California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a petition for rehearing en banc in the case of Baird v. Bonta, which is currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The move comes after a recent ruling by a three-judge panel that found California’s ban on the open carry of firearms in counties with populations over 200,000 unconstitutional under the Second Amendment.
Attorney General Bonta responded to the decision by saying, “This is beyond concerning; it is deeply wrong. Allowing the open carry of firearms in densely populated counties creates unnecessary anxiety, terrorizes children, and instills fear throughout our communities. The number one job of the California Department of Justice is to protect the public’s safety. The open presence of these weapons in urban environments does not make the public safer; it spreads panic and destabilizes daily life. I strongly urge the court to rehear this case so that California can continue to prevent fear, chaos, and intimidation from taking hold on the streets of our largest cities.”
The California Attorney General serves as the state’s chief law enforcement authority and leads efforts to enforce laws and protect public rights and safety across California (official website). Rob Bonta currently leads this office (official website), which also oversees legal representation, criminal investigations, consumer protections, civil rights initiatives, and public data transparency through platforms like OpenJustice (official website). The Attorney General’s office plays a central role within the executive branch of state government (official website).
The office’s authority extends statewide and covers initiatives related to civil rights, economic security for consumers, environmental justice, and more (official website). Established in 1850, it has evolved over more than 160 years to address changes in law enforcement needs as California has grown (official website). Its headquarters are located in Sacramento (official website).