SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A voter-backed California legislation requiring background checks for individuals who purchase bullets is unconstitutional, a federal appeals courtroom dominated Thursday.
In upholding a 2024 ruling by a decrease courtroom, the ninth Circuit Courtroom of Appeals discovered that the state legislation violates the Second Modification. Voters handed the legislation in 2016 and it took impact in 2019.
Many states, together with California, make folks move a background verify earlier than they’ll purchase a gun. California went a step additional by requiring a background verify, which prices both $1 or $19 relying on eligibility, each time somebody buys purchase bullets.
Final yr, U.S. District Choose Roger Benitez determined that the legislation was unconstitutional as a result of if folks can’t purchase bullets, they’ll’t use their weapons for self-defense.
Benitez criticized the state’s automated background verify system, which he mentioned rejected about 11% of candidates, or 58,087 requests, within the first half of 2023.
California’s legislation was meant to assist police discover individuals who have weapons illegally, equivalent to convicted felons, folks with sure psychological sicknesses and folks with some home violence convictions.
Initially Printed: July 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM PDT
