{"id":2583851,"date":"2026-03-25T20:18:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T00:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ninth-circuit-grills-california-over-gun-ammo-background-check-law\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T20:21:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T00:21:36","slug":"ninth-circuit-grills-california-over-gun-ammo-background-check-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ninth-circuit-grills-california-over-gun-ammo-background-check-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Ninth Circuit grills California over gun ammo 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\">20<\/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%2Fninth-circuit-grills-california-over-gun-ammo-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=2583851&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>The Ninth Circuit\u2019s full bench heard arguments in Pasadena on California\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-strikes-down-california-ammunition-background-check-law\/\" title=\"... strikes down California ammunition background check ...\">law requiring background checks<\/a> for ammunition purchases, challenging its constitutionality under the Second Amendment. The case follows a 2025 ruling by a three-judge panel that struck down the law as unconstitutional, saying it meaningfully constrained the right to keep operable arms. California\u2019s attorney defended the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-mexico-governor-responds-after-federal-court-puts-her-30-day-gun-carry-ban-on-hold\/\" title=\"NM Governor responds to ...&#039;s hold on 30-day gun carry ban.\">ammunition background checks<\/a> as a permissible extension of existing firearm licensing regimes, citing Supreme Court precedents. Judges pressed both sides about potential consequences for law-abiding gunowners and whether the law\u2019s restrictions implicate the Second Amendment. The court did not set a timeline for a ruling, but a decision is expected in the coming months, with the losing side potentially appealing to the Supreme court.  <\/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\">Ninth Circuit grills California over gun <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gun-owners-kept-in-the-dark-about-new-yorks-upcoming-background-checks-for-ammo\/\" title=\"Gun owners unaware of upcoming ammo background checks in New York.\">ammo background check<\/a> 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\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2482453\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/appeals-courts\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1537\">appeals court<\/a> grilled lawyers for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California<\/a> on Wednesday over the state&rsquo;s law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases as judges weighed whether it violates the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/second-amendment\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1043\">Second Amendment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The full bench of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard arguments in a case challenging the legality of a California law that mandates <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/background-checks\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2921\">background checks<\/a> each time a person buys ammunition for a&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/guns-and-firearms\/\">firearm<\/a>. A three-judge panel on the appeals court <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3482074\/court-strikes-down-california-background-check-ammunition-law\/\">struck down<\/a> the law as unconstitutional under the&nbsp;Second Amendment in 2025, with the panel finding the law &ldquo;meaningfully constrains the right to keep operable arms.&rdquo; The full court heard arguments in the case in a Pasadena courtroom.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4503150\/jewish-school-sues-oklahoma-over-charter-denial\/\">Jewish school sues Oklahoma over charter denial after Supreme Court punted on issue<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4503684\/doj-settles-with-michael-flynn-wrongful-prosecution\/\">DOJ settles Michael Flynn wrongful prosecution suit for $1.2 million<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4503764\/doj-charge-two-us-citizens-smuggle-ai-technology-china\/\">DOJ charges two US citizens with conspiring to smuggle AI technology to China<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Several judges offered sharp questions toward Helen Hong, an attorney from the California Department of Justice, specifically about how the law would <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >limit constitutional gun rights related<\/a> to acquiring ammunition for a firearm. Hong defended the state law as being an extension of licensing laws that the Supreme Court has previously upheld for firearm sales.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Supreme Court has recognized that states may implement laws to ensure that those keeping and bearing arms in a jurisdiction are authorized to do so, the court has emphasized that &lsquo;shall issue&rsquo; licensing regimes, which often require applicants to undergo background checks, are constitutionally permissible under the Second Amendment,&rdquo; Hong asserted to the judges. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In 2016, California enacted such a regime designed to ensure only that those purchasing ammunition in the state are authorized to do so,&rdquo; she added.<\/p>\n<p>Hong was also questioned by the judges over people being incorrectly denied the ability to purchase ammunition for their firearms. She responded that &ldquo;millions have been able to successfully acquire ammunition in the state.&rdquo; A judge, seemingly unconvinced, responded that her response is similar to saying that laws restricting speech, another constitutional right, would allow millions to speak even if they would still unlawfully limit some others from their constitutional right to speech.<\/p>\n<p>The lawyer representing California also faced questions about her assertion that &ldquo;there are certain laws like conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms that do not implicate the plain text of the Second Amendment,&rdquo; citing certain instances of purchasing ammunition that do not implicate the amendment. Some judges seemed deeply skeptical of her claims to distance the law from the Second Amendment.<\/p>\n<p>Lawyers suing over the California law and those with the U.S. Department of Justice who support striking it down also faced several sharp questions about whether the Golden State&rsquo;s law violates the Second Amendment.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4408027\/doj-urges-court-rule-california-ammo-background-check-unconstitutional\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4408027\/doj-urges-court-rule-california-ammo-background-check-unconstitutional\/\">DOJ URGES COURT TO RULE CALIFORNIA&rsquo;S AMMO BACKGROUND CHECK AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The appeals court did not offer a time frame for a ruling at the conclusion of the hearing, but it is expected to issue a decision within the coming months.<\/p>\n<p>Once the full appeals court has ruled on the case, the losing side could appeal to the Supreme Court. During the high court&rsquo;s current term, the justices have heard cases on a Hawaii gun law banning firearms from most private properties in the state and on a federal law barring unlawful drug users from possessing guns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/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>Paraphrase:<br \/>\nOn Wednesday, the Ninth Circuit questioned California\u2019s background-check requirement for ammunition purchases to determine whether it violates the Second Amendment. The full court heard the case after a three-judge panel in 2025 struck down the law as unconstitutional, saying it meaningfully restricted the right to keep operable firearms. The hearing took place in Pasadena. California DOJ attorney Helen Hong argued that the ammo background checks extend the state\u2019s licensing framework for gun sales, which the Supreme Court has said is permissible. She noted California enacted a regime in 2016 to ensure ammo buyers are authorized. Judges pressed her on potential wrongful denials of ammo purchases; she replied that millions have been able to obtain ammunition, though one judge suggested this is similar to limiting a constitutional right like speech, even if many are allowed to speak. Other questions focused on Hong\u2019s claim that some licensing-like requirements on arms sales do not implicate the Second Amendment. Both the challengers and the DOJ debated whether the law violates the Amendment. The court did not set a timeline for a ruling, but a decision is expected in the coming months. If the full court rules against the state, the losing side could appeal to the Supreme Court, which is already taking up related gun-rights cases this term, including Hawaii\u2019s gun law and a federal ban on gun possession by unlawful drug users.<\/p>\n<p>55-character version:<br \/>\nNinth Circuit weighs CA ammo background-check law<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2583852,"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\/2026\/03\/AP20116813989932.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[19417,4045,76548],"class_list":["post-2583851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-ammunition","tag-california","tag-ninth-circuit-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP20116813989932.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2583851","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\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2583851"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2583851\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2583857,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2583851\/revisions\/2583857"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2583852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2583851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2583851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2583851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}