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Mens rea under Calif. gun law

Here's a discussion of a recent California Supreme Court ruling on the state of mind required under one provision of its gun laws, which ban possession of a rifle with overall length under 26 inches. (Defendant had a rifle 24" overall). The question was whether defendant had to know that the overall length was under 26". The California court rules:

1. The statute requires that Defendant know the gun was under the limit, but

2. This is satisfied by proof that he must have known the gun was "unusually short," and a 24 inch rifle is just that.

(2) appears to contradict, or at least defeat (1).... but that's caselaw for you.

· State legislation