[Article] California Firearm Laws: The 2026 Outlook & 2025 Recap

[ikeo1]

Discussion Thread for the following article. We’ll be adding some more in the coming year and hope for find contributors in this section who have a passion for writing and also to keep people in the know.

For now, I’m leveraging AI to help navigate what’s currently out there and help provide source data. If you’d like to be a co-author, please let me know.

https://caguns.net/articles/california-firearm-laws-the-2026-outlook-2025-recap.12/

 

[Batman]

While most of these create a huge vacuum, enough to suck a golf ball through 10' of #9 garden hose, I'm actually OK with the animal cruelty one and the no exposed guns at polling places. If you're that much of a piece of $h!t that you want to hurt animals, then yes, you shouldn't have guns. Because you're a a$$h0le.

In California, open carry isn't really allowed anyways. Maybe so we don't have a repeat of 2008 Black Panther incident like what happened in Philadelphia.

 

[millenialshooter83]

Leaving a gun on a nightstand while you sleep or in a closet unlocked is now a violation of state law.

This is a bit scary if you give it some thought: A gun locked in a safe, versus one readily available, could mean seconds between a life or death or even a self defense situation.

 

[Deleted member 16735]

This is a bit scary if you give it some thought: A gun locked in a safe, versus one readily available, could mean seconds between a life or death or even a self defense situation.

perfectly legal if you sleep with it concealed on your person

 

[Deleted member 16735]

Re: SB 53

"This bill would, beginning on January 1, 2026, require a person who possesses a firearm in a residence to keep the firearm securely stored when the firearm is not being carried or readily controlled by the person or another lawful authorized user. For purposes of these provisions, a firearm is securely stored if the firearm is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or secure gun safe that meets specified standards. The bill would make a first and 2nd violation of this offense punishable as an infraction, and a 3rd or subsequent violation punishable as a misdemeanor."

So basically the penalty is extremely low even for a second offense..... Still a bad rule but...

 

[M_N04H]

Re: SB 53

"This bill would, beginning on January 1, 2026, require a person who possesses a firearm in a residence to keep the firearm securely stored when the firearm is not being carried or readily controlled by the person or another lawful authorized user. For purposes of these provisions, a firearm is securely stored if the firearm is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or secure gun safe that meets specified standards. The bill would make a first and 2nd violation of this offense punishable as an infraction, and a 3rd or subsequent violation punishable as a misdemeanor."

So basically the penalty is extremely low even for a second offense..... Still a bad rule but...

It's like they did it just because they feel like they can.

 

[oneaudiopro]

While most of these create a huge vacuum, enough to suck a golf ball through 10' of #9 garden hose, I'm actually OK with the animal cruelty one and the no exposed guns at polling places. If you're that much of a piece of $h!t that you want to hurt animals, then yes, you shouldn't have guns. Because you're a a$$h0le.

In California, open carry isn't really allowed anyways. Maybe so we don't have a repeat of 2008 Black Panther incident like what happened in Philadelphia.

And I guess your thought process would equally apply to someone who says something you totally disagree with to lose their first amendment rights as well. It's a very slippery slope you're traveling on. smh

 

[socalgunowner909]

Just wait till you see what they pass next year. It’s never going to get better here. Only worse. Especially with the libs in charge here. Your best bet is to become a criminal because the libs will be on your side.

 

[shroom]

First time hearing of the insurance reporting requirements. That kinda bothers me.

 

[MattB]

First time hearing of the insurance reporting requirements. That kinda bothers me.

It should bother everyone. It’s a complete invasion of privacy by the legislature. The upshot of all of these wildly unconstitutional actions by Sacramento is that I’m once more motivated to leave California and never come back.

 

[cali_jazz]

Re: SB 53

"This bill would, beginning on January 1, 2026, require a person who possesses a firearm in a residence to keep the firearm securely stored when the firearm is not being carried or readily controlled by the person or another lawful authorized user. For purposes of these provisions, a firearm is securely stored if the firearm is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or secure gun safe that meets specified standards. The bill would make a first and 2nd violation of this offense punishable as an infraction, and a 3rd or subsequent violation punishable as a misdemeanor."

So basically the penalty is extremely low even for a second offense..... Still a bad rule but...

Penalty Structure for SB 53:

• 1st Violation: Infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $250.
• 2nd Violation: Infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $500.
• 3rd and Subsequent Violations: Mandatory misdemeanor.

Additional Consequences of the Misdemeanor:

• Firearm Possession Ban: A person convicted of this misdemeanor is prohibited from owning, purchasing, receiving, or possessing any firearm for one year from the date of conviction.
• Wobbler Status for Ban Violations: If someone violates this one-year ban, that new offense can be charged as a "wobbler" (either a misdemeanor or a felony).
• Criminal Record: Unlike the first two infractions, which are civil-style fines similar to traffic tickets, the third violation results in a criminal record with potential jail time of up to one year and/or a fine up to $1,000.

Exception for Reasonable Belief:

You cannot be penalized if you secured the firearm using a safety device or safe that you reasonably believed met California DOJ requirements at the time of purchase, even if it is later found non-compliant


My question is how they would know whether you were sleeping or not? At least for a person sleeping and living alone you would have to get up to answer the door.

 

[Deleted member 16735]

Penalty Structure for SB 53:

• 1st Violation: Infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $250.
• 2nd Violation: Infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $500.
• 3rd and Subsequent Violations: Mandatory misdemeanor.

