Do long guns require locked gun cases?

Q: I was told by a hunter education instructor that just like handguns, shotguns and rifles transported in vehicles must be in locked cases or in the trunk of your vehicle. However, I often see non-lockable rifle and shotgun cases for sale in stores in California. The law seems to indicate that if the barrel can be interchanged with one less than 16 inches in length, it is considered a firearm capable of being concealed upon the person. If this is so, then most - if not all - pump and semi-auto rifles must be locked up when being carried concealed in a vehicle to avoid violating the concealed weapons law. What do you think?A: According to the Department of Justice (DOJ) firearms website on transportation of firearms at ag.ca.gov/firearms/travel.php: Nonconcealable firearms (rifles and shotguns) are not generally covered within the provisions of California PC, section 12025 and therefore are not required to be transported in a locked container. However, as with any firearm, nonconcealable firearms must be unloaded while they are being transported. Long guns that are classified as assault weapons have more stringent transportation requirements. According to DFG Hunter Education Instructor Blaine Nickens, this is addressed in a 2006 DOJ Information Bulletin and the definitions in the Penal Code state: A handgun is any pistol, revolver or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person that has a barrel length of less than 16 inches. The term also applies to any device that has a barrel length of 16 inches or more which is designed to be interchanged with a barrel less than 16 inches (PC, section 12001(a)). A shotgun or rifle must have an overall length of at least 26 inches and a minimum barrel length of 18 inches for a shotgun or 16 inches for a rifle. If not, it is prohibited under Penal Code sections 12020(c)(1) and 12020(c)(2), respectively. Basically, if a firearm is manufactured as a pistol it must be transported and stored as one. If the barrel on a pistol is less than 16 inches on a pistol (like a Thompson-Center Contender) it is considered to be concealable and must be transported in a locked container. We suggest you contact the DOJ Firearms Bureau for clarification at (916) 263-4887 or ag.ca.gov/firearms/contact.php. Q: Is it legal to use legal sport-shot duck for crab bait? A: Yes. There is no law preventing the use of legally taken game, and duck is fine. However, you may be asked to provide proof the bird was legally taken by a person with a proper license and the appropriate stamps. If you intend to use fresh pheasant taken from game farms after the legal season, you will need to provide proof the bird was taken on a licensed pheasant club property. Q: Why is there a new limit on splittail in the inland fishing regulations this year? I'm sure there's some biological reason but have not been able to find out what that is. A: Sacramento splittail is a native minnow once listed as a threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species Act. According to DFG Supervising Fisheries Biologist Marty Gingras, the original listing was due to extensive habitat loss and fluctuations in abundance. Though the species is no longer listed, the decision to delist was controversial and under regional examination. Splittail are the object of a sport fishery primarily focused on the spawning grounds during spawning season. The species is also used as bait. The present sport fishing regulation (CCR Title 14, section 5.70) will add protections for splittail that are consistent with concerns about the species. Q: I often see people on the piers catching stingrays and then cutting off their tails before removing the hook and throwing them back in the water. Is this legal? A: No! This practice is both cruel and illegal under CCR Title 14, section 1.87, which states "it is unlawful to cause or permit any deterioration or waste of any fish taken in the waters of this state." These animals require their tails and stingers for survival and defense against predators. Q: Is it legal to keep live bait in an aquarium at home and use it for bait in the future? For example, I'd like to catch a few shiner perch nearby. I have a saltwater tank at home and was wondering if I can keep them alive in my tank and then use the live shiners as bait in a week or two? A: No, the moving of fish is prohibited. Live fin fish taken under the authority of a sportfishing license may not be transported alive from the water where taken Q: Is it legal for me to carry a concealed handgun in California if I have a CCW permit from a neighboring state? A: Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) permits for handguns are issued by the counties and only to residents of cities and counties within California. No provision or exception is given for anyone who is not a resident of California. CCWs issued in another state are not recognized by California. For more information on firearms questions not related to method of take, please contact the local police or sheriff's office in your area or the Bureau of Firearms at ag.ca.gov/firearms/. Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone's questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at CalOutdoors@dfg.ca.gov.

********** Published: July 8, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 12