Senate Bill 2, a new California gun law, was once again overruled by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The bill sought to outlaw carrying a concealed weapon in certain sensitive places, such as public libraries, zoos, amusement parks, and places of worship.
9th Circuit Panel Reverses Temporary Pause
The law, signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and part of a series of gun control measures, faced initial opposition when District Judge Cormac Carney deemed it unconstitutional and repugnant to the Second Amendment.
Carney’s injunction, issued last month, was temporarily put on hold by a three-judge panel, citing the need for more time to consider arguments from both sides.
However, this temporary pause was dissolved by a 9th Circuit panel over the weekend, effectively reinstating Carney’s initial blocking of the law. The court has scheduled arguments in the case for April.
Governor Newsom’s office expressed strong dissatisfaction with the court’s decision, asserting that it jeopardizes the safety of Californians.
According to spokesperson Daniel Villaseñor, “This dangerous decision puts the lives of Californians on the line. We won’t stop working to defend our decades of progress on gun safety in our state.”
Senate Bill 2, which went into effect on January 1, applies to individuals with licenses to carry concealed weapons. Governor Newsom had cited recent shootings across the country as motivation for the new law.
However, Judge Carney’s original injunction in December questioned the law’s constitutionality, referencing a landmark Supreme Court decision that emphasized the need for laws restricting gun ownership to align with the nation’s “historical tradition.”
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California Judge Blocks SB2
Carney, in his order, argued that SB2 effectively turned nearly every public place in California into a “sensitive place,” infringing on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.
The law had faced challenges from groups like the California Rifle and Pistol Association and Gun Owners of America.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, countering the injunction, maintained that Senate Bill 2 adheres to the guidelines set by the Supreme Court in a recent decision.
He emphasized the potential risks to communities if the decision were allowed to stand, stating, “If allowed to stand, this decision would endanger communities by allowing guns in places where families and children gather.” The legal battle over this gun law is set to continue with arguments scheduled for April, leaving the fate of Senate Bill 2 uncertain.
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