Skip to main content

New FPC Lawsuit Targets California's “Sensitive Places” Carry Law

Filed the same day as California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the measure, the lawsuit challenges multiple portions of California Senate Bill 2.

New FPC Lawsuit Targets California's “Sensitive Places” Carry Law

(Bennian/Shutterstock)

The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) has filed a Second Amendment lawsuit challenging California's new “sensitive places” law. Filed the same day as California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the measure, the lawsuit challenges multiple portions of California Senate Bill 2,  which declares numerous locations as “sensitive places” where the state will now ban the carry of firearms by licensed, law-abiding Californians.

The measure removed earlier exemptions allowing licensed gun owners to carry “into, or upon the grounds of, any residence of the governor, any other constitutional officer, or Member of the Legislature,” and further outlawed carry in court buildings, places of worship, airports, public transit authorities, and in any building, real property, or parking area under the control of an airport or passenger vessel terminal. Additionally, the new law bans carry in a building, real property or parking area under the control of a public or private school, or on a street or sidewalk immediately adjacent to a building, real property or parking area under the control of that public or private school, along with other locations. The FPC lawsuit, Carralero v. Bonta, filed on behalf of four individuals who regularly carry a concealed firearm in the state, argues that all of those and other provisions within the new law violate California gun owners’ Second Amendment rights.

“SB2 restricts where persons with licenses to carry a concealed weapon may legally exercise their constitutional right to wear, carry or transport firearms,” the complaint states. “And it does so in ways that are fundamentally inconsistent with the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen. The Second Amendment does not tolerate these restrictions. This Court should enter judgment enjoining their enforcement and declaring them unconstitutional.”

The complaint further states: “Bruen leaves no doubt that the plain text of the Second Amendment covers Plaintiffs’ proposed course of conduct. Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ conduct is ‘presumptively protect[ed]’ by the Constitution, and the State bears the burden of ‘justify[ing]’ SB2’s sensitive place restrictions ‘by demonstrating that [they are] consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.’ It cannot do so.” 

Cody J. Wisniewski, FPC Action Foundation’s general counsel and vice president of legal, said such disrespect for the rights of lawful citizens by the California government cannot go unchallenged.

“With Gov. Newsom’s signing of SB2 today, California continues to exhibit its disdain for the rights of Californians, the U.S. Constitution and the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision,” Wisniewski said in a member alert. “Unfortunately for California, and contrary to Gov. Newsom’s misguided statements, the state does not have the power to unilaterally overrule individual rights and constitutional protections. Fortunately, courts across the nation have already struck down laws just like SB2, and we expect the same result here.”

The case is being heard in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. FPC is joined in the lawsuit by the three individual plaintiffs, Orange County Gun Owners, San Diego County Gun Owners and California Gun Rights Foundation.


Freelance writer and editor Mark Chesnut is the owner/editorial director at Red Setter Communications LLC. An avid hunter, shooter and political observer, he has been covering Second Amendment issues and politics on a near-daily basis for nearly 25 years.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Gear

Firearms News Gets the Rundown on Burris's New XTR-PS

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

SDS Arms Releases New Tactical Shotgun Lineup

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

New Hunting Shotguns Available in Mossy Oak and Realtree Camo

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

Inglis MFG Launches New P35 Pistol

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

MAC Firearms unveils New 5' Comp Barreled Double Stack 1911

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Gear

New Iron Lady Gun Safes from ATI

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

American Tactical Releases GSG Anniversary 1911 Pistol

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Gear

First Look at ATI's new Rukx Rifle Case

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

American Tactical Showcases their Latest GSG-16 22 LR Pistol and 410 Bull Dog Shotgun

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

ATI Launches New Double and Triple Barreled Shotguns for 2025

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Gear

New Glock 17/19 18-Round Magazines Offered by Mec-Gar

KelTec releases their PR57 pistol and SUB2000 rifle in 5.7x28mm as the demand grows for more firearms in this unique and...
Guns

KelTec Launches PR57 Pistol: The Best and Lightest 5.7

Firearms News Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW OUR CURRENT ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Firearms News App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Firearms News stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Firearms News subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Firearms News stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use