I've had the honor of introducing a number of people to shooting at the range over the years. (Like I said, always remember you're ALWAYS a 2A Ambassador all the time! Especially if it's a Female we NEED more Female Shooters in the population! Like Yesterday!)
Agree with what you said.
Law enforcement can demand to inspect your weapons for any reason they can dream up. Next time you are out hunting and a Ranger or fish and game asks to see your weapons tell them No that is a violation of my 4th and see where that gets you
So you can be out in the field, some stranger can walk up to your dog / dogs get them by to collar or talk them into a strange truck and drive away with them?
F&W code states that if you are in the act of, on your way to, or on your way home, from fishing or hunting, you, your vehicle and possessions are subject to inspection. It is an exception to the 4th because unlike people on people crimes, wildlife crimes seldom have a complainant, animals simply cannot speak up for themselves. For example, the F&W check stations in which all hunters are REQUIRED to pull into while non-hunters simply drive on by.
Totally wrong. Read my post above.
Perhaps it does to you, but the courts have upheld it. I don't even want to think about all the poaching that would take place if the law was different. Being checked is a minor inconvenience that only takes a few minutes.
It's different when it's in a locked case. It's been a while since I gave up on studying law but last I was aware vehicle searches for any reason still require probable cause or a warrant to open locked containers. If you have a rifle in a locked case any law officer regardless of agency requires probable cause of a crime or a warrant singed by a judge to open that case. Now based on state you may have a duty of some sort to tell them you have weapons in the vehice but that usually only applies to concealed weapons (may god have mercy on whatever BS the state of California has in the books). If you want to make a stand on this I'd encourage discussing it with a local university law professor or a legal professional before you make and bold moves. Usually not worth it unless the squirrel chaser is being an exceptional tyrant that day.
Nope, only F&W, both state and federal. Other than a possible wildlife crime (where there is generally no complainant) there is no suspicion of a crime in the case of regular law enforcement. Thus the courts have determined that if a person(s) is on the way to, engaging in, or on the way from hunting or fishing, a Warden searching is not unreasonable (remember, the vast majority of wildlife crimes have no reporting party)
For general Law Enforcement, yes, you are correct. For F&W if and only if you are traveling to, from or engaging in hunting or fishing No warrant is needed.
Not saying I don't believe you but I'm having trouble finding where a F&W agent may conduct a warentless search without any probably cause just because you're intending to hunt or fish. If you have a source I'd be interested in it for the chance I end up running into such a stop.
