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I assume you are driving since you did not mention your mode of transportation. My wife, kids and I drove down there a couple of weeks ago. I carried the entire time on my person. Frankly I value our lives more than their stupid laws. If you didn't feel comfortable carrying, you are allowed by Federal law to put in the trunk without ammo in it under the premise that you are traveling through.
As long as you don't stop. There is one person in jail (not in CA though) that stopped for gas and to eat, the state said that by stopping he had violated the federal law and lost the immunity.
one of many reasons, after 40 some years, my parents just moved out...Use the transporter. "Beam me up Scotty, this state sucks"
I assume you are driving since you did not mention your mode of transportation. My wife, kids and I drove down there a couple of weeks ago. I carried the entire time on my person. Frankly I value our lives more than their stupid laws. If you didn't feel comfortable carrying, you are allowed by Federal law to put in the trunk without ammo in it under the premise that you are traveling through.
In CA the courts have ruled that the cops can search any area within reach of the driver "for officer safety" however they have also ruled that the search of any area outside of driver reach in an RV or a 5th wheel are considered your "home" and require a warrant. I would (and do) take a firearm with me when I travel to CA - I would be sure said firearm is registered to me just in case. A friend had his guns inspected by a cop when he was pulled over (pickup truck) ran the numbers and his SIG wasn't registered to him - cop seized his guns to verify ownership. Fortunately he had bought the SIG from a family friend that happened to be the local SWAT commander so he got them back a few days later. I would hate to see how long it would have taken if he had bought it from John Q Public....
In CA make sure gun is locked in a case/compartment separate from ammo - I keep a locked gun case and a few loaded mags with extra ammo in a range bag - all out of sight to avoid any possible issues.
Remember - while most locations in CA frown on CCW, if you were caught CCW it is a "wobler" charge - if you don't have any weapons charges on your record it would most likely be charged as a misdemeanor (except in SF / bay area) provided no other CRIMINAL charges are being filed against you. A second time would get you the felony charge in most cases. Just something to keep in mind if you are sensing that you may be in danger...
I left two decades ago, I'm sure it's worse now.
Having just come from there 6 months ago, I would suggest you not carry concealed. Like several others here have said, if you want to take the weapon with you, lock it in a case, empty, separate from the ammo. It might be Federal law that it is ok, but the CHP and local LEO's could give a rip. And there is a tendency for the local population to become alarmed at someone possibly carrying, so more often than not, the cops are called. To start with, the charges could start with, carry of a concealed weapon without permit(CA permit), illegal tranport of a weapon, illegal transport of ammunition, and the list goes on. Any charge that is gun related gets amplified, a CA requirement, not an option. Now you might get stopped by a decent LEO but why take the chance.
Traveling with ammo and the car sagging, well, get better springs! But on a serious note, unless they stopped you for a violation of some kind, there is not anything that I know about that relates to transportation of ammo, ie, mass or amount. However, if you have your firearm in the same container, then you might have a problem.
Gun in the glove compartment, a big no no in CA.
can't you carry in CA if you have a Utah Concealed License? That's probably the safest route to take...