However, U.S. Supreme Court decisions of Heller (2008) and McDonald (2010) established that the Second Amendment applies to all states within the Union, and many of California's gun laws are now being challenged in the federal courts.
The state offers two different types of certificates that can restore gun rights in some cases. Those seeking to regain their firearm rights must apply for a Certificate of Good Conduct from the New York State Board of Parole or a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities is granted by the court.
Pardon from California Governor There is only one relatively certain way to restore your federal gun rights: obtain a pardon. Pardons can be obtained from either the Governor of California or the President of the United States.
For those with more than one conviction, the court may restore firearms rights two years after completion of sentence for most felonies, or after 10 years for a serious felony (such as murder or sexual assault). For a person convicted of a “dangerous felony” firearms rights may only be restored by pardon.
Thus, even if you have had a conviction expunged in California, you will still have the ban if that conviction was for a felony or for a qualifying misdemeanor that triggered either a ten-year or lifetime ban on owning or possessing a firearm. Unlawfully owning or possessing a firearm is a crime.
Forty-four states have a provision in their state constitutions similar to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to keep and bear arms. The exceptions are California, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York.
In 2024, California passed several bills strengthening and refining existing laws to facilitate better implementation, including improvements to the state's gun violence restraining order law, secure storage laws, and reporting on firearm dealer inspections.
However, U.S. Supreme Court decisions of Heller (2008) and McDonald (2010) established that the Second Amendment applies to all states within the Union, and many of California's gun laws are now being challenged in the federal courts.
Location Restrictions in California. A U.S. citizen or legal resident over age 18 may generally carry a handgun anywhere within his or her place of residence, place of business, or on private property owned or lawfully possessed by the citizen or legal resident.