Federal gun-rights restoration from DOJ opened to the public November 4, 2026 and reached its 5,000-application cap that day. Filing does not lift a federal ban, and it does nothing to California's own prohibitions.
Federally licensed gun businesses gain a voluntary NICS check for eligible workers on November 27. Written employee consent is required; this is an employment-screening option, not a new background-check requirement for customers.
Federal law already bars gun possession by anyone who unlawfully uses a controlled substance. The Ninth Circuit says that rule still stands after the Supreme Court's 2026 marijuana decision, and refused to hear this defendant's individual challenge because he barely briefed it.
Federal law already bars gun possession by anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year. On Oct 13 the Third Circuit, en banc, said that bar can't reach a nonviolent DUI conviction but still reaches violent threats. California follows the Ninth Circuit, so nothing changes here yet.
California’s assault-weapon restrictions remain in place. The Supreme Court will hear the consolidated Viramontes/Grant AR-15 cases on December 2, 2026; the argument date is not a ruling or permission to change a rifle’s configuration.
The Supreme Court declined the Jones challenge to the federal firearm ban for people with qualifying felony convictions on October 13. The denial creates no new firearm rights in California.
Silencers, short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns used to need ATF approval and a spot in the federal registry. Since October 9, 2026, ATF will not enforce those steps for anyone. California still bans them, so nothing changes for owners here.
Federal law bars guns in federal buildings, including post offices. DOJ's legal office says the ban can't be enforced against a law-abiding person carrying a legal firearm into a public post office for self-defense. It declined to appeal the ruling. California rules are unchanged.
California doesn't recognize any out-of-state CCW permit, and no other state has to recognize California's. On Oct. 5, 2026 the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to that rule, so nothing changes today: carrying while traveling still means meeting each state's own permit requirements.
The DOJ sued Minnesota over its 30–60 day gun-waiting period and a federal judge struck it as a Second Amendment violation. It does not change California law, but it is the fight most likely to affect California’s own up-to-30-day handgun delay. No new California exemption yet.
