California firearms open carry ruling.

A federal appeals panel has ruled that a California law prohibiting open carry of firearms in heavily populated counties is unconstitutional. The ruling was issued Friday by two judges on a three-judge panel for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The judges said the state’s policy of limiting open carry to counties with a population of less than 200,000 is not consistent with the Second Amendment. The dissenting judge said California could limit open carry in more populated areas because it allows for concealed carry throughout the state. The ruling comes in a long-running debate over gun laws in the United States and in California. The state could seek a review of the decision.