Federal Court Strikes Down California's Open Carry Ban

A major California law banning the open carrying of guns has been ruled unconstitutional. On Friday, a federal appeals court decided the state's restriction violates the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The ruling came from a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The judges voted 2-1 in favor of a gun owner who challenged the law. The state law had prohibited openly carrying firearms in counties with populations over 200,000, which covers most urban and suburban areas. The court's decision states this widespread ban goes against constitutional protections. The ruling is a significant legal setback for California's firearm regulations.