Appeals court strikes down California’s open carry ban for most of state

by Zach Schonfeld - 01/02/26 6:45 PM ET

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5670433-california-open-carry-ban-ruling

A federal appeals court ruled that California's open carry ban violated the constitutional right to bear arms. The 9th Circuit Court decided 2-1 that the ban goes against the Supreme Court's expanded interpretation of the Second Amendment. Judges argued that open carry was historically protected in the U.S., and California's law, which bans open carry in most counties, was overreaching. The ruling could influence future gun laws nationwide, with ongoing legal debates and more decisions expected soon.