California tried to ban handguns in 1982. It failed.
Since that day they have been working overtime to circumvent the will of the voters.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_15,_Handgun_Registration_Initiative_%281982%29
Calif is a far different state than it was even in 1982. I saw it creeping up and bailed out in 2006, barely in time.