LOS ANGELES - A controversial California law that prohibits the carrying of firearms in most public places is set to take effect on New Year's Day, despite an ongoing court case challenging its constitutionality.

The law was temporarily blocked from implementation by a US district judge on December 20, who ruled that it violated the Second Amendment of the Constitution and infringed upon individuals' right to self-defense. However, a federal appeals court issued a temporary hold on the district judge's ruling, allowing the law to go into effect while the legal battle continues.

Attorneys involved in the case are expected to submit arguments to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in January and February, further prolonging the resolution of the matter.

Signed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, the law prohibits the concealed carrying of firearms in 26 public places including parks, playgrounds, churches, banks, and zoos. Notably, this restriction applies irrespective of whether an individual has a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Private businesses, however, have the option to allow firearms on their premises by displaying signs permitting their presence.

Governor Newsom expressed his support for the law after the appeals court decision, emphasizing that Californians overwhelmingly back efforts to keep venues like hospitals, libraries, and children's playgrounds safe from guns. He vowed to persist in advocating for stricter gun control measures.

The California Rifle and Pistol Association, a firearms rights advocacy group, filed a lawsuit against the law. US District Judge Cormac Carney granted a preliminary injunction to block the law, stating that it went against the Second Amendment and was in defiance of the Supreme Court.

Judge Carney further predicted that gun rights groups were likely to succeed in proving the law unconstitutional, potentially leading to its permanent overturning.

The law was enacted to overhaul California's concealed carry permit rules in response to the Supreme Court's ruling in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen. This decision prompted several states, including California, to revise their own firearm regulations.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, appealed Judge Carney's decision. Bonta argued that upholding the district judge's ruling would endanger communities by allowing guns in places where families and children frequently gather.

Responding to the law, Chuck Michel, President of the California Pistol and Rifle Association, criticized its provisions. He raised concerns that individuals with firearm permits would be unable to travel across town without passing through prohibited areas and inadvertently violating the law. Michel argued that allowing law-abiding citizens to defend themselves acts as a deterrent to criminals.

As the legal battle continues, the implementation of the controversial California law represents a milestone in the ongoing debate over gun control in the state, with both sides fiercely asserting their positions on Second Amendment rights and public safety.