Federal Courts and Judicial Rulings

A three-judge 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled 2–1 Friday that California’s population-based ban on openly carrying firearms in large counties is unconstitutional, with the majority saying the regime amounts to a de facto ban in urban areas where 95% of the state’s residents live. The challenge was brought by Mark Baird of Siskiyou County; the dissent argued the state may limit open carry because it allows concealed carry statewide, gun-rights advocates urged en banc review while citing the Supreme Court’s 2022 gun-rights decision, and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said the law was carefully crafted and warned the ruling would have dangerous public-safety consequences.