- That makes them the fifth state to have such a ban: Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill into law amidst heavy opposition from pro-gun politicians and organizations. The law makes it a misdemeanor to carry an exposed, unloaded gun out in public or in one’s vehicle, with penalties ranging from a $1000 fine to a year in prison. This law does not affect people’s right to keep properly registered firearms at home, exempts shooting and hunting events, and doesn’t change the rules for people with permits to carry concealed weapons, but that hasn’t blunted criticism. Said GOP assemblyman Tim Donnelly: “It’s really a form of tyranny.” source