The riots, 9/11, and assorted "gun control" legislation, have all led to increased gun sales. My guess is that Californians are better armed than ever. Some of the folks I go shooting with are even liberals, if you can believe that. I'm working on em.
There are plenty of VERY BUSY law compliant gun stores doing very well and they take the law, the public and the products they sell very seriously and operate in a very professional and helpful manner.
The paperwork if you saw it all would make you laugh, then cry! LOL
I've gone into shops with friends buying things a few times this last year and they are not hurting, are doing well, but are made to jump a few hoops to get the sales done.
You really don't see cars of gangs going for a destructive joy ride in the suburbs because they will defend themselves, family and property.
I think they know the odds of returning from trying to act up in the suburbs would be not good odds.
It is really just for self defense out here. Nobody goes looking for a fight, but they do stay sharp with the shooting skills to remain familiar with their weapons and skilled enough to be effective and safe.
People do more tanning than hunting out here. LOL
"My guess is that Californians are better armed than ever."
Californians instinctively feel a danger. At some point, the president of Mexico might quietly encourage paramilitary groups to form, with the purpose of taking over California. That's what ultimately happens when a host nation, for whatever reason, loses control of formal immigration policy, particularly when the other nation believes it is immigrating to land it should rightfully own.
I think a fair example of what could happen to California is Kosovo. Like California, Kosovo was clearly Serb terrority. Like California, immigrants felt a claim to Kosovo.