There has been a lot of debate in recent years over gun control, and California is not immune to the hot topic. If you happen to be “pro-gun,” you probably recognize that there’s a big difference between criminals and armed citizens. In fact, one of the biggest impacts of gun ownership is how armed citizens affect the behavior of real criminals.
Criminals are afraid of armed citizens and that’s a fact, especially because the police are rarely present when a crime takes place. Instead, they arrive afterward. Not only does research suggest that having a gun in the home increases safety, but if a criminal knows a homeowner is likely to be armed, they’ll usually choose to avoid the house.
For gun enthusiasts, firearms certainly have a time and a place; however, California still has strict gun laws in place, which means that not everyone can legally possess a firearm in the state. Those individuals who cannot legally have a gun are often called, “prohibited possessors,” so who are these individuals?
Prohibited Possessors in California
According to the California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms, there are over a dozen firearms prohibited categories, including but not limited to:
- Anyone who has been convicted of a felony in California or any other state.
- Anyone who has an outstanding warrant for a felony offense.
- Anyone who as a condition of their probation, is prohibited from possessing firearms.
- Anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor under Penal Code Section 29805.
- Anyone who has an outstanding warrant for a misdemeanor under Penal Code Section 29805.
- Anyone who is a ward of the juvenile court because they committed certain offenses.
- Anyone who has an active restraining order against them for domestic violence.
- Anyone who a court has found to be a danger to themselves due to mental illness.
- Anyone who a court has found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial.
- Anyone who has been found not guilty by reason of insanity by a court.
- Anyone who has been classified as a mentally disordered sex offender.
- Someone who has been placed in a conservatorship due to chronic alcoholism, or a grave disability due to a mental disorder.
- Anyone who is addicted to narcotics.
- Anyone who has been convicted of a crime that is punishable by more than one year behind bars.
- Any immigrant who is in the U.S. illegally.
- Anyone who has renounced their status as a U.S. citizen.
- Anyone who is running from the law (a fugitive from justice).
Are you facing weapons charges in the East Bay? Even if you’re normally a law-abiding citizen who’s exercising their gun rights, and you suddenly become a prohibited possessor; for example, because you have a narcotics problem, you can quickly go from an armed citizen to a criminal under California’s gun laws. Contact us now to protect your rights.