{"id":2466608,"date":"2025-07-25T09:28:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T13:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-strikes-down-california-ammunition-background-check-law\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T09:30:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T13:30:21","slug":"court-strikes-down-california-ammunition-background-check-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-strikes-down-california-ammunition-background-check-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Court strikes down California ammunition background check law"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcourt-strikes-down-california-ammunition-background-check-law%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2466608&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A California appeals court ruled that the state&#8217;s law requiring background checks for every ammunition purchase is unconstitutional, violating Second Amendment rights. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided 2-1 that the law considerably restricts gun owners&#8217; rights. The law,approved by voters in 2016 and later expanded in 2019 to require checks with each ammunition purchase,was challenged after several years of legal battles. California officials,including Governor Gavin Newsom,criticized the ruling,emphasizing the law&#8217;s role in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/san-clemente-councilor-sues-city-to-get-public-records\/\" title=\"San Clemente Councilor Sues City to Get Public Records\">enhancing public safety<\/a>. Supporters of gun rights, however, praised the decision as a victory against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/on-indigenous-peoples-day-american-indians-should-blame-the-government-not-christopher-columbus\/\" title=\"On \u2018Indigenous Peoples\u2019 Day,\u2019 American Indians Should Blame The Government, Not Christopher Columbus\">excessive government regulation<\/a>. The dispute traces back to concerns over gun violence, especially following a 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Court strikes down California ammunition background check law<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2176155\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">California<\/a> appeals court ruled on Thursday that a state law requiring people to undergo background checks each time they purchase <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/firearms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">ammunition<\/a> is unconstitutional.<\/p>\n<p>In a 2-1 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law&nbsp;&ldquo;meaningfully constrains&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/second-amendment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Second Amendment<\/a> rights, marking a blow to California&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gun-control\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">gun control <\/a>regulations, which are viewed as some of the toughest in the nation.&nbsp;Voters initially approved the measure via referendum in 2016.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3481930\/ghislaine-maxwell-productive-day-doj-meeting-epstein-case\/\">Ghislaine Maxwell had &lsquo;productive day&rsquo; in DOJ meeting on Epstein case, lawyer says<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3481572\/alina-habba-acting-us-attorney-new-jersey\/\">Alina Habba becomes acting US attorney in New Jersey<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3481338\/ninth-circuit-sides-with-oregon-mom-adoption-gender-ideology\/\">Ninth Circuit sides with Oregon mom denied adoption over not affirming gender ideology<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The right to keep and bear arms incorporates the right to operate them, which requires ammunition,&rdquo; Circuit Judge Sandra Segal Ikuta wrote in a ruling joined by Judge Bridget Bade.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Judge Jay Bybee, the lone dissenter in Thursday&rsquo;s decision, accused the majority of effectively declaring any limits on ammunition sales unlawful.<\/p>\n<p>The law &ldquo;is not the kind of heavy-handed regulation that meaningfully constrains the right to keep and bear arms,&rdquo; Bybee wrote.<\/p>\n<p>California Democrats, including Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Gavin Newsom<\/a> (D-CA), denounced the ruling, which came after seven years of legal back and forth through the courts challenging the law.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Strong gun laws save lives &mdash; and today&rsquo;s decision is a slap in the face to the progress California has made in recent years to keep its communities safer from gun violence,&rdquo; Newsom said. &ldquo;Californians voted to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-checking-bidens-latest-gun-control-press-conference\/\" title=\"Fact-Checking Biden\u2019s Latest Gun Control Press Conference\">require background checks<\/a> on ammunition, and their voices should matter.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Critics of the law celebrated following their latest court victory.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s ruling is what plaintiffs &hellip; and many in the 2A community, like the National Rifle Association, who supported the many appeals in this case, have been waiting almost a decade to receive,&rdquo; the California Pistol and Rifle Association said, describing the decision as a victory against &ldquo;overreaching government gun control&rdquo; and &ldquo;a big win for all gun owners in California.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The debate started in 2016, when California voters approved a ballot measure requiring gun owners to undergo an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-gun-incident-raises-questions-with-delaware-law\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden&#039;s gun incident sparks concerns about De...are ....\">initial background check<\/a> to purchase ammunition and to pay $50 for a four-year permit that allowed them to buy ammunition subsequently. The ballot measure came a year after a 2015 mass shooting in which 14 people were killed during a holiday party in San Bernardino.<\/p>\n<p>State lawmakers later changed the rules in 2019 to require background checks each time a gun owner makes an ammunition purchase.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A federal district court judge <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2830991\/california-background-checks-ammunition-no-historical-basis-judge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">ruled in February 2024<\/a> that the law was unconstitutional, holding that it has &ldquo;no historical pedigree&rdquo; and violates the Second Amendment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) holds a news conference at Dodger Stadium to announce a new private-sector initiative called LA Rises aimed at supporting rebuilding efforts after the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo\/Damian Dovarganes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3459549\/california-ice-raids-republicans-ask-stop-farm-hospitality-industries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">CALIFORNIA GOP ASKS TRUMP TO STOP ICE RAIDS ON FARM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES FOR &lsquo;NONCRIMINAL&rsquo; WORKERS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;A <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >sweeping background check requirement imposed<\/a> every time a citizen needs to buy ammunition is an outlier that our ancestors would have never accepted for a citizen,&rdquo; wrote U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez, who had criticized the state&rsquo;s automated background check system, which the San Diego judge said rejected about 11%, or 58,087, of applicants in the first half of 2023.<\/p>\n<p>California appealed Benitez&rsquo;s injunction blocking the law, leading the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2840249\/appeals-court-allows-california-ammunition-background-checks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> to overturn Benitez&rsquo;s ruling<\/a> the same month and keep the ammunition law in place.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2176155\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2176155\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Court invalidates California ammo background check law<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2466609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/california-legislature-special-session-trump-proof.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[59879,47845,33740,50385,32546],"class_list":["post-2466608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-ammunition-background-check","tag-california-law","tag-court-ruling","tag-gun-control-2","tag-legal-decision"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/california-legislature-special-session-trump-proof.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2466608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2466608"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2466608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2466612,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2466608\/revisions\/2466612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2466609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2466608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2466608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2466608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}