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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) \u2014 A federal appeals panel has ruled that a California law prohibiting open carry of firearms in heavily populated counties is unconstitutional.<\/p>\n
The ruling was issued Friday by two judges on a three-judge panel for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The judges found that the state\u2019s policy of limiting open carry to counties with a population of less than 200,000 is inconsistent with the Second Amendment. <\/p>\n
\u201cCalifornia\u2019s legal regime is a complete ban on open carry in urban areas \u2014 the areas of the state where 95% of the people live,\u201d they said in the decision. <\/p>\n
The dissenting judge disagreed and said California could limit open carry in more populated areas because it allows for concealed carry throughout the state.<\/p>\n
The ruling comes in a long-running debate over gun laws in the United States and in California, which has passed a series of restrictions. <\/p>\n
It came after Mark Baird, a Siskiyou County resident, filed a lawsuit asking the courts to restore the historical practice of open carry being allowed. <\/p>\n
Chuck Michel, president of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, said he expected state officials will seek a review of the ruling by the full appeals court. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very significant opinion,\u201d Michel said, adding that a key question in the case is how a 2022 Supreme Court decision expanding gun rights<\/a> should be applied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stay up to date with the news and the best of AP by following our WhatsApp channel.<\/p>\n