In Calif., you don't need to have the handgun and ammunition in separate locked containers (e.g., saddlebags), but it must be unloaded and in a locked container "in" the vehicle. (Statue says "in" but I'll presume that since they weren't really considering a motorcycle, strapping a locked container to the bike would be the same as throwing a locked container on the seat of a car.) I've heard conflicting opinions on this, and some people say that the ammunition and handgun must be carried separately, but the statute only says that you may not have the ammunition attached to or in the gun. (I.e., no rounds in the chamber, wheel gun cylinders or magazine if the magazine is in the gun.) BTW, the statute specifically precludes a locked glove box in a car from qualifying as the necessary "locked container", but I don't have any reason to believe that the locked saddlebag on our bikes doesn't qualify.
Three potential violations here -- carrying concealed, carrying loaded in a place accessable to the public, and carrying an unregistered firearm when committing either of the first two. The last one is a felony. (I won't bother going into the BS about having to carry it to and from the vehicle in a locked container, and assume that in most circumstances, you do that in a place where it's otherwise legal to carry it concealed -- like on your property or at your campsite.) The registration BS -- in Calif., only handguns and assault weapons must be registered. If you bought it in Calif. within the last 25 years or so, it's registered. If you bought it while residing in another state, you have 60 days from the time you move into Calif (moved here with intent to make Calif your residence) to register it with the DOJ. If you don't and get busted carrying illegally (loaded or concealed -- typically misdemeanors if no priors, not a felon, etc.), you get a felony charge for the lack of registration, too.
In Calif., you can carry concealed and/or loaded at your residence, and for the purpose of the statutes, they consider your temporary lodging (e.g., motel or campsite) as the same thing. BUT . . . that is only if it is not otherwise prohibited in those locations. E.g., you probably don't want to be doing that in a campsite that is in a State Park, nor do you want to have a gun within 1000 yards of a school. I won't go into open carry.
The Calif statutory scheme is so convoluted that it is almost impossible to adequately grasp. Amazingly, the DOJ publication synopsizing Calif gun laws leaves a number of questions unanswered, and tells you that if you have any questions, consult a LEO or attorney. LOL -- this from THE friggin' authority on it!!! Most attorneys cannot begin to tell you the answer to many gun law questions and would charge you for doing the research. Even criminal defense attorneys are not thoroughly conversant with the gun laws, since their primary exposure is simply to research and know the fairly narrow application to specific charges they've encountered in the few cases where they have had to defend such charges. LEOs have given conflicting opinions on a number of issues -- whether the magazine must be in a separate container from the locked up weapon is just one such discussion I've been a party to in a gun shop with a LEO (there's at least one other statutory provision relating to weapons and ammunition in the same area that is deceptively similar and confuses the issue). Another beaut is the question of what qualifies as a place that is accessible to the public for the purpose of the prohibition against carrying loaded. I'm not knocking LEOs at all here -- the point is that the California gun laws are SO damn convoluted that it is VERY difficult for anyone to adequately know all potentially applicable prohibitions, even for those of us with law degrees -- unless you specialize in it, and I can only think of one lawyer I think might fit that criteria off the top of my head.
So, I feel secure carrying an unloaded and registered handgun in my locked saddlebag to and from my residence and places of lodging/campsites. If you have a legitimate need to defend yourself with deadly force, you get a pass for concealed/loaded possession and brandishing it at the threat also. (NOT suggesting brandishing or use of weapon for anything BUT last resort here.) I'll take the chance that that will cover me if I am stranded by the side of the road and need to pull it out to thwart a bad guy, though the chances are that I'll at least try to get my bike off the right of way just in case the powers disagree with me -- may not help much, but California roadways are pretty much the highest example of where you are usually not allowed to carry a loaded firearm.
I was once in the "needed one and didn't have it" situation. Thought I might have had to single-handedly fight to keep my date from getting snatched by at least three thugs.
Never again....
Toe -- late one night long ago (~ 34 years) as a 23 y.o. college student in Reno, I was with my date and a friend with his when two huge thugs invited themselves to sit with us and crowded into our restaurant booth to intimidate all of us and try to leave with our dates. VERY weird and scary, and I was wishing I had my Python with me that night while trying to calmly negotiate a bad circumstance that the restaurant was doing nothing about. Fortunately, we had finished eating when they barged in, and we somehow managed to get out of there after enduring about 15 minutes of truly unique intimidation. Don't know that I'd have done anything differently if carrying (and without a CCW in Calif, still never do in those circumstances), but I know I'd have felt a LOT better about the situation if the odds were more even in the event they had taken it any further.
