By Newspot Nigeria US Correspondent
In a dramatic turn of events last week, California gun owners rushed to buy ammunition after a U.S. federal appeals court temporarily overturned the state’s requirement for background checks at every ammunition point-of-sale. The court’s decision, issued by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, prompted a short-lived window of opportunity—dubbed “Freedom Week” by some gun rights enthusiasts—allowing eager buyers to make online purchases before the ruling was clarified.
Among them was J.R. Young, a lifelong hunter from San Jose, who quickly ordered ammunition from an out-of-state dealer, curious to see if the decision allowed shipments to resume into California. “LOL, impulsiveness paid off,” he later said, after his bullets arrived at his doorstep on July 30.
However, within days, California’s Department of Justice sent notice to vendors and dealers clarifying that the background check requirement still stands—for now—until the court ruling is formally processed and enforced. This sudden reversal left both buyers and sellers in a state of uncertainty, especially regarding orders placed during the legal limbo.
The challenged law stems from Proposition 63, a gun control measure approved by California voters in 2016 and championed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Under the law, residents must undergo a background check for each ammo purchase, now costing $5, up from $1, and an additional 11% excise tax introduced in 2024.
Newsom criticized the court’s decision but has not yet confirmed whether the state will appeal. Meanwhile, Attorney General Rob Bonta has remained publicly silent on the matter.
Gun rights groups, including the Second Amendment Foundation, celebrated the development but expressed caution. “It’s hard to get really excited,” said Patrick Jones, a longtime gun store owner in Redding. “It’s one in a sea of court battles that are coming.”
Critics of Prop. 63 highlight its administrative flaws. According to legal filings, the law wrongfully denied 11% of applicants, with 411 mistaken rejections for every one legitimate denial. “We wouldn’t tolerate this level of error in voter registration,” argued attorney Kostas Moros.
For some Californians, the restrictions have pushed them across state lines for firearm-related purchases—or out of California entirely. “People are just buying out of state,” Jones noted. “I’ve had a ton of customers leave for places like Texas, Idaho, and Utah.”
Still, not all gun owners are eager to abandon California. “If you don’t fight [regulations] where they start,” said Jones, “it’s going to catch you.”
As the state awaits the formal mandate from the court, the battle over gun control in California continues—caught between legal challenges, political will, and divided public sentiment.
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