There are six places in California where guns are prohibited. These are:
- school grounds,
- public buildings and meetings open to the public,
- government buildings,
- the Governor’s mansion,
- airports and passenger vessel terminals, and
- public transit facilities.
School grounds
Penal Code 626.9 PC is California’s Gun-Free School Zone Act. The statute prohibits anyone from possessing a gun on or near school grounds.
More specifically, the law makes it a crime to:
- possess a firearm in or on the grounds of a public or private K-12 school,
- discharge, or attempt to discharge, a firearm in a school zone with reckless disregard for the safety of another, and
- bring or possesses a loaded firearm upon the grounds of student or teacher housing for a public or private university.
A violation of these laws can result in a jail sentence of up to seven years.
Public buildings and meetings open to the public
Penal Code 171b PC is the California statute that makes it a crime for a person to bring or possess certain “weapons” into:
- public buildings, and
- meetings open to the public.
Some of these “weapons” include any:
- firearm,
- knife with a blade length over four inches,
- tear gas weapon,
- taser or stun gun, and
- BB or pellet gun.
A “public building” is a building owned or leased by the state or local government, if state or local public employees are regularly present to perform their official duties.
Note that this statute may not necessarily apply to:
- those personnel that transport weapons into a court of law to be used as evidence,
- police officers and law enforcement officers,
- persons holding a valid license to carry a firearm, and
- a person who has permission to possess the weapon and is in charge of securing the public building he is in.
A violation of this statute is a wobbler offense, meaning it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
If charged as a misdemeanor, the crime is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year.
If charged as a felony, the offense is punishable by custody in county jail for up to three years.
Government buildings
Penal Code 171c PC makes it a crime for a person to bring a loaded firearm into any of the following:
- the State Capitol,
- any legislative office,
- any hearing room in which any committee of the Senate or Assembly is conducting a hearing, or
- the Legislative Office Building at 1020 N Street in the City of Sacramento.
A violation of this statute is a wobbler. This means it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
A misdemeanor conviction can bring a county jail sentence of up to one year.
A felony conviction can lead to custody in county jail for up to three years.
The Governor’s mansion
Penal Code 171d PC is the California statute that makes it a crime for a person to possess a loaded firearm within or on the grounds of:
- the Governor’s Mansion or any other residence of the Governor,
- the residence of any other constitutional officer, or
- the residence of any member of the California Legislature.
A violation of this law is a wobbler. This means it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony.
A misdemeanor offense is punishable by imprisonment in county jail for up to one year.
A felony offense is punishable by custody in county jail for up to three years.
Airports and passenger vessel terminals
Penal Code 171.5 PC makes it a crime for a person to possess, within any sterile area of an airport or a passenger vessel terminal:
- a firearm,
- a taser or stun gun,
- a BB or pellet gun,
- an imitation firearm,
- the frame or receiver of a firearm, or
- any ammunition.
Possession of any of these guns within the sterile (post-security check) area of an airport or a passenger vessel terminal is charged as a misdemeanor. The offense is punishable by:
- up to six months in county jail, and/or
- a fine of up to $1,000.
Public transit facilities
Penal Code 171.7 PC makes it a crime to knowingly possess within any sterile area of a public transit facility:
- a firearm,
- an imitation firearm,
- a taser or stun gun,
- a BB or pellet gun, or
- a spot marker or paint gun.
Note, though, that the sterile area must be posted with a statement providing reasonable notice that prosecution may result.
Public transit facilities transport members of the public for hire. They include (but are not limited to):
- streetcars,
- buses,
- light rail systems,
- rapid transit systems,
- subways, and
- trains.
A violation of this law is charged as a misdemeanor. The crime is punishable by:
- up to six months in county jail, and/or
- a fine of up to $1,000.
M., D. (2022, March 27). California gun laws 2022 – your top 12 questions answered. Shouse Law Group. Retrieved May 4, 2022, from https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/defense/gun-laws/