A U.S. appeals court ruled California’s open carry ban unconstitutional, citing Second Amendment rights and historical tradition.

A U.S. An appeals court has ruled that California's ban on open carry in counties with more than 200,000 people is unconstitutional, citing a failure to align with historical firearm traditions. The 9th Circuit's 2-1 decision, citing 2022 Supreme Court precedent in New York v. Bruen, determined that open carry has long been a part of American practice and was legal in California before 2012. The decision affects approximately 95% of the state's population while upholding licensing rules for open carry in smaller counties. A dissenting judge argued that the state's laws still comply with the Constitution. California may seek additional review.