I'm going shooting on Sunday and need to know the official CA laws on transporting rifles, handguns and ammo. Can I lock (with a Master lock) a handgun in a plastic "tool box" for transportation? Does ammo have to be locked in a container? Do I have to lock the handgun even if I have a trigger lock on it? BTW-I already looked at the DOJ CA gun laws, they don't make much sense to a 15 year old kid like myself! Thanks, Mike.

A car trunk is considered a locked container.  If you have one keep it in there.  Don't lock up ammo.  A locked container must be hard (not soft) and lockable, so your tool box is fine.  The lock could be one of those small cheapo locks. You could even keep the locked container within the driver's compartment.  I believe a trigger lock is considered legal for transportation, ie you could leave it in the driver's compartment.

You also need someone over 21 with you.

Edited, don't use the trigger lock, just a locked container.

Thanks, my dad has a Nissan Pathfinder, so it does not have a trunk that is locked off from the rest of the vehicle, is this a problem? We have always transported guns like this before, but I'm going to be shooting at Edwards Air Foce Base, so I don't want to break any laws!

Ah, the crap that we have to put up with to own guns and live in this socialist paradise...

caag.state.ca.us/firearms/dwcl/12020.htm

12026.1.

(a) Section 12025 shall not be construed to prohibit any citizen of the United States over the age of 18 years who resides or is temporarily within this state, and who is not within the excepted classes prescribed by Section 12021 or 12021.1 of this code or Section 8100 or 8103 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, from transporting or carrying any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person, provided that the following applies to the firearm:

(1) The firearm is within a motor vehicle and it is locked in the vehicle's trunk or in a locked container in the vehicle other than the utility or glove compartment.

(2) The firearm is carried by the person directly to or from any motor vehicle for any lawful purpose and, while carrying the firearm, the firearm is contained within a locked container.

(b) The provisions of this section do not prohibit or limit the otherwise lawful carrying or transportation of any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person in accordance with this chapter.

(c) As used in this section, "locked container" means a secure container which is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar locking device.

12026.2. (a) Section 12025 does not apply to, or affect, any of the following:

(1) The possession of a firearm by an authorized participant in a motion picture, television, or video production or entertainment event when the participant lawfully uses the firearm as part of that production or event or while going directly to, or coming directly from, that production or event.

(2) The possession of a firearm in a locked container by a member of any club or organization, organized for the purpose of lawfully collecting and lawfully displaying pistols, revolvers, or other firearms, while the member is at meetings of the clubs or organizations or while going directly to, and coming directly from, those meetings.

(3) The transportation of a firearm by a participant when going directly to, or coming directly from, a recognized safety or hunter safety class, or a recognized sporting event involving that firearm.

(4) The transportation of a firearm by a person listed in Section 12026 directly between any of the places mentioned in Section 12026.

(5) The transportation of a firearm by a person when going directly to, or coming directly from, a fixed place of business or private residential property for the purpose of the lawful repair or the lawful transfer, sale, or loan of that firearm.

(6) The transportation of a firearm by a person listed in Section 12026 when going directly from the place where that person lawfully received that firearm to that person's place of residence or place of business or to private property owned or lawfully possessed by that person.

(7) The transportation of a firearm by a person when going directly to, or coming directly from, a gun show, swap meet, or similar event to which the public is invited, for the purpose of displaying that firearm in a lawful manner.

(8) The transportation of a firearm by an authorized employee or agent of a supplier of firearms when going directly to, or coming directly from, a motion picture, television, or video production or entertainment event for the purpose of providing that firearm to an authorized participant to lawfully use as a part of that production or event.

(9) The transportation of a firearm by a person when going directly to, or coming directly from, a target range, which holds a regulatory or business license, for the purposes of practicing shooting at targets with that firearm at that target range.

(10) The transportation of a firearm by a person when going directly to, or coming directly from, a place designated by a person authorized to issue licenses pursuant to Section 12050 when done at the request of the issuing agency so that the issuing agency can determine whether or not a license should be issued to that person to carry that firearm.

(11) The transportation of a firearm by a person when going directly to, or coming directly from, a law enforcement agency for the purpose of a lawful transfer, sale, or loan of that firearm pursuant to Section 12084.

(12) The transportation of a firearm by a person when going directly to, or coming directly from, a lawful camping activity for the purpose of having that firearm available for lawful personal protection while at the lawful campsite. This paragraph shall not be construed to override the statutory authority granted to the Department of Parks and Recreation or any other state or local governmental agencies to promulgate rules and regulations governing the administration of parks and campgrounds.

(13) The transportation of a firearm by a person in order to comply with subdivision (c) or (i) of Section 12078 as it pertains to that firearm.

(14) The transportation of a firearm by a person in order to utilize subdivision (l) of Section 12078 as it pertains to that firearm.

(15) The transportation of a firearm by a person when going directly to, or coming directly from, a gun show or event, as defined in Section 178.100 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations, for the purpose of lawfully transferring, selling, or loaning that firearm in accordance with subdivision (d) of Section 12072.

(16) The transportation of a firearm by a person in order to utilize paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 12078 as it pertains to that firearm.

(17) The transportation of a firearm by a person who finds the firearm in order to comply with Article 1 (commencing with Section 2080) of Chapter 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code as it pertains to that firearm and if that firearm is being transported to a law enforcement agency, the person gives prior notice to the law enforcement agency that he or she is transporting the firearm to the law enforcement agency.

(18) The transportation of a firearm by a person who finds the firearm and is transporting it to a law enforcement agency for disposition according to law, if he or she gives prior notice to the law enforcement agency that he or she is transporting the firearm to the law enforcement agency for disposition according to law.

(19) The transportation of a firearm by a person in order to comply with paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 12072 as it pertains to that firearm.

(20) The transportation of a firearm by a person in order to comply with paragraph (3) of subdivision (f) of Section 12072 as it pertains to that firearm.

(21) The transportation of a firearm by a person for the purpose of obtaining an identification number or mark assigned for that firearm from the Department of Justice pursuant to Section 12092.

(b) In order for a firearm to be exempted under subdivision (a), while being transported to or from a place, the firearm shall be unloaded, kept in a locked container, as defined in subdivision (d), and the course of travel shall include only those deviations between authorized locations as are reasonably necessary under the circumstances.

(c) This section does not prohibit or limit the otherwise lawful carrying or transportation of any pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person in accordance with this chapter.

(d) As used in this section, "locked container" means a secure container which is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar locking device. The term "locked container" does not include the utility or glove compartment of a motor vehicle.

Thanks Airwolf!! I have one more question. Is it unlawful to transport a handgun (revolver) in a car from ones house to the shooting range (Edwards AFB) if the person transporting it does not have a handgun saftey certificate? BTW-I have been informed that CA gun laws do not really affect military bases, so one can shoot a handgun even if you don't have a handgun saftey certificate. So I'm just asking if you need a handgun saftey certificate to just transport a handgun. Thanks.

The cert is only good for the purchase of a handgun.  Don't worry about not having one.  Also, don't rely on the trigger lock as a locked container.