9th Circuit upholds block on background checks for California ammunition buyers

latimes.com ^ | July 24, 2025 | Sonja Sharp

[PROCON]

A federal appeals court upheld a ruling that struck down a background check requirement implemented by California on buyers of ammunition for firearms.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that California’s policy of background checks for bullet-buyers violates the 2nd Amendment, effectively killing a 2016 ballot measure meant to strengthen the state’s notoriously stringent gun laws.

Writing for two of the three judges on the appellate panel, Judge Sandra Segal Ikuta said the law “meaningfully constrains the right to keep operable arms” guaranteed by the Constitution, by forcing California gun owners to reauthorize before each ammunition purchase.

“The right to keep and bear arms incorporates the right to operate them, which requires ammunition,” the judge wrote.

The ruling is the latest blow to statewide efforts to regulate guns.

[PROCON]

I'm shocked (shocked I tell ya) that the 9th Circus actually ruled in favor of the 2nd Amendment.

[PROCON]

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[packagingguy]

Tennessee used to make you sign for handgun ammunition. They dropped the program because it didn’t sole even one crime.

[packagingguy]

Solve

[GingisK]

In the 1960s that was Federally mandatory in all states. They collected tons of paperwork nationwide, and that didn’t help solve a single crime either.

[jimtorr]

the law “meaningfully constrains the right to keep operable arms”

Are California background checks for ammo more stringent than for firearms? If not, I don't see why the same ruling does not apply to backgrounds checks for firearms.

[butlerweave]

Waste more taxpayer money for nothing

[CFW]

"Ninth Circuit Declares California's Background Checks on Ammo Purchases Unconstitutional"

Bearing Arms article

Also:

[paulcissa]

Waste more taxpayer money for nothing

Not true at all. The California government got to harass and repress firearms owners since 2016. They got what you (and I) paid for. Repression of a Civil Right.

[SkyDancer]

How many illegals killed Californians vs guns?

[ChuckHam]

Just wait until the en banc ruling affirms the background requirement.

[hanamizu]

“Californians voted to require background checks on ammunition and their voices should matter”.

---

As I recall, Californians voted twice that marriage was only between one man and one woman, but California politicians and judges decided that their voices didn’t matter at all.

[TheDon]

Thanks for the good news!

[shelterguy]

“””In the 1960s that was Federally mandatory in all states. They collected tons of paperwork nationwide, and that didn’t help solve a single crime either.”””””

I remember that. You had to sign for .22 shells.

[CFW]

“How many illegals killed Californians vs guns?”

---

That’s racist(TM)!

[nwrep]

That is how they knew what Oswald bought?

[SuperLuminal]

“Shocked”, indeed...
Although “pleasantly shocked” would also be appropriate...😎

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Remember how California got gun laws passed? In 1982 Prop 15 to register and ban handguns was sent to the voters. It was guaranteed to win. It failed as gun owners knew it would be a pretext to banning more.
https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_15,_Handgun_Ownership_and_Registration_Initiative_(1982)

In 1988, A very bad assault weapon BAN bill was shelved because it was so unpopular. so they created a crisis.

Then the State released seven time loser Pat Purdy from a mental institution, allowed him to violate State and Federal gun laws, buying a rifle in Oregon and handgun in California, passing the waiting period.

He then went and shot up the Stockton School killing several students and himself.

The shelved bill was pulled out and passed so fast before opposition could be mounted against it.

Since that day I often wonder if these shootings have “backing” we do not know about, especially as fast as the blood dancers appeared in the streets calling for “MORE GUN CONTROL!”

[Disambiguator]

They would ask you if they were for a handgun or a rifle, too.

Even as a youngster, I thought that it was really pointless.

[shelterguy]

I remember Dad was excited that he found a gun shop that didn’t ask for a signature. He was a WW2 vet and never did a thing wrong in his life but he hated being treated like a criminal by having to sign for ammo.