Am I Ready To Open Carry In California?

Concealing a loaded magazine while open carrying can be classified as carrying a concealed weapon. While carrying a loaded magazine in your hand isn't unlawful, it isn't practical. Since you're Los Angeles, which is incorporated, you cannot carry loaded. See CA PC 12025 and People v. Hale.

The State Capitol is in a State Park. Unfortunately, this means you cannot open carry at the State Capitol despite there being a penal code specifically stating that you can if you lack ammunition. Tricky tricky. See CA PC 171(c-e) & CCR Title 14, Div 3, Chap 1, section 4313(a)

You have violated California Penal Code 626.9. The Gun Free School Zone law provides an exception for being armed if there is a restraining order against the aggressor. It does not provide an exception for fearing for your life. However, the law restricting the carrying of a loaded firearm does provide an exception for that. See CA PC 626.9 & 12031 for more information.

You must be at least 1000 feet away from the edge of a school's property. This is measured as the crow flies, so it doesn't matter if there is a freeway or an impassible wall between you and the school zone. It only matters how far away you are using a direct line from you to the nearest point of the school property. See CA PC 626.9 for more information.

Since revolvers can operate without the presence of a speed loader or moon clip, they are not considered to be parts that are necessary to operate the firearm. You can therefore carry speed loaders and moon clips concealed and not worry about being charged with carrying a concealed weapon. See CA PC 12025 and People v. Hale.

Carrying a replica firearm is unlawful unless it is obscenely colored and is obviously fake. Blue plastic guns for defense training are a great example of what would be lawful to carry. See CA PC 12556 & 12550 for more information.

You can carry loaded when at your residence, which includes your campsite. However, if you are in a State Park you cannot carry a firearm because firearms are prohibited in State Parks. You can also carry loaded if you are arresting somebody or if you are in immediate fear of your life. See CA PC 12031 for more information.

The law states that a container must be locked and fully-enclosed to transport an unloaded firearm through a school zone. See CA PC 626.9 for more information.

Carrying within publicly owned buildings is generally unlawful. This includes police stations, city halls, post offices, courts, and various other locations. Before you enter a building, ask yourself if it is privately owned. If it is, then you might be okay. Carrying on a K-12 school or an University is unlawful as well. Preschools that do not teach Kindergarten or higher grades are lawful to carry at providing they aren't in a publicly owned building. See 39 CFR 232.1 (l), CA PC 626.9 and 171(b-d)

While it isn't legally required to have any of these items, they are all really good ideas to have. A voice recorder keeps people honest. Friendly witnesses can back up your story that you didn't do anything stupid. Ammunition should be carried in case you actually need to defend yourself, and flyers about open carry are a great way to educate the public about their second amendment rights. See http://californiaopencarry.org and http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?88-California for more information.

Generally you must keep your handgun visible to open carry it in a car. Places like the floor of the car are a bad idea to put your handgun since it could easily become concealed or be argued that it is hard to see and thus concealed. The center console and the glove box, locked or not are both unlawful places to carry a handgun. You can also have your handgun in your holster. Keep in mind that if you have to stop suddenly or swerve that your handgun could slide around and become concealed if it is on the passenger seat or dashboard. See CA PC 12025 for more information.