Open Carry Rifles

[Plisk]

I've read through some threads here and from what I could read on ca.gov site and I understand that open carrying an unloaded handgun is legal, but what about an unloaded rifle? What are the laws and restrictions to this?

[DirtRacer151]

dont quote me but im pretty sure its legal as long as its unloaded, distance from schools ect bla bla bla

[Arteel]

I think it only applys to concealable firearms. Not sure though.

The look on people's faces if they saw someone carrying a decked out AR would be priceless.

[bigtoe416]

It's legal BUT you still can't get within 1000' of a school thanks to an unconstitutional federal law.

Cal PC 626.9 says the 1000' restriction only applies to concealable weapons (i.e. handguns). The federal law is the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1996 (the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, so the feds threw in some nonsense about interstate commerce).

[supermario]

I am curious but, lets say you had the ball$ to actually open carry a rifle in public and far from schools, whats to say that a LE officer can charge you with brandishing a weapon. I know you suppose to have the weapon in a threatening manner, but if you get a bunch of people saying they were scared, i wonder, wouldnt that be good enough to charge you?? I am just curious becus it seems to be, if you open carried in public, they would find something to charge you with, if not just draw their guns on you and make you go through the motions of a criminal! I think certain things are just pushing the envelop too far, in my opinion.

[dirtykoala]

https://www.californiaopencarry.org

please read and do lots of research

i open carry my pistol all the time, rifles are more obvious and will get attention easier, cops will freak out, be prepared for stupidity tea bagging you. as long as you follow the laws, the cops will tell you youre an idiot and send you on your way with your gun. this is a pretty hot topic with a lot of california LE agencies, you PROBABLY wont get in too much trouble, but you will be talking to some cops.

[supermario]

www.californiaopencarry.org

please read and do lots of research

i open carry my pistol all the time, rifles are more obvious and will get attention easier, cops will freak out, be prepared for stupidity tea bagging you. as long as you follow the laws, the cops will tell you youre an idiot and send you on your way with your gun. this is a pretty hot topic with a lot of california LE agencies, you PROBABLY wont get in too much trouble, but you will be talking to some cops.

Forgive me for asking this question, but when you say open carry, you mean open carry an unloaded weapon or loaded weapon? I am under the impression it has to be unloaded right? LIke i said sorry if this is stupid question, but its soo confusing sometimes. Thanks

[dirtykoala]

open carry has to be unloaded. there has been confusion as to whether or not loaded means ammo within reach, that is NOT loaded. i keep my gun on my right side, loaded mag on the left, unloaded mag in the gun. (so people dont know for sure that im unloaded)

[Maddog5150]

Well I can just imagine when one of you guys walk into a mall with an EBR. BAM, its going to get on the news, we will lose what we worked for and the antis will have so much more ammo weather what you do is legal or not. Pistol is far less attention but seriously, an EBR? C'mon.

[supermario]

open carry has to be unloaded. there has been confusion as to whether or not loaded means ammo within reach, that is NOT loaded. i keep my gun on my right side, loaded mag on the left, unloaded mag in the gun. (so people dont know for sure that im unloaded)

Aww ok, so as long as your mag is not in the gun. So if you even had the mag in your pocket out of sight, your still good to go, as long as your gun is exposed correct. I am not going to open carry but i just wanted to know the laws.

[supermario]

Well I can just imagine when one of you guys walk into a mall with an EBR. BAM, its going to get on the news, we will lose what we worked for and the antis will have so much more ammo weather what you do is legal or not. Pistol is far less attention but seriously, an EBR? C'mon.

+1, hell i would feel a unsafe if saw a guy walking around with any kind of rifle!

[dirtykoala]

yeah, i forget where it was but so many people open carried (pistols) that they made the state a "shall issue" ccw state. it looks like ca is taking the first steps.

[supermario]

yeah, i forget where it was but so many people open carried (pistols) that they made the state a "shall issue" ccw state. it looks like ca is taking the first steps.

That makes alot of sense, out of sight, out of mind

[Plisk]

So if I'm walking down the street, it's perfectly legal to have my AR15 slung on my back, with no mag in it and as long as I'm not within 1000 feet of a government building or school?

[dirtykoala]

Aww ok, so as long as your mag is not in the gun. So if you even had the mag in your pocket out of sight, your still good to go, as long as your gun is exposed correct. I am not going to open carry but i just wanted to know the laws.

im not 100% on this, i think your ammo cant be concealed. i carry my loaded mag in a mag holster. the mag can not be in the gun, no round in chamber. gun must be exposed (half tucked in your pants doesnt count) ammo may be attached to the gun, but not in a way where the gun could be made to fire, i.e. ammo holster on buttstock of shot gun.