Additional Consequences of the Misdemeanor:

• Firearm Possession Ban: A person convicted of this misdemeanor is prohibited from owning, purchasing, receiving, or possessing any firearm for one year from the date of conviction.
• Wobbler Status for Ban Violations: If someone violates this one-year ban, that new offense can be charged as a "wobbler" (either a misdemeanor or a felony).
• Criminal Record: Unlike the first two infractions, which are civil-style fines similar to traffic tickets, the third violation results in a criminal record with potential jail time of up to one year and/or a fine up to $1,000.

Exception for Reasonable Belief:

You cannot be penalized if you secured the firearm using a safety device or safe that you reasonably believed met California DOJ requirements at the time of purchase, even if it is later found non-compliant


My question is how they would know whether you were sleeping or not? At least for a person sleeping and living alone you would have to get up to answer the door.

Yeah the actual enforcement opportunity is very small. Like basically have to be doing something much more illegal for it to matter.

 

[Dvrjon]

First time hearing of the insurance reporting requirements. That kinda bothers me.

It should bother everyone. It’s a complete invasion of privacy by the legislature. The upshot of all of these wildly unconstitutional actions by Sacramento is that I’m once more motivated to leave California and never come back.

The bill didn’t clear first committee and was amended to another subject (which failed).

That doesn’t mean it won’t come back in some form.

 

[ikeo1]

Penalty Structure for SB 53:

• 1st Violation: Infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $250.
• 2nd Violation: Infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $500.
• 3rd and Subsequent Violations: Mandatory misdemeanor.

Additional Consequences of the Misdemeanor:

• Firearm Possession Ban: A person convicted of this misdemeanor is prohibited from owning, purchasing, receiving, or possessing any firearm for one year from the date of conviction.
• Wobbler Status for Ban Violations: If someone violates this one-year ban, that new offense can be charged as a "wobbler" (either a misdemeanor or a felony).
• Criminal Record: Unlike the first two infractions, which are civil-style fines similar to traffic tickets, the third violation results in a criminal record with potential jail time of up to one year and/or a fine up to $1,000.

Exception for Reasonable Belief:

You cannot be penalized if you secured the firearm using a safety device or safe that you reasonably believed met California DOJ requirements at the time of purchase, even if it is later found non-compliant


My question is how they would know whether you were sleeping or not? At least for a person sleeping and living alone you would have to get up to answer the door.

I’ve made you a contributor to the article, can you please add this to the main article? This is a good opportunity to start building out more details when we get good contributions

 

[aema15]

Re: SB 53

"This bill would, beginning on January 1, 2026, require a person who possesses a firearm in a residence to keep the firearm securely stored when the firearm is not being carried or readily controlled by the person or another lawful authorized user. For purposes of these provisions, a firearm is securely stored if the firearm is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or secure gun safe that meets specified standards. The bill would make a first and 2nd violation of this offense punishable as an infraction, and a 3rd or subsequent violation punishable as a misdemeanor."

So basically the penalty is extremely low even for a second offense..... Still a bad rule but...

What are the specified standards? Is that on the DOJ site?

 

[Batman]

And I guess your thought process would equally apply to someone who says something you totally disagree with to lose their first amendment rights as well. It's a very slippery slope you're traveling on. smh

Actually, no, it's not the same. If someone's harming animals in the form of animal cruelty, I consider that as mental illness. Do you support allowing mentally ill people with a desire to harm things to own guns? That's like saying you don't support arson, but feel it's their right to own a flamethrower.

 

[Dvrjon]

What are the specified standards? Is that on the DOJ site?

The specified standards are within the statutory changes of the bill.

Example:

25145.​

(a) Beginning on January 1, 2026, a person shall ensure that any firearm the person possesses in a residence is securely stored whenever the firearm is not being carried or readily controlled by the person or another lawful authorized user.
(b) A firearm is “securely stored” if it is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or a secure gun safe.
(c) For purposes of this section and Sections 25105, 25135, 25205, 27882, and 27883, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Authorized user” has the same meaning as provided in Section 16745.
(2) “Certified firearm safety device” means any firearm safety device or gun safe that is listed on the Department of Justice’s roster of tested and approved firearm safety devices certified for sale pursuant to Section 23655.

So, the Roster of approved devices pursuant to Section 23655 are the standards.

 

[bazooka]

Regarding one comment in the article:

"Impact: This applies even if you live alone or only with other adults. Leaving a gun on a nightstand while you sleep or in a closet unlocked is now a violation of state law."

I did see this language regarding when a gun is consider to be readily controlled.

"The person or other lawful authorized user is within close enough proximity to the firearm to readily prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to the firearm"

A case could be made that the nightstand location is close enough proximity, so it might not be illegal to keep a gun there. I don't believe the fact that one might be sleeping relates to a definition of proximity.

 

[GoldensRule]

Re: SB 53

"This bill would, beginning on January 1, 2026, require a person who possesses a firearm in a residence to keep the firearm securely stored when the firearm is not being carried or readily controlled by the person or another lawful authorized user. For purposes of these provisions, a firearm is securely stored if the firearm is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or secure gun safe that meets specified standards. The bill would make a first and 2nd violation of this offense punishable as an infraction, and a 3rd or subsequent violation punishable as a misdemeanor."

So basically the penalty is extremely low even for a second offense..... Still a bad rule but...

Never, ever, under any circumstances allow any LEO into your residence without a warrant! Then, under no circumstances should you volunteer any information or answer any questions without your attorney being present.

 

[Dvrjon]

A case could be made that the nightstand location is close enough proximity, so it might not be illegal to keep a gun there. I don't believe the fact that one might be sleeping relates to a definition of proximity.

I thought I’d found a solution to this. Unfortunately, the company’s name is misleading:

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pjholster.com

They don’t actually make a pajama holster.