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Firearms in Inyo County (and Death Valley NP)

armaborealis

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2011
Messages
56
Location
Alaska
I'm guessing you get lots of questions from out of staters, but I did a search and could not find the answer.

The last time I was in Cali was years ago when UOC was still a thing. I see that the legislature has greatly complicated this. I am travelling to Death Valley NP for a short trip and wanted to ask a few questions. It seems that it is still legal to transport unloaded firearms in a locked case (so long as they don't have standard mags or fit the AW test -- I've got my "ban state" lever gun and revolver for such issues).

As the statutes read, long gun unloaded open carry is prohibited in incorporated areas. Handgun unloaded open carry is prohibited there as well, plus in "prohibited" parts of unincorporated areas. The only incorporated town in Inyo seems to be Bishop and I don't plan on stopping there.

1) Inyo county has five "safety zones" where discharge of firearms is prohibited which would trigger the state UOC ban. Three are at airports, two are elsewhere (but I couldn't find them on the internet). Does anyone know where Safety Zones 1 & 2 are? They are required to be conspicuously posted but I'd prefer to have some awareness of where they are.
http://www.qcode.us/codes/inyocounty/
9.28.030 Safety zone—Designated.
A. Zone number one is described as follows: That area set forth in Book No. 1, Page No. 24, of the miscellaneous maps recorded in the Inyo County recorder’s office, and described in Exhibit A attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter.
B. Zone number two is described as follows: That area set forth in Document No. 84-5567 as recorded in the Inyo County recorder’s office and described as follows:
Legal Description: NW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 33, T. 21 N., R. 7 E. of the San Bernardino Meridian, containing forty acres, and attached to the ordinance codified in this section as Exhibit A. (Ord. 548, 1984: Ord. 418 § 3, 1981.)

2) Inyo County seems to have no prohibition on discharge of firearms near roads or buildings that would trigger the UOC handgun ban. Is anyone aware of anything to the contrary?
3) National Parks prohibit discharge of firearms. Does this trigger the UOC handgun ban in Cali state law?
4) Has anyone had recent experience UOC'ing either handguns or long guns in Inyo County or Death Valley national park?

Right now I'm planning on just leaving things secured in a locked case but it would be nice to know more about the options. Thanks!
 
Last edited:

mjones

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2008
Messages
976
Location
Prescott, AZ
3) National Parks prohibit discharge of firearms. Does this trigger the UOC handgun ban in Cali state law?

There hasn't been a case on this yet that I'm aware of, but the general presumption is that yes, the discharge prohibition would make open carry (loaded or unloaded) illegal.

The most exhaustive examination of the subject (with citations) is available here
 
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