Gun possession for California trip

[A-R]

Family minivan trip to Kalifornia is fast approaching. Been readng up on various gun laws for New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Anyone who has any particular insight into laws in those three states I'd appreciate reading your thoughts.

A few specific questions:

CALIFORNIA
I'm fairly sure I understand Kalifornia law on the subject. Bascially I'll need to unload my handgun and place it in a locked container inside my vehicle to be legal while traveling. Then, when I get to a hotel or private residence, I can take my handgun out of the box and reload it and even carry it as long as I am within the boundaries of a property under my control (hotel room) or on my family's/friend's property with their permission.

But I'm still unclear on this whole "California Approved" handgun list. Both my Glock 23 and S&W 638 are "approved" but my Ruger LCP is not. Does that mean that by merely possessing an LCP in California, I'm in violation of state law? Or does it merely mean those guns cannot be sold there, but possessing one that is sold elsewhere is OK? Same question about my 13-round Glock mags - illegal to possess or illegal to buy?

I'm thinking for simplicity's sake, I'll probably just take my S&W 638 revolver and pocket carry it in New Mexico and Arizona, then lock it up in Yuma, AZ just before I cross into Kalifornia.

ARIZONA & NEW MEXICO
Seems the biggest differences in these two states is that you cannot carry ANY place that sells alcohol for on-premises consumption (no "51% law" in these states). So even a Chilis or Bennigans is off limits because they do sell alcohol, correct? And also there is no equivalent of a 30.06 posting, so even "gunbusters" signs could get me into hot water if my concealed carry was somehow revealed.

Anything else I'm missing?

[WildBill]

IANAL - In California the gun must be kept unloaded in the truck of the car. If the car doesn't have a truck it must be kept unloaded in a secure locked container [not the glove box or console]. http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/faq.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Since the Ruger LCP was subject to a safety recall it is not going to be on the approved list. IANAL, but as long as you are not going to sell, trade, leave the gun in California, I think you would be okay to bring the Glock [with magazines]. But I wouldn't.

IANAL. California's laws are designed to make it extremely difficult for any body other than LEOs to possess or carry handguns. Be extremely careful. Don't tell anybody in California that you have a gun with you. Therefore you can not get the permission to carry on your friend's property. If if you did, it probably is still against the law. California laws are NOT even close to Texas. IANAL, etc

[The Annoyed Man]

I lived in Cali until 3 years ago.

Don't know about the LCP. It was released to market after I moved here. That said, Cali has a strong antithesis to anything it considers to be a "saturday night special," and they don't care if it costs $2,000.00 - if it can fit in your pocket, then it's a saturday night special. The idiots.

No magazines over 10 rounds.

Firearm must be transported unloaded in a locked container, in the trunk of the vehicle. If the vehicle has no lockable trunk (SUVs/Pickups), then it must be out of the reach of the driver. The ammunition must also be stored out of the reach of the driver, locked in a separate container.

I would not count on a California hotel considering your room to be your property for purposes of firearm carry. Unless you give reason to call the cops however, if you do so it would not likely be discovered. That said, unless you are planning on carrying your pistol (in the approved manner, locked up) everywhere you go, I wouldn't leave it in the hotel room.

I'm going back to California on July 11th for a week to visit family and friends. I'm flying, and I'm not even going to try to bring a pistol into the state, because I'll have to declare it to fly with it, and sure as God made little green apples, someone at Burbank Airport will think I'm doing something illegal and scream "MAN WITH A GUN!!!"

I'll just go unarmed for a week and hate it.

[nitrogen]

The approved handgun list does not mean anything to you in this respect.

The approved handgun list is ONLY for guns approved for sale from a state/federally licensed dealer.

[A-R]

I go to California about once a year to see the in-laws. We've always flown before, and I've always left my guns at home and felt completely vulnerable the entire time we're there. But this year we're driving, and since NM & AZ have reciprocity I'm definitely carrying for the majority of the trip. But I want to be sure I follow the letter of the law once I cross the border into Kalifornia ... locked up in back luggage area of the minivan gun in one locked container, ammo in the other. MIGHT take a second gun (I'm a "just in case" sorta guy) - so maybe the Glock with the original two pre-94 ten-round mags? I looked up on the California AG's web site and G23 and S&W 638 are both "approved" handguns. Not sure I'll risk the LCP.

