Federal appeals court rules California ammunition background checks unconstitutional

A federal appeals court ruled that California's law requiring gun owners to undergo background checks to purchase ammunition violates the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

A federal appeals court ruled that California's law requiring gun owners to undergo background checks to purchase ammunition is unconstitutional. (Getty Images)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said the ruling was a "slap in the face" to efforts by officials in the Golden State to enact firearm restrictions to curb gun violence.

"Strong gun laws save lives – and today’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," Newsom said in a statement. "Californians voted to require background checks on ammunition and their voices should matter."

The office of state Attorney General Rob Bonta, also a Democrat, said "our families, schools, and neighborhoods deserve nothing less than the most basic protection against preventable gun violence, and we are looking into our legal options."

California voters approved a ballot measure in 2016 requiring gun owners to undergo initial background checks to purchase ammunition, as well as buy four-year ammunition permits.

Lawmakers later amended the measure to require background checks for each ammunition purchase.

California officials said they received 191 reports last year of "armed and prohibited individuals" who were blocked through background checks from purchasing ammunition.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the ruling was a "slap in the face" to efforts by officials in the Golden State to curb gun violence. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

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Circuit Judge Jay Bybee, who dissented from Thursday's decision, accused the majority of ignoring Supreme Court guidance by effectively declaring any limits on ammunition sales unlawful, given the unlikelihood a state could point to identical historical analogues.

The law "is not the kind of heavy-handed regulation that meaningfully constrains the right to keep and bear arms," Bybee wrote.

All three judges on Thursday's panel were appointed by Republican presidents, although appointees of Democratic presidents hold a majority in the 9th Circuit.

Ikuta and Bybee were appointed by former President George W. Bush, while Circuit Judge Bridget Bade, who joined Thursday's majority, was appointed by President Donald Trump.

Reuters contributed to this report.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/federal-appeals-court-rules-california-ammunition-background-checks-unconstitutional