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CCW Sensitive Places - SB2 & May v Bonta

Restaurant table with wine glasses. California's Senate Bill 2 prohibits CCW licensees from carrying firearms in a restaurant that serves alcohol. In May v Bonta, the California Rifle & Pistol Association is challenging the "sensitive places" law.

Don Hammond

Aug 17, 2025

Current Status of California's "Sensitive Places" where CCW licensees cannot carry a firearm

Current Status: Some of the "sensitive places" listed in Penal Code section 26230 are in effect and others are on hold. The latest order is from September 6, 2024, and is expected to remain in effect until after March 2026.


List of places where you CAN carry a gun with a CA CCW license:


  1. Hospitals

  2. Churches

  3. Medical facilities

  4. Public transit (but see Penal Code section 171.7, so you can’t actually carry on public transit)

  5. Gatherings requiring a permit

  6. parking areas attached to these places

  7. “Vampire Rule” – you CAN carry in any other business that is open to the public, unless there is a sign that says firearms are prohibited.

The places listed above can also exclude firearms by posting a sign. As always, if you are asked to leave by someone with apparent authority, you must leave. Failure to leave is trespassing, and the police can arrest you.


Current list of places that you CANNOT carry a gun with a CA CCW license:


  1. Bars & restaurants that serve alcohol

  2. Playgrounds

  3. Parks

  4. State Parks

  5. Casinos

  6. Stadiums & arenas

  7. Libraries

  8. Museums & zoos

  9. Any business with a sign that says firearms are prohibited


Other places where you CANNOT carry with a CA CCW License, and which were not challenged in the May v. Bonta case include:

  1. Schools, including K-12, colleges and universities

  2. Child care facilities

  3. Courts

  4. Local government buildings

  5. Jails and prisons

  6. Police stations

  7. Nuclear facilities

  8. Polling places

  9. Anyplace prohibited by federal or local law

  10. Parking lots of any of the above prohibited places


May v Bonta Litigation Status:

4/21/2025: District Court schedules Final Pretrial Conference for 3/16/2026; at this hearing, the court will set a trial date

1/23/2025: 9th Circuit issues mandate, giving effect to its 9/6/2024 injunction

9/6/2024: 9th Circuit issues preliminary injunction, prohibiting CA from enforcing certain portions of the "sensitive places" law

12/30/2023: 9th Circuit stays preliminary injunction pending appeal

12/20/2023: District Court issues preliminary injunction while case is pending, prohibiting enforcement of certain portions of the "sensitive places" law

9/12/2023: May v Bonta case is filed in federal district court


Full court documents are available at: https://michellawyers.com/may-et-al-v-bonta/

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