Any additional info about NM or AZ concealed carry?

[WildBill]

IMIGHT take a second gun (I'm a "just in case" sorta guy) - so maybe the Glock with the original two pre-94 ten-round mags? I looked up on the California AG's web site and G23 and S&W 638 are both "approved" handguns. Not sure I'll risk the LCP.

As Nitrogen said, the approved gun list is only those for manufactured/sold in California. Sorry can't add anything to the Arizona and New Mexico questions.

[A-R]

Just had another related thought. Are there any restrictions in California (or the other two states) on assisted-opening knives? I carry a Kershaw Ken Onion Blur (1670TBLKST) nearly everywhere I go cliped to my back pocket. But with Kalifornia's laws as messed up as they are, I'm wondering if these knives might also be illegal out there?

[The Annoyed Man]

With California, it's best to err on the side of caution. I'm leaving my Kershaw Blur at home too.

[flb_78]

I'd fly the inlaws here instead of going there.

[flb_78]

Found this. Nothing listed about assisted opening knifes, just 3" blades.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USKnife.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nitrogen]

With California, it's best to err on the side of caution. I'm leaving my Kershaw Blur at home too.

The blur is california legal. California knife laws are actually, in some ways, better than Texas's. You can even have fully assisted opening knives in California, assuming they meet certain standards (blade length if I remember)

Btw, your .sig doesn't mean what you think it does, unless you're goofin, or I'm assuming you mean it means something about America's political system. "The right hand is more expert than the left. The godly wise is more on his guard than the foolish sinner, though at times he slip. Better a diamond with a flaw, than a pebble without one." (Jamieson-fausset-brown bible commentaries)

California isn't the horrid wasteland people make it out to be, especially if you just want to visit. Just don't live there. The weather is very pleasant, and the landscape is very beautiful.

[The Annoyed Man]

Btw, your .sig doesn't mean what you think it does, unless you're goofin, or I'm assuming you mean it means something about America's political system. "The right hand is more expert than the left. The godly wise is more on his guard than the foolish sinner, though at times he slip. Better a diamond with a flaw, than a pebble without one." (Jamieson-fausset-brown bible commentaries)

Yes, I am goofin'. I was searching a concordance for the word "right" one day, in a non-political context, and Ecclesiastes 10:2 was one of the references. I just thought it was really funny because I am a political "rightist," so I've used it as a sigline ever since. The actual context, verses 1-3, has to do with wisdom, foolishness, honor, etc., and reads (NIV):

1 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left.

3 Even as he walks along the road,
the fool lacks sense
and shows everyone how stupid he is.

The Bible uses the literary left/right references as are commonly found elsewhere: left = sinister, foolish, untrustworthy, poorly founded, dishonest, etc.; while right = righteous, wise, trustworthy, well founded, honest, etc. I myself am left-handed, so of course the allegory does not apply to me!

California isn't the horrid wasteland people make it out to be, especially if you just want to visit. Just don't live there. The weather is very pleasant, and the landscape is very beautiful.

California is absolutely geographically beautiful... in my opinion, the most beautiful state in the union... and that is what I miss most about living there. But I can assure you that, as a vastly outnumbered conservative person, I find the political climate in California to be extremely repressive. I could never go back there to live again, and witness the absolute foolishness of California politics vis-a-vis their financial picture. Texas taxpayers, along with the taxpayers of the 49 other states, are threatened with having to bail out California politicians and their policies - who in turn view the solution to their problems to be raising taxes and increase government spending, in one of the already most heavily taxed states in the union. The idiots.

[Liberty]

California isn't the horrid wasteland people make it out to be, especially if you just want to visit. Just don't live there. The weather is very pleasant, and the landscape is very beautiful.

Yes, California does have a lot in common with Comminist Red China.

[Oldgringo]

Doesn't Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein all hail from California? That alone is enough to keep me from contributing to their economy.

BTW, I am not a sexist. I just don't care for these three and their agendas.

[WildBill]

The blur is california legal. California knife laws are actually, in some ways, better than Texas's. You can even have fully assisted opening knives in California, assuming they meet certain standards (blade length if I remember)

It's been a while since I researched it, but I think the maximum blade length is 2 inches, and the knife has to be made in California, so that you don't break the Federal Switchblade law by importing it into California. Or some such nonsense.