Can I possess a locked unloaded handgun at a campsite in a county park in California?
<p>I thought I found the answer in <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/pdf/cfl2016.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">California Firearms Laws Summary</a> :</p>
<p>&quot;Unless otherwise unlawful, any person over the age of 18 who is not prohibited from possessing firearms <strong>may have</strong> a loaded or unloaded firearm at his or her place of residence, temporary residence, <strong>campsite</strong> or on private property owned or lawfully possessed by the person.&quot;</p>
<p>However, the same section has this note:</p>
<p>&quot;If a person’s place of business, residence, temporary residence, campsite or private property is located within an area where possession of a firearm is prohibited by local or federal laws, such laws would prevail.&quot;</p>
<p>California gun laws are, generally speaking, very restrictive, and I don't know whether any &quot;local or federal laws&quot; would prohibit a person without a CCW permit to bring it to a campsite in a county park.</p>
<p>The specific park I'm interested in is the <a href="https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Pages/Sanborn.aspx" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sanborn park</a> in Santa Clara County.</p>

<p>Generally, it is forbidden on Santa Clara County property.  Santa Clara County Ordinances section <a href="https://library.municode.com/ca/santa_clara_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITBRE_DIVB19FI_CHIIREFIAMCOPR_SB19-10PRPOSADIFIAMCOPR" rel="nofollow noreferrer">B19-10 (a)</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It shall be unlawful for any person to bring onto or possess a Firearm, loaded or unloaded, or Ammunition, or both, on County Property. This subsection shall not apply where the possession of Firearms or Ammunition is prohibited by State law.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There is, however, an exception at <a href="https://library.municode.com/ca/santa_clara_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITBRE_DIVB19FI_CHIIREFIAMCOPR_SB19-11EXANPO" rel="nofollow noreferrer">B19-11 (n)</a> that may be relevant:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Subsection B19-10(a) does not apply to the following: [...] (n) A person lawfully possessing an unloaded Firearm or Ammunition, or both, in the locked trunk of, or inside a Locked Container in, a motor vehicle;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So the prohibition would not apply if you keep the firearm unloaded and locked in your trunk the entire time you are on county property.  It isn't clear whether that is what you had in mind.</p>
<p>As for parks specifically, there is <a href="https://library.municode.com/ca/santa_clara_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITBRE_DIVB14PARE_CHIIIGEPUCO_ART1FIWE_SB14-31.1FIWE" rel="nofollow noreferrer">B14-31.1 (a)</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>No person shall set, leave or deposit, or have in his or her possession, any weapon, spear, missile, sling shot, trap or hunting device, air or gas weapon, throwing knife or axe, or any other weapon or device capable of injuring or killing any person or animal, damaging any property or natural resource, except in areas established for such use or while in direct transit to or from such areas and available parking.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It's not clear to me whether this would prohibit a weapon in the trunk. You'd be well advised to ask the park officials for their interpretation; they might also be able to tell you if there are other relevant regulations.</p>

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