Proposed South Carolina law would allow open carrying of guns in public. The Republican-controlled South Carolina House voted overwhelmingly to allow lawful firearm owners to carry handguns openly or concealed without a state permit.
Sacramento, California – In a significant shift for California’s strict gun regulations, a federal judge has ruled that out-of-state residents who belong to certain gun rights organizations must be allowed to apply for concealed carry permits within the state.
The decision, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, comes as part of an ongoing lawsuit — CRPA v. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department — challenging California’s concealed carry laws. While the judge did not order California to recognize concealed carry permits issued by other states, she did require the state to accept permit applications from nonresidents who intend to spend time in a California jurisdiction over the next 12 months.
Applicants must be members of one of the organizations involved in the lawsuit, such as the California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA), Second Amendment Foundation, or Gun Owners of America. They must also comply with California’s complex firearm restrictions, including listing specific approved handguns on their application.
Until now, California law allowed only residents to apply for concealed carry permits, and it does not honor permits issued elsewhere. The application process has long been criticized for being expensive, time-consuming, and opaque. Some agencies take up to 18 months to process permits and charge fees exceeding $1,000 for an initial application and renewal.
The ruling follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, reaffirming the constitutional right to carry firearms publicly for self-defense. The Supreme Court warned that overly burdensome permitting schemes could face legal challenges, an argument that underpins this latest ruling.
Gun rights advocates celebrated the decision as a small but meaningful step toward greater Second Amendment protections in California, a state known for some of the nation’s toughest weapons laws. However, they note that the application process remains daunting even for those newly eligible, with continued legal battles expected over the broader issue of concealed carry rights for all residents and visitors.
