LOS ANGELES - In a significant ruling, U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney temporarily blocked a California law that would have prohibited carrying firearms in most public places. The judge stated that the law violated the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and deprived individuals of their right to self-defense.

The law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, was set to take effect on January 1, and would have banned concealed carry of guns in 26 locations, including public parks, playgrounds, churches, banks, and zoos. The ban would have applied to individuals with or without a concealed carry permit, except for privately owned businesses that allowed firearms on their premises.

Judge Carney's preliminary injunction declared the law as "sweeping" and "repugnant to the Second Amendment," showing defiance towards the Supreme Court. The decision marked a victory for the California Rifle and Pistol Association, which sued to block the law.

The California association's president, Chuck Michel, called out California progressive politicians for attempting to circumvent the Supreme Court's ruling on gun laws, referencing the Bruen case. Michel emphasized that under the banned law, gun permit holders would have been limited in their ability to carry firearms across different areas, potentially breaking the law unintentionally. He applauded the judge's decision, asserting that Californians are safer when law-abiding citizens can protect themselves.

Governor Newsom, however, expressed his disappointment with the ruling and pledged to continue pushing for stricter gun control measures. He stated that the judge's decision was "outrageous" and criticized California's gun safety efforts being labeled as "repugnant." The governor argued that the ruling allowed for the proliferation of guns in spaces such as hospitals, libraries, and children's playgrounds, which should be safe for all.

Newsom's stance on gun control has positioned him as a leader in the national debate on the issue, and he has signed various bills targeting different aspects of gun regulation. These include measures aimed at untraceable "ghost guns," the marketing of firearms to children, and allowing people to bring lawsuits over gun violence.

Judge Cormac Carney, a former Orange County Superior Court judge appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003, made the temporary injunction, recognizing the importance of upholding the Second Amendment while emphasizing the need for careful evaluation of gun regulations.

The ruling will likely lead to further debate and legal challenges as the issue of gun control in public spaces continues to be a divisive topic within California and the wider United States.