychological exams. The outcome, which provides some relief to law-abiding citizens who chose to take personal responsibility for their safety, does come with pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look.