Shasta County sheriff, California senator share responses to parts of gun control law being blocked

REDDING, Calif. — A federal judge blocked parts of a California gun law this week.

Per the Associated Press, the law, SB2, would have banned carrying guns in most public places.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it in September. All portions of SB2 would have gone into effect in January 2024.

U.S. District Judge Cormac Carneyissued a preliminary injunction on Dec. 20. temporarily blocking parts of the law regarding permit holders being banned from carrying guns in certain “sensitive places.”

Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson told us his thoughts on the ruling. “We’re pleased that a federal judge blocked part of SB2 because, in my opinion and the opinion of many of the sheriffs across the state, is SB2 is unconstitutional,” Johnson said. “It is, without a doubt, a direct attack on concealed weapons permit holders and the ability to and right to bear firearms - Second Amendment.”

Johnson added that the SCSO will comply with restrictions related to gun instructors and gun licensing and permitting. He also shared that the sheriff’s office wants to ensure those with a permit to carry a concealed weapon aren’t overburdened by legislation.

Senator Anthony Portantino, the politician who authored SB2, spoke with us about its status.

"I think it's important to highlight that, though I was disappointed in the judge's decision, the judge only blocked a portion of the bill," Portantino said. "The section on training, the section on the permits, the section on the age, all are in the bill, and some of the prohibited places are still in the bill. So, it was a narrow ruling, and a large portion of why this bill is necessary is going to go into effect on Jan. 1."

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a Dec. 20 press release that his team will appeal to overturn the ruling on SB2.

Portantino added, "I look forward to the appeal happening, and hopefully we win the appeal. The bill was crafted with [the] Bruen [case] as a guideline, and we feel that it's constitutional. And I think the judge errored, and hopefully the attorney general will make that case, and California will win the appeal."